Questions about magnetic torpedoe firing

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 05-22-09, 08:01 PM

Good thoughts everybody. Come '41, I'll try these out. Until then it's impact and 90 aob. Good Hunting, Komrades

karamazovnew · 05-31-09, 12:21 AM

One year into the war, 400k tons sunk, all thanks to the T2 with impact detonator set to minimum depth. Fire range 500-1000 m for single targets, 3000-4500 for heavily guarded convoys. A magnetic detonator should break any ship in half but while using them I actually had worse results even when they did explode on target. Even 2 popcicles coouldn't bring down a medium cargo. Maybe the damage model isn't that good and can't count in the flooding effects?

Leandros · 05-31-09, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnterseeBoogeyMan

Good thoughts everybody. Come '41, I'll try these out. Until then it's impact and 90 aob. Good Hunting, Komrades

I am in August '41 and still having problems with magnetic fuzes and depth-keeping. As stated above, sea state and range is important. There is very little else to choose from than the magnetic fuze when in self-defense mode against a destroyer approaching fast as both types of torps are also still quite sensitive to the impact angle - when on impact fuze.

In RL the reason for the depth-keeping problems wasn't properly discovered untill '43. In the meantime many crews adapted their own modified techniques. The angle of hit capability was also improved, going back to a simpler, WWI-era system (actually copying the British, I think).

Shadowblade · 05-31-09, 05:21 AM

Can torpedo with magnetic pistol damage only keel or another critical areas (engine room, propulsion,ammo bunkers/fuel tanks) too or damaging these weak points requires impact pistol with specific depth setting ?

What is the best target location for torpedo with magnetic pistol ? Keel (middle part of ship) or first third of ship (for flooding) ?

melnibonian · 05-31-09, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowblade

Can torpedo with magnetic pistol damage only keel or another critical areas (engine room, propulsion,ammo bunkers/fuel tanks) too or damaging these weak points requires impact pistol with specific depth setting ?

What is the best target location for torpedo with magnetic pistol ? Keel (middle part of ship) or first third of ship (for flooding) ?

The whole idea of using a magnetic pistol is to break the ship's back. Therefore aimimg somewhere towards the middle of the vessel will bring better results.

Leandros · 05-31-09, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melnibonian

The whole idea of using a magnetic pistol is to break the ship's back. Therefore aimimg somewhere towards the middle of the vessel will bring better results.

I might be wrong but I have a feeling that a magnetically-fuzed torp passing under the length of the ship give even better results. It is also useful when you are not able to aim square on.

melnibonian · 05-31-09, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leandros

I might be wrong but I have a feeling that a magnetically-fuzed torp passing under the length of the ship give even better results. It is also useful when you are not able to aim square on.

That is correct in theory, although in a situation like the one you're refering to the torpedo will explode closer to the point of entry. Thus (assuming the blast is semispherical for convinience) the force of the explosion will be mainly concentrated in the area where the torpedo detonated, causing almost the same results as an AOB of 90deg.

To tell you the truth I usually use magetic pistols when my AOB is really bad for impact ones, using the same principle you're discussing. After all the important thing is for the ship to go down

Platapus · 05-31-09, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowblade

What is the best target location for torpedo with magnetic pistol ? Keel (middle part of ship) or first third of ship (for flooding) ?

I think there may be a problem with terminology here.

The keel of the ship runs along its entire length with the exception of the rudder area. So your question about where to aim "Keel (Middle part of ship) or first third of ship..." is not completely accurate.

Using magnetic pistols shot under the draft of the ship will affect the keel no matter where along the ship you aim at.

I believe your question is: Is it better to aim a magnetic pistol torpedo to pass under the middle of the ship or the front portion?

The answer is: Yes, no and maybe.

It depends on the type of ship you are shootin at. There are threads here with diagrams showing the "sweet" spots of ships where if you hit there you will have maximum enjoyment.

Frankly, in my experience, I have not found these too valuable. My philosophy about firing torpedoes is the same I had in the military for firing a rifle.

1. Aim for center of mass. This gives me the best chance of hitting my target. A torpedo that misses the ship, because I was trying for a bow or stern impact shot is worse then a "casually" aimed torpedo that hits.

2. Any target worth shooting is worth shooting twice. With a submarine you can't "empty the magazine" but also you can't afford to "snipe" a ship with one torpedo. If the target is not worth two torpedoes, it probably is not worth one torpedo.

If, and only if, I have a really good set up (fast 90 for example) will I aim at specific areas of the ship. Even then I am concentrating on the center of mass in each "section" of the ship. If I am firing two torpedoes, I will aim for the center of the first half and the center of the second half. Three or four torpedoes are spaced accordingly. I never aim for the ends of the ship (bow/stern) simply because I increase my chance of missin.

Shadowblade · 05-31-09, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

I think there may be a problem with terminology here.

The keel of the ship runs along its entire length with the exception of the rudder area. So your question about where to aim "Keel (Middle part of ship) or first third of ship..." is not completely accurate.

ok, I mean keel = critical area in the middle part of ship marked in recognition book

sharkbit · 05-31-09, 10:34 AM

Quote:

The answer is: Yes, no and maybe.

The classic answer to any poker question: It depends.

Bronzewing · 05-31-09, 10:37 AM

While the keel runs the length of a ship it's easiest to break it in the middle. Your're trying to bend it so it snaps with the blow underneath, and if you've ever tried snapping something like this you will know it's much easier to snap it in the middle than to break off an end.

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 05-31-09, 12:22 PM

this thread found some fresh legs, Allright!

the shot under the middle sounds like a solid strategy. I wonder, then, if only one mag keel shot would be good enough for a battleship, carrier or cruiser.

with impacts, it took 6 hits to down the HMS renown and 3 hits to get the HMS Nelson.

05-31-09, 05:21 AM	#4
Shadowblade Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 726 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	Can torpedo with magnetic pistol damage only keel or another critical areas (engine room, propulsion,ammo bunkers/fuel tanks) too or damaging these weak points requires impact pistol with specific depth setting ? What is the best target location for torpedo with magnetic pistol ? Keel (middle part of ship) or first third of ship (for flooding) ? __________________ Kapitänleutnant Vlad von Carstein - U-Flotilla Saltzwedel - U-123, Type IXB SH3 GWX 3.0

05-31-09, 10:37 AM	#11
Bronzewing Helmsman Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Leicester Posts: 104 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	While the keel runs the length of a ship it's easiest to break it in the middle. Your're trying to bend it so it snaps with the blow underneath, and if you've ever tried snapping something like this you will know it's much easier to snap it in the middle than to break off an end. __________________ "I say Number one, my end is diving. What the hell is your end doing?"

05-22-09, 08:01 PM	#1
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Good thoughts everybody. Come '41, I'll try these out. Until then it's impact and 90 aob. Good Hunting, Komrades

05-31-09, 12:21 AM	#2
karamazovnew The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,403 Downloads: 151 Uploads: 0	One year into the war, 400k tons sunk, all thanks to the T2 with impact detonator set to minimum depth. Fire range 500-1000 m for single targets, 3000-4500 for heavily guarded convoys. A magnetic detonator should break any ship in half but while using them I actually had worse results even when they did explode on target. Even 2 popcicles coouldn't bring down a medium cargo. Maybe the damage model isn't that good and can't count in the flooding effects?

05-31-09, 12:22 PM	#12
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	this thread found some fresh legs, Allright! the shot under the middle sounds like a solid strategy. I wonder, then, if only one mag keel shot would be good enough for a battleship, carrier or cruiser. with impacts, it took 6 hits to down the HMS renown and 3 hits to get the HMS Nelson.