Questions regarding historical/realistic torpedo settings

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Good post von Zelda.

Originally Posted by Kpt. Lehmann

Good post von Zelda.

Thanks Kpt. Lehmann, it means a lot to me coming from you!

[Sailor Steve]

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. I always use magnetic up until I get the historic message to stop using them, then contact only until they give the message to use the new, improved magnetics.

Someone once posted a picture of them being changed, and it was definitely a physical procedure done outside the tube.

Depth and gyro settings were changed with a mechanical (later electric) device that fitted into a slot on the outside of the tube, but went right through to the torpedo inside. This is actually shown in the 'Uncut' version of Das Boot. Lining the fittings up was part of the reason it took so long to load the eels.

[deepboat]

I usually mix and match between contact and mag torps depending on the situation. When do you get the historical data to change settings? Thank God for acoustic torps, saved my @#$ more than once but when do they become ineffective when allies introduce counter measures?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by deepboat

When do you get the historical data to change settings?

The Radiolog mods have most of the historical messages sent. People are always posting about their boat being ordered to patrol a certain area or head for home, and we always have to point out that those are for immersion only...but they also include the historic orders to dial back the magnetic settings, or stop using them altogether, so it's a great help.

Thank you von Zelda and Sailor Steve.

With regards to playing 'realistic' I've been doing what Sailor Steve does: use magnetic until BdU says to stop, then go back to magnetic when I get the 'go-ahead' message. (By the way, does anyone have the exact dates for those official notifications?)

With regards to the actual, real methodology, from the research I've been able to do and with my own, real-life experience with fixed and semi-fixed ammuntion, I think the following is probably accurate:

(credit to Paajtor; got it from his siggy)

The nose is probably fastened/removed with a wrench or spanner, permitting the pistol body to be inserted and removed. It's probably the same pistol for both contact and magnetic detonation; you just disable or enable magnetic detonating. The fuze is part of the pistol (and possibly, but it doesn't look so, the booster charge). So in order to activate or deactivate the magnetic portion you'd have to physically unscrew the nose and remove the pistol; definitely not do-able once the torpedo is in its tube, and not something that looks quick and easy to do when it's not in its tube.

I knew the gyro angles had to be able to be updated with the torpedo in its tube, and I was reasonably sure so did running depth. Thanks, Sailor Steve, both for confirming that as well as mentioning just how that was done.

As an aside, I discovered two interesting torpedo tidbits (both from wiki):

1) The [G7a] torpedo was of a straight running unguided design, stabilized by a gyroscope. The G7a was of variable speed, running a distance of 6km at 44kts, 8km at 40kts, and 14km at 30kts. The 44kts setting was used only by torpedo boats like the Schnellboote.

2) The T2 model of the G7e was in service with German U-boat fleets from the first day of WWII. In stark contrast with the G7a steam driven torpedo, the T2 left no visible stream of bubbles to alert ships they were under attack, and was virtually silent; however, these were the T2's only advantages over the G7a torpedo. The T2 in all other respects performed abysmally when compared to the G7a. Its range was much shorter than the G7a's at only 3000 m, and it ran much slower at 30 kt (55 km/h).

I remember when the T2 used to have a range of 3000 meters before GWX changed it to 5000 meters. I wonder why, when historically 3000 meters seems to be accurate? Now, the G7 e/T3 has a range of 5000 meters, but the T2 didn't.

Originally Posted by Albrecht Von Hesse

I remember when the T2 used to have a range of 3000 meters before GWX changed it to 5000 meters. I wonder why, when historically 3000 meters seems to be accurate? Now, the G7 e/T3 has a range of 5000 meters, but the T2 didn't.

IIRC, to obtain the 5000 meter range with the T2, the batteries needed to be preheated. Otherwise the range was only 3000 meters.