RL torpedo question

fireftr18 · 12-24-12, 12:33 AM

My son asked why they didn't move torpedoes from the front to the back, or the other way as needed. I explained that they're aimed in opposite directions and the problem of space not allowing to turn a torpedo around. And I added in the weight, lack of a good long straight shot. He then suggested that they could surface and do it that way. I got thinking and realized that theoretically, it was possible. In all the accounts that people have read, does anyone know of someone actually trying this?

Sailor Steve · 12-24-12, 10:12 AM

This is two u-boats, not American subs, and they are transferring torpedoes from one boat to the other, not fore to aft.

Still, show him these, tell him that a torpedo weighs more than a ton, and he should get the idea.

Also, since American subs didn't carry external reloads, it's a pretty safe bet that they also didn't have any gear onboard for winching the torpedo out of the torpedo room and up to the deck.

TorpX · 12-24-12, 08:32 PM

Did they happen to say how long this process took, or what proceedure they follow if (god forbid) they saw an enemy airplane?

merc4ulfate · 12-24-12, 09:58 PM

It was not logistically feasible to remove a fish from one section, take it outside, move it over a rolling deck, then back inside the other section and turning it's direction.

It was hard work moving a 2000 lbs explosive from the pier to the boat with shore cranes ... almost impossible at sea for US Fleet boats

Sailor Steve · 12-24-12, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

Did they happen to say how long this process took, or what proceedure they follow if (god forbid) they saw an enemy airplane?

I found this:

Quote:

A torpedo weighs about a ton and it is stated that with two efficient crews the transfer of each torpedo from one U-Boat to another, should not take more than an hour.

Worse seems to be refueling:

Quote:

It was stated that the refuelling took over 8 hours and was carried out in calm weather by daylight.

http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-111INT.htm

I also found this video, which partially answers the question asked in the "Decks Awash" thread. It seems that the torpedo was loaded onto the deck of the supply sub and prepared for transfer, and then the milch kuh submerged to the lower conning tower and the torpedo floated off. The procedure was reversed on the recieving sub. I had no idea they could be that precise, but it seems so.

fireftr18 · 12-25-12, 05:29 PM

Thanks for the answers, they were great. That's one of the best things about this community. I asked a question that may sound silly, but instead of ridicule, I got good thought out answers. Answers were complete enough that my son was able to well understand.

TorpX · 12-27-12, 01:59 AM

Those are good sources there.

It occurs to me though, that such procedures are only practical in climates which are not very cold. It would be brutal to be in the water for an hour or more for such a job.

Sailor Steve · 12-27-12, 11:10 AM

That's a good point. I think that those kinds of operation usually did take place in warmer climes, since in the North Atlantic they were close enough to home to resupply at a real base.

I think a more important point in the case of the Germans is that those supply subs didn't carry enough fuel or torpedoes to keep the operational boats on station for a whole extra patrol. I'm pretty sure they normally only gave the front-line boats enough fuel to get home, and a couple of torpedoes, just in case.

12-24-12, 12:33 AM	#1
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	RL torpedo question My son asked why they didn't move torpedoes from the front to the back, or the other way as needed. I explained that they're aimed in opposite directions and the problem of space not allowing to turn a torpedo around. And I added in the weight, lack of a good long straight shot. He then suggested that they could surface and do it that way. I got thinking and realized that theoretically, it was possible. In all the accounts that people have read, does anyone know of someone actually trying this? __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

12-24-12, 10:12 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	This is two u-boats, not American subs, and they are transferring torpedoes from one boat to the other, not fore to aft. Still, show him these, tell him that a torpedo weighs more than a ton, and he should get the idea. Also, since American subs didn't carry external reloads, it's a pretty safe bet that they also didn't have any gear onboard for winching the torpedo out of the torpedo room and up to the deck. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-25-12, 05:29 PM	#6
fireftr18 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,528 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the answers, they were great. That's one of the best things about this community. I asked a question that may sound silly, but instead of ridicule, I got good thought out answers. Answers were complete enough that my son was able to well understand. __________________ Of all the forms of Martial Arts, Karaoke causes the most pain!

12-27-12, 01:59 AM	#7
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	Those are good sources there. It occurs to me though, that such procedures are only practical in climates which are not very cold. It would be brutal to be in the water for an hour or more for such a job.

12-27-12, 11:10 AM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	That's a good point. I think that those kinds of operation usually did take place in warmer climes, since in the North Atlantic they were close enough to home to resupply at a real base. I think a more important point in the case of the Germans is that those supply subs didn't carry enough fuel or torpedoes to keep the operational boats on station for a whole extra patrol. I'm pretty sure they normally only gave the front-line boats enough fuel to get home, and a couple of torpedoes, just in case. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-24-12, 08:32 PM	#3
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	Did they happen to say how long this process took, or what proceedure they follow if (god forbid) they saw an enemy airplane?

12-24-12, 09:58 PM	#4
merc4ulfate DILLIGAF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: florida Posts: 2,058 Downloads: 210 Uploads: 0	It was not logistically feasible to remove a fish from one section, take it outside, move it over a rolling deck, then back inside the other section and turning it's direction. It was hard work moving a 2000 lbs explosive from the pier to the boat with shore cranes ... almost impossible at sea for US Fleet boats