What the Falke?

Platapus · 05-15-07, 07:21 PM

It is March 1942 and I have the option of equiping the G7es Falke homing torpedo. Is there a secret to using this?

I realise it is not a MK 48 ADCAP, but even with good solutions I have never seen it "home" in for a hit.

Is there something I am missing? Currently I am not carrying any Falkes as I would rather stick with my ole reliable G7a.

Any Falke lovers out there who can airmail me a clue?

GoldenRivet · 05-15-07, 07:30 PM

It has been my experience with this torpedo that you must use it like any other torpedo. except for the following...

1. It is most reliable against warships - particularly escorts.

2. It is most reliable when used against escorts with a 4 meter depth setting and magnetic trigger

3. you will still have to plot a solution on the target

4. they do not start homing until traveling several hundred meters ... IIRC it is over 500 meters distance before they start to home in on anything... or it might be that they do not start homing until they have passed the range setting in your solution - i cant recall.

things to watch out for... if they are seeking a destroyer and he turns toward you to DC you - you are then at risk of getting hit by your own torpedo as it chases him!

also it will seek to the closest / loudest sound when homing so if you were aiming for a merchant and a desttoyer speeds by it might start chasing him instead of the target you were wanting to hit.

I have used them with over a 95% success rate - and they WILL home in on something using small "S-turns" to chase the target... good way to ensure a hit on an unsuspecting escort.

spork542 · 05-15-07, 07:31 PM

The Falke works as an acoustic homing torpedo. You need to have a ship moving at a decent speed for it to lock on, and at a range beyond about 200-400m. At this range, it will turn towards whatever the loudest noise it hears is. Obviously, you want to go silent when you use this torpedo. Normally aiming in the general direction of your target works if it is going at the recommended speed of 10-20 knots. Not sure if it works with less, but that's what would work IRL.

ReM · 05-16-07, 03:14 AM

It's a nice sight to see a Falke creeping up on a dd and finally sinking it!

I believe it was common practice in the German navy to dive after firing an acoustic homing torpedo in order to not get hit by your own torp!

Got a few kills with the Falke, never got hit by one...

rb4door · 05-16-07, 03:46 AM

oooh so they are available as early as '42?

I'm on my first career in GWX and have just reach February 1942 - cant wait to try them

HunterICX · 05-16-07, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb4door

oooh so they are available as early as '42?

I'm on my first career in GWX and have just reach February 1942 - cant wait to try them

if I,m correct you automaticly get some Proto types.

you cant buy them yet, but you get them

maillemaker · 05-16-07, 06:33 AM

I've used the homing torpedo twice and have had it chase down and hit DDs. It's fun to watch them in the TDC - you can see the torpedo squirming around if it's tracking.

Chock · 05-16-07, 06:47 AM

Only prototypes were available that early, and given to a very few boats to test, but I guess you could regard yourself as one of the lucky test boats, so it is 'sort of' realistic to have them that early.

Incidentally, it was recommended at the time of those tests to place the acoustic homing torpedo only in the rear tube, so that you could run away from it, also as ReM points out, diving was common practice too in order to be below the 'floor' of the seeker (a common practice with torpedoes today in fact).

It was noted at the time that they were unlikely to be 'miracle weapons' as there would be many occasions where a standard convoy engagement firing position would not be conducive to use of the acoustic homing torpedo, so if you are having problems employing them, that's realistic, as the real sub skippers faced that too.

There's a lot of useful info about their use and capabilities in the book 'Type VII U-Boats' by Robert C Stern (ISBN 1-86019-855-4), which I thoroughly recommend if you are even remotely interested in German submarines, as it is a mine of information, and in fact one of the 'modders bibles'.

05-15-07, 07:21 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	What the Falke? It is March 1942 and I have the option of equiping the G7es Falke homing torpedo. Is there a secret to using this? I realise it is not a MK 48 ADCAP, but even with good solutions I have never seen it "home" in for a hit. Is there something I am missing? Currently I am not carrying any Falkes as I would rather stick with my ole reliable G7a. Any Falke lovers out there who can airmail me a clue?

05-15-07, 07:30 PM	#2
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	It has been my experience with this torpedo that you must use it like any other torpedo. except for the following... 1. It is most reliable against warships - particularly escorts. 2. It is most reliable when used against escorts with a 4 meter depth setting and magnetic trigger 3. you will still have to plot a solution on the target 4. they do not start homing until traveling several hundred meters ... IIRC it is over 500 meters distance before they start to home in on anything... or it might be that they do not start homing until they have passed the range setting in your solution - i cant recall. things to watch out for... if they are seeking a destroyer and he turns toward you to DC you - you are then at risk of getting hit by your own torpedo as it chases him! also it will seek to the closest / loudest sound when homing so if you were aiming for a merchant and a desttoyer speeds by it might start chasing him instead of the target you were wanting to hit. I have used them with over a 95% success rate - and they WILL home in on something using small "S-turns" to chase the target... good way to ensure a hit on an unsuspecting escort. __________________

05-15-07, 07:31 PM	#3
spork542 Chief Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 328 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	The Falke works as an acoustic homing torpedo. You need to have a ship moving at a decent speed for it to lock on, and at a range beyond about 200-400m. At this range, it will turn towards whatever the loudest noise it hears is. Obviously, you want to go silent when you use this torpedo. Normally aiming in the general direction of your target works if it is going at the recommended speed of 10-20 knots. Not sure if it works with less, but that's what would work IRL. __________________

05-16-07, 03:14 AM	#4
ReM Commodore Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brewsky, Galore Posts: 618 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	It's a nice sight to see a Falke creeping up on a dd and finally sinking it! I believe it was common practice in the German navy to dive after firing an acoustic homing torpedo in order to not get hit by your own torp! Got a few kills with the Falke, never got hit by one... __________________ Daddy cool Last edited by ReM; 05-16-07 at 03:27 AM.

05-16-07, 03:46 AM	#5
rb4door Machinist's Mate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St Naz Posts: 129 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	oooh so they are available as early as '42? I'm on my first career in GWX and have just reach February 1942 - cant wait to try them

05-16-07, 06:33 AM	#7
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I've used the homing torpedo twice and have had it chase down and hit DDs. It's fun to watch them in the TDC - you can see the torpedo squirming around if it's tracking.

05-16-07, 06:47 AM	#8
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Only prototypes were available that early, and given to a very few boats to test, but I guess you could regard yourself as one of the lucky test boats, so it is 'sort of' realistic to have them that early. Incidentally, it was recommended at the time of those tests to place the acoustic homing torpedo only in the rear tube, so that you could run away from it, also as ReM points out, diving was common practice too in order to be below the 'floor' of the seeker (a common practice with torpedoes today in fact). It was noted at the time that they were unlikely to be 'miracle weapons' as there would be many occasions where a standard convoy engagement firing position would not be conducive to use of the acoustic homing torpedo, so if you are having problems employing them, that's realistic, as the real sub skippers faced that too. There's a lot of useful info about their use and capabilities in the book 'Type VII U-Boats' by Robert C Stern (ISBN 1-86019-855-4), which I thoroughly recommend if you are even remotely interested in German submarines, as it is a mine of information, and in fact one of the 'modders bibles'.