Realistic sinking times, how long can they be?

GoDeep · 05-04-08, 08:43 AM

I have a question about the realistic sinking times, in combination with GWX 2.1.
Twice now in my current career I have had to leave a ship still floating after hitting it with a single, last torpedo. I'm in a Type II, so I try to do the "one eel, one kill" thing, but it's not always possible and I realize that.
However, yesterday I came across a small 2000 ton merchant which I thought would be a good target for my final torpedo. The torpedo stuck just aft of the smokestack, which stopped the ship dead in the water. I watched as she got lower and lower in the water...and that was it. With her deck just above the level of the water, she just sat there. I knew that the sinking could take some time, and I also know that historically, some ships survived for more than 24 hours after being struck be a torpedo.

Because I wouldn't get the credit for the kill if I just sailed off, I waited nearby to see if she would go down. I waited there for over 8 hours, before being chased off by a task force of several destroyers. They forced me to run deep and silent. I never got the "She's going down" message, so I didn't get the credit for the kill.

This is not criticism but I am just wondering if a 2000 ton vessel could last that long after a torpedo impact in rough seas (wind speed was 6 or 7). The torpedo hit deep below the waterline, so I am imagining that flooding was pretty serious. I can understand a big ship being able to take quite a pounding, but such a little one?
I know that this sort of thing must have happened to the real kaleuns back then and it is very frustrating from having to leave your wounded prey like that. Just decided I would ask, because this is the second time in two patrols that I had to leave a ship dead in the water, without her sinking...

coinbird · 05-04-08, 08:52 AM

for whatever reason those little guys are really durable i find.

Brag · 05-04-08, 09:09 AM

Sometimes ships carry bouyant cargo, like cork, ping pong balls. It can take as long as 24 hours for a ship to sink.

Tango589 · 05-04-08, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Sometimes ships carry bouyant cargo, like cork, ping pong balls.

English merchants often import American ping-pong balls to give to the simple-minded Tommy something to keep him occupied when the mighty German army decides to stop shooting at them for a while.

Jimbuna · 05-04-08, 10:36 AM

The variables around sinking times when viewed in conjunction with weather conditions, structural and area of damage, mean you can break a ships back and see the immediate effect or put a hole in the hull and wait the effects of flooding amongst others.

Pretty close to what it was probably like in RL IMHO and one of the strengths of GWX

richardphat · 05-04-08, 01:38 PM

I've never tried GWX but maybe captain of that ship order his crew to close "portes blindes" (sorry it is in french and i dont know how to explain ) so water wont get in other "compartiment". Maybe because it is not heavier compared to other ship thats why it would take more time to sink than you had imagine...........
(This is just a opinion)

05-04-08, 08:43 AM	#1
GoDeep Planesman Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Realistic sinking times, how long can they be? I have a question about the realistic sinking times, in combination with GWX 2.1. Twice now in my current career I have had to leave a ship still floating after hitting it with a single, last torpedo. I'm in a Type II, so I try to do the "one eel, one kill" thing, but it's not always possible and I realize that. However, yesterday I came across a small 2000 ton merchant which I thought would be a good target for my final torpedo. The torpedo stuck just aft of the smokestack, which stopped the ship dead in the water. I watched as she got lower and lower in the water...and that was it. With her deck just above the level of the water, she just sat there. I knew that the sinking could take some time, and I also know that historically, some ships survived for more than 24 hours after being struck be a torpedo. Because I wouldn't get the credit for the kill if I just sailed off, I waited nearby to see if she would go down. I waited there for over 8 hours, before being chased off by a task force of several destroyers. They forced me to run deep and silent. I never got the "She's going down" message, so I didn't get the credit for the kill. This is not criticism but I am just wondering if a 2000 ton vessel could last that long after a torpedo impact in rough seas (wind speed was 6 or 7). The torpedo hit deep below the waterline, so I am imagining that flooding was pretty serious. I can understand a big ship being able to take quite a pounding, but such a little one? I know that this sort of thing must have happened to the real kaleuns back then and it is very frustrating from having to leave your wounded prey like that. Just decided I would ask, because this is the second time in two patrols that I had to leave a ship dead in the water, without her sinking...

05-04-08, 09:09 AM	#3
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Sometimes ships carry bouyant cargo, like cork, ping pong balls. It can take as long as 24 hours for a ship to sink. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

05-04-08, 10:36 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,561 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	The variables around sinking times when viewed in conjunction with weather conditions, structural and area of damage, mean you can break a ships back and see the immediate effect or put a hole in the hull and wait the effects of flooding amongst others. Pretty close to what it was probably like in RL IMHO and one of the strengths of GWX __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-04-08, 08:52 AM	#2
coinbird Watch Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 17 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	for whatever reason those little guys are really durable i find.

05-04-08, 01:38 PM	#6
richardphat Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 682 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	I've never tried GWX but maybe captain of that ship order his crew to close "portes blindes" (sorry it is in french and i dont know how to explain ) so water wont get in other "compartiment". Maybe because it is not heavier compared to other ship thats why it would take more time to sink than you had imagine........... (This is just a opinion)