How did real captains investigate why their torpedoes were duds?

Drakken · 06-22-17, 04:16 PM

I have a question on my mind lately, which I cannot find an answer in my searches. As we know, there are many types of failures with torpedos on a hunt:

- Pre-trigger to explosion
- Precociously going out of steam or fuel OTW
- Hitting the target without explosion, or at a too steep angle to detonate
- Missing the target due to human error
- Going under keel depth because of faulty settings

If there is a malfunction or a mechanical glitch, like during the early war with the TII G7e torpedo, obviously a captain would like to know why to report the issues both to BdU and Ordinance.

For us, it is easy to know why: We press F6 and we can see if a torpedo passes under the keel or hits without an explosion.

However, how were real U-boat commanders able to deduct which type of failure was the cause of a torpedo failure? Obviously, the target not exploding was a big indicator in itself, but what other indicators did they have in hand to find the reasons why and report them back to BdU?

Aktungbby · 06-22-17, 06:32 PM

http://www.uboataces.com/articles-wooden-torpedoes.shtml

sublynx · 06-23-17, 01:07 AM

If you google Wolves without teeth torpedo crisis pdf, you'll find a study made about the torpedo malfunctions, how it was discoverd and how it was solved.

CaptBones · 06-24-17, 11:59 AM

That's the short answer.

Neither U-boat captains nor US submarine commanders had the tools or the time and expertise to investigate torpedo failures. They reported the failures, along with all available data on the circumstances surrounding the failures, to "higher authority". It was the responsibility of "higher authority" to do the investigations and fix the problems.

What you will find is that the "higher authority" in both navies failed miserably to do their job. They refused to believe there was anything wrong with the torpedoes, they blamed the captains/crews for the failures.

In both navies, the problems were finally addressed and fixed only after the operational commanders (BdU and COMSUBPAC) insisted the submarine skippers were right. There was overwhelming evidence that there were problems with torpedoes that the technical authorities needed to investigate and resolve. A(nother) perfect example of bureaucratic arrogance.

Drakken · 06-26-17, 12:32 PM

Thank you. This is of great help, I was always wondering how these kinds of problems were found and deducted on-site, then transmitted to BdU.

06-22-17, 04:16 PM	#1
Drakken Planesman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 194 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 0	How did real captains investigate why their torpedoes were duds? I have a question on my mind lately, which I cannot find an answer in my searches. As we know, there are many types of failures with torpedos on a hunt: - Pre-trigger to explosion - Precociously going out of steam or fuel OTW - Hitting the target without explosion, or at a too steep angle to detonate - Missing the target due to human error - Going under keel depth because of faulty settings If there is a malfunction or a mechanical glitch, like during the early war with the TII G7e torpedo, obviously a captain would like to know why to report the issues both to BdU and Ordinance. For us, it is easy to know why: We press F6 and we can see if a torpedo passes under the keel or hits without an explosion. However, how were real U-boat commanders able to deduct which type of failure was the cause of a torpedo failure? Obviously, the target not exploding was a big indicator in itself, but what other indicators did they have in hand to find the reasons why and report them back to BdU?

06-22-17, 06:32 PM	#2
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 29,987 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	http://www.uboataces.com/articles-wooden-torpedoes.shtml __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!

06-23-17, 01:07 AM	#3
sublynx Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In the conning tower of my VIIC scanning the sea through the periscope Posts: 1,698 Downloads: 173 Uploads: 7	If you google Wolves without teeth torpedo crisis pdf, you'll find a study made about the torpedo malfunctions, how it was discoverd and how it was solved. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] NYGM+H.sie v16+Stiebler 4C+MaGui WS

06-24-17, 11:59 AM	#4
CaptBones The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Rockton, IL Posts: 281 Downloads: 208 Uploads: 0	They didn't. That's the short answer. Neither U-boat captains nor US submarine commanders had the tools or the time and expertise to investigate torpedo failures. They reported the failures, along with all available data on the circumstances surrounding the failures, to "higher authority". It was the responsibility of "higher authority" to do the investigations and fix the problems. What you will find is that the "higher authority" in both navies failed miserably to do their job. They refused to believe there was anything wrong with the torpedoes, they blamed the captains/crews for the failures. In both navies, the problems were finally addressed and fixed only after the operational commanders (BdU and COMSUBPAC) insisted the submarine skippers were right. There was overwhelming evidence that there were problems with torpedoes that the technical authorities needed to investigate and resolve. A(nother) perfect example of bureaucratic arrogance.

06-26-17, 12:32 PM	#5
Drakken Planesman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 194 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 0	Thank you. This is of great help, I was always wondering how these kinds of problems were found and deducted on-site, then transmitted to BdU.