Calculation of firing by volley of torpedoes

No charts needed.

A. Point periscope at bow, and note Gyro Angle.
B. Point periscope at stern, and note Gyro Angle.
C. Subtract. A - B = Spread.

Very simple. Enjoy.

[Gerald]

Simple .... yes, in theory, everything is bloody easy!

[Pisces]

Or if he is numbercrunching inclined:

1 degree is 17.5 meters wide at 1km range. 17.5 meters is 0.5 degrees wide at 2km. (twice as far=halve of the angle) So 35 meters wide is 2 degrees at 1km, or 1 degree at 2km. (twice as long at distance, is twice the angle at that distance)

This is useful if you know the target length, and it is showing 90 degrees AOB. But if not then it requires further reduction based on AOB:

10 degrees AOB (or 170), 17% of the original length,
15 degrees AOB (or 165), a quarter (26%) of the original length,
30 degrees AOB (or 150), halve (50%) % of the original length,
45 degrees AOB (or 135), 70% of the original length,
60 degrees AOB (or 120), 85% of the original length,
75 degrees AOB (or 105), 96% of the original length.

[desirableroasted]

Or never use salvos. They are a fool's game.

Why? there are certain places you want to hit:

a) Just under a foremast on a merchant, for example

b) just under a gun turret on a BB, for example

Doing that with a salvo is almost impossible. If you do manage to get one aimed right, the others will be just "anywhere".

Instead, arm two (or 3 or 4 if you simply must waste ammunition) torpedoes at proper depth and speed. You can do that easily. Open the tubes. Then, when firing time comes, fire them in succession where you want them to go.

You will get far better results.

[Fish In The Water]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

A. Point periscope at bow, and note Gyro Angle.
B. Point periscope at stern, and note Gyro Angle.
C. Subtract. A - B = Spread.

Very simple. Enjoy.

Makes sense to me.

[Olsin]

Or never use salvos. They are a fool's game.

Doing what you described using manual targetting and while being hunted is not as simple as you make it sound...Or at least not for me!...Just hitting the target at range is an achievement..
But sure, auto targetting at closeish range is easy enough to get your eels where you want them.
I've never used salvo's before but since i switched over to manual i find a 2 tube salvo in certain conditions quite advantageous...and your'e right...it's unusual to get one of your torps in the goldilock zone but eh...2 hits on most ships will at least either stop them or slow them down to a crawl if it doesn't sink them .. and in a pressing situation thats gotta be better than a miss or a single hit that just misses the zone, enabling the target to carry on.....Stopped and slowed down ships can then be taken out at leisure when the escorts move off...