Question - Torpedos - REALISTIC?

[Grayson02sept1980]

This just crossed my mind yesterday while I was attacking a convoy

How realistic are the torpedo pistols in SH3?

I mean I attacked the convoy and had all torps set with magnetic but two were FaT so I changed them to shallower running depth and impact.

How quick couold this be done on the Boats? I mean I just turn the switch in the F6 screen (or attack scope view) and suddenly the torp is running on an impact pistol/igniter
Realistic?

Did all torps back in those days carry both systems? Magnetic and Impact pistols?
Or were they set up before loading and could not be changed that quick as it is in the game?

Just a thought

[msalama]

Did all torps back in those days carry both systems? Magnetic and Impact pistols?

I _think_ those equipped with both did, but I may be wrong... anyone?

[Sailor Steve]

Someone showed a picture a long time ago (it was during my homeless phase or I would have it to show again) of magnetic and impact pistols being switched, and the picture showed the torpedo on a cradle with the head removed, and they were physically switching them out.

The picture could have been wrong, but if not then it was a major process and not something they did with the flick of a switch.

i went to the museum and there was a huge big black torpedo and it had switches on it and i recognized them all!!! i tried to turn it on but the swithes did not want to move. this was in a australian war museum

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by magicsub

i went to the museum and there was a huge big black torpedo and it had switches on it and i recognized them all!!! i tried to turn it on but the swithes did not want to move. this was in a australian war museum

Cool! Now go back, take a picture and post it here so we can see too!

[trongey]

I've wondered similar things about updating a solution. Did changing the solution on the TDC somehow transmit settings to a torpedo already in the tube? Or did it just provide the settings that someone would apply before loading the tube?

Tony

[Letum]

I know that the electric torps had to be preheated and prepared for at least half a
hour before launch.
The VII could not fire electric torps from the aft tube as it lacked the equipment
needed to heat the torp's batteries.
I am not sure if the same is true of the IX.

[klh]

Originally Posted by trongey

I've wondered similar things about updating a solution. Did changing the solution on the TDC somehow transmit settings to a torpedo already in the tube? Or did it just provide the settings that someone would apply before loading the tube?

Tony

Now this one I can answer. There were changes during the war, but for the most part, the TDC sent a signal for the gyro angle (and eventually other variables) to the torpedo while it was in the tube using a retractable spindle. This way the firing solution could be fed to the torpedo immediately prior to firing.

[trongey]

Originally Posted by klh

Now this one I can answer. There were changes during the war, but for the most part, the TDC sent a signal for the gyro angle (and eventually other variables) to the torpedo while it was in the tube using a retractable spindle. This way the firing solution could be fed to the torpedo immediately prior to firing.

Aha! Thanks.

[Voyd]

Originally Posted by Letum

I know that the electric torps had to be preheated and prepared for at least half a
hour before launch.
The VII could not fire electric torps from the aft tube as it lacked the equipment
needed to heat the torp's batteries.
I am not sure if the same is true of the IX.

Technically, they didn't have to be heated. They could be launched, but would loose more than half of their range when running 'cold'.

[Grayson02sept1980]

Originally Posted by Voyd

Technically, they didn't have to be heated. They could be launched, but would loose more than half of their range when running 'cold'.

now I wouldn't dare to say that .. about the distance... you never know how long the torp would really go when the battery is cold cause you have to keep in mind that the water around the torpedo was very cold most times.
So just to make sure the torp would reach its target I would not have fired a cold torpedo

From the (very few, alas) pictures and diagrams I've seen, changing pistols was an involved process. A torpedo could be set up with either a contact pistol, a magnetic one, or both.

See here (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...980#post819980) for both some images and descriptions.

[finchOU]

ah...love the realism theads....it is this kind of in depth stuff I want to HAVE to think about when trying to attack a ship.

[Uncle Goose]

I believe I read in Dönitz Memoirs that the crew was not supposed to handle the pistols while on sea. The crew of a certain U-boat disassembled a pistol to see what was wrong with the pistols (this was early in the war when they had serious troubles with the pistols), Dönitz noted that this was not a habit. So it seems that the pistols were set in harbor and weren't easily changed aboard.

[kurtz]

I've just been reading Hoyt's book on American submarines, these were plagued by unreliable magnetic pistols. Apparently some skippers disabled the magnetic pistols whilst they were on patrol, from this I surmise that this was not an easy switch job, yeah I know different torpedoes.