Proper use of homing torpedos

Nangleator · 10-12-08, 04:53 PM

First post here, and fairly new to the game. I'm playing the stock game, since my older graphics card can't handle the more beautiful and interesting Wolves mod.

It took a lot of stupid behavior and three deaths before my current career, which is on patrol #21. I have reached summer of '42, and things seem really to be changing.

My first patrol in 1942 resulted in an aerial ambush in the Bay of Biscay. 7 or 8 pairs of flying boats dove on me. Luckily, they only bomb the point where I go underwater, and not along my last projected course. Dummies.

Still, it keeps me on lower time compression now. Particularly since they started showing up at night, too, and in light fog. Radar or bad luck?

I've got some questions, even though I've been reading the forum for a few months.

What's the best technique for my shiny, new homing torps (for escort reduction)? Just launch in the general direction and dive deep? Launch as carefully as an unguided torp? Let the escorts know where you are and shoot down the throat? From what distance? Do escorts actively dodge them? How dangerous are they to me? Are the historical methods appropriate?

Thanks for any replies, thanks to this community for being cool and well-informed, and thanks to the creators of the game and its mods!

Task Force · 10-12-08, 05:05 PM

I usualy fire them when they are infront of me and fire. Stay quiet and let the torpedo follow them, Then BOOM (usualy).

Brag · 10-12-08, 05:09 PM

Welcome aboard Nangleator.

Task force's advice is sound.

Task Force · 10-12-08, 05:11 PM

Yes welcome Nangleator, welcome to subsim.

Nangleator · 10-12-08, 05:17 PM

'Stay quiet' sounds like it could be tricky. Just from my imagination I can picture this... I'm at a dead stop at PD, peeping a look at the pesky escort in front of the convoy. I lose my nerve at about 2 or 3 or 4 kilometers and loose the torpedo. (Is a T4 called a Gnat?)

I hold still to watch the fun, then I'm informed I'm being pinged and I see the escort turn towards me and speed up. Now I don't know if the torpedo is headed in the right direction, and maybe he'll get away from it. I should be headed down. But I can't be headed down, because then maybe the torpedo suddenly wants to return to me.

My life becomes stressful. My CE makes stern faces at me.

Task Force · 10-12-08, 05:46 PM

You still can go at 1/2 knots, and dive. The torpedos cant go up or down.

SeaWolf U-57 · 10-12-08, 08:45 PM

Always try to have at least two T9 torpedoes active one or more in the forward tubes and one in the rear. Head towards and approach the warship at slow speed like you would do for a normal torpedo attack wait until the target is under 2,000meters then go to silent running and fire the T9 then start a sharp turn ether port or starboard depending on which way the target is heading (turn the opposite way) continue the sharp turn so as if the first T9 misses the target you will bring your rear tube to bare and get a second chance but if all go’s wrong you can still crash dive but as long as you stay silent and don’t leave your telescope up too high you should be able to make the second shot

10-12-08, 04:53 PM	#1
Nangleator Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Billerica Posts: 58 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Proper use of homing torpedos First post here, and fairly new to the game. I'm playing the stock game, since my older graphics card can't handle the more beautiful and interesting Wolves mod. It took a lot of stupid behavior and three deaths before my current career, which is on patrol #21. I have reached summer of '42, and things seem really to be changing. My first patrol in 1942 resulted in an aerial ambush in the Bay of Biscay. 7 or 8 pairs of flying boats dove on me. Luckily, they only bomb the point where I go underwater, and not along my last projected course. Dummies. Still, it keeps me on lower time compression now. Particularly since they started showing up at night, too, and in light fog. Radar or bad luck? I've got some questions, even though I've been reading the forum for a few months. What's the best technique for my shiny, new homing torps (for escort reduction)? Just launch in the general direction and dive deep? Launch as carefully as an unguided torp? Let the escorts know where you are and shoot down the throat? From what distance? Do escorts actively dodge them? How dangerous are they to me? Are the historical methods appropriate? Thanks for any replies, thanks to this community for being cool and well-informed, and thanks to the creators of the game and its mods!

10-12-08, 05:09 PM	#3
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Welcome aboard Nangleator. Task force's advice is sound. __________________ 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/

10-12-08, 05:11 PM	#4
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Yes welcome Nangleator, welcome to subsim. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

10-12-08, 05:46 PM	#6
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	You still can go at 1/2 knots, and dive. The torpedos cant go up or down. __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

10-12-08, 08:45 PM	#7
SeaWolf U-57 Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,231 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	Always try to have at least two T9 torpedoes active one or more in the forward tubes and one in the rear. Head towards and approach the warship at slow speed like you would do for a normal torpedo attack wait until the target is under 2,000meters then go to silent running and fire the T9 then start a sharp turn ether port or starboard depending on which way the target is heading (turn the opposite way) continue the sharp turn so as if the first T9 misses the target you will bring your rear tube to bare and get a second chance but if all go’s wrong you can still crash dive but as long as you stay silent and don’t leave your telescope up too high you should be able to make the second shot Last edited by SeaWolf U-57; 10-12-08 at 11:08 PM.

10-12-08, 05:05 PM	#2
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I usualy fire them when they are infront of me and fire. Stay quiet and let the torpedo follow them, Then BOOM (usualy). __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

10-12-08, 05:17 PM	#5
Nangleator Mate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Billerica Posts: 58 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	'Stay quiet' sounds like it could be tricky. Just from my imagination I can picture this... I'm at a dead stop at PD, peeping a look at the pesky escort in front of the convoy. I lose my nerve at about 2 or 3 or 4 kilometers and loose the torpedo. (Is a T4 called a Gnat?) I hold still to watch the fun, then I'm informed I'm being pinged and I see the escort turn towards me and speed up. Now I don't know if the torpedo is headed in the right direction, and maybe he'll get away from it. I should be headed down. But I can't be headed down, because then maybe the torpedo suddenly wants to return to me. My life becomes stressful. My CE makes stern faces at me.