Steam or Electric?

[iambecomelife]

Which do you prefer, especially early in the war? Do you really hate having mixed loads of torpedoes? I usually load up on T-I's because I like how fast they are - plus, you can adjust the speed according to the target.

[DerKaleun]

I swear on steam - who cares about the bubbles - if they spot them, it´s already to late for them..... I like my enemy watching his death coming, yea

[Stymnus]

I stick to mostly steam early in the war. The exception is hitting military ships in the daytime, they can see and avoid the steamers unless you get too close for safety.

[Charos]

During the war there was STANDARD Torpedo loadouts which varied as the war progressed - In general terms the game should follow this - the Captain really has no say over whats loaded into his boat.

BDU desides the standard loadout which would probably vary slightly depending on whats available to be loaded on the day from the stockpile.

I Hope one of the MODS is able to make standard Torpedo loadouts as they were during the war.

G7E's were the prefered type during the war - I dont mind useing the G7A's as I mostly attack at night in any case.

[Ula Jolly]

I always load up on 4/10 G7E, just in case. I find that nights with a full moon are a tad... revealing. However, dud percentage is tad higher (but it could be bad luck) for that torpedo.

I usually opt for the ones with the speed settings.

[Halifax40]

I always take a mix of the two early in the war (nothing's really early when I haven't campaigned passed late 1941). I don't use the selectable torpedo salvos - I set them on my own using the individual tubes. That way I have tubes 1 and 2, always with steam fish, and then tubes 3 and 4 always with electric. I also don't use auto-reload, so I can make sure the right torp type goes into the corresponding tube.

I use setkey for "O" as my conning tower so I can open the tubes manually. As long as you have the first tube selected in the periscope it won't close the other one. So firing tubes 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 is very simple, and actually you can fire them quicker and in more of a rapid succession than the "salvo" option.

*EDIT* - watch the magnetic detonators when doing the above process. I've had 4 electric torpedos now blow up on the way to the target because of the first torpedo's proximity. So sometimes firing really fast to get 2 torpedos to hit within like 2-3 degrees of eachother is not always the best option.

[Apocal]

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

Which do you prefer, especially early in the war? Do you really hate having mixed loads of torpedoes? I usually load up on T-I's because I like how fast they are - plus, you can adjust the speed according to the target.

Steam. For some reason, the electrics seem a bit weaker. Running my usual "T-bone" attack profile I never fail to get a one shot fast sinking (aiming for fuel bunker, watching the vessel split in two, explode and go down within 2 minutes) using steam fish. But the electric fish, for whatever reason, have failed me several times, meaning two or even three shots to ensure speedy destruction. Perhaps if I was a bit more patient I would see the same results, but I want BOOM and I want it quick!

[Duncan Idaho]

I carry mostly steamers too. I always carry 4 electrics with me though, for only one purpose: Taking out warships in broad daylight. Most sizable merchants seem to have problems evading those steamers fired at close range. Not so warships, who will suddenly be going 30kn while veering off if they spot a torp's wake. So I carry the handful of electrics, and use them sparingly.

[AlanSmithee]

All steam so far. Early in the war, the combination of high torpedo speed and shots from 800m or less seems to have been pretty effective.

In either case, I haven't seen much indication that early war merchants pay much attention to torpedo wakes. On a number of ocassions I've seen torpedos pass under merchants or impact but not go off with little indication that the merchants either saw or cared - though seas were calm enough I can't imagine how they couldn't have seen. Example: At one point, I hit a C2 at too sharp an angle, resulting in two duds. I was actually able to surface for an end-around and attack again, and the C2 hadn't changed course or speed. :hmm: These early war mechant watchment need to get their act together. Or maybe lay off the rum ration.

[Duli]

I have two electric in tubes 2 and 4 (that way, I can fire a salvo with two electric or two steam torpedos), and the other are steam torpedos.

[gdogghenrikson]

steam

[SmokinTep]

I mix them up but probably a 1/3 are electric.

[Oesten]

My loadout is:

For Type II, steam torps only.

For Type VII and IX, electric torps loaded in the stern tube(s) for use against warships. More electric torp(s) in the internal reload box for the stern tubes. Steam torps only in the forward tubes and in the external (deck) reload boxes, for use against merchants.

Historically the electric torps required constant maintenance by the crew, while the steam torps did not. Thus electric torps could not be used in the external deck compartments, because the crew couldn't work on them in there.

The faster speed of the steam torps does compensate for the bubble trail, most often merchants aren't quick enough to get out of the way before being hit. I always use the steam torps at medium speed (40 kts) - the most common setting used historically, makes calculations easier, and gives the torpedo extra range so I don't need to get so close to the convoy.

[Nopileo]

Even in Sept. 1944 I still prefer the steam torpedoes (T1 LuTs). But I bring along a few XI Zauns for any escorts that get too persistant.