Under keel or into the ship...

[Paul Riley]

I shouldnt worry about only doing 90 degree shots,these were the most common and ideal positions to be in ,in real life,due to the fact that the 90 degree angle gives a better contact surface for the torpedo and practically elmininates the chance of it bouncing off.Plus it is a better angle for observing a ship by being able to see its entire beam.

[Sailor Steve]

I use magnetics early on, and stop using them when the radio messages tell me to. They ceased to exist from mid-1940 until December 1942, so I don't use them at all in that period.

I just wish they had the same failure rates they did in real life.




Oh, and a quote I read somewhere:

Duct Tape is like The Force: It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

[Jimbuna]

Good grief noty that bad a failure rate surely

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Good grief noty that bad a failure rate surely

Heck yeah! I like my realism real.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Heck yeah! I like my realism real.

Such a glutton for punishment...macho man

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Such a glutton for punishment...macho man

Not macho at all.









Just masochistic.

[Paul Riley]

Youre scaring me here Steve

[KL-alfman]

hmm, I really need some advice from my fellow Kaleuns.
mostly I just use the default settings of my TDC:
depth: 4.5m
pistol: magnetic
speed: slow
I just change the solutions if I have to conduct convoy-attacks when a fast speed of the last eels is needed.

recently though I tried for keel-shots as they are supposed to sink vessels with only one shot. when I approached a target with a mean draught (found in the recognition-manual) of let's say 9.2m, I set the depth of eel to 9.8-10.2m?
is that correct?
and the angle on the bow isn't that important like in impact-pistol solutions?

thx in advance for your help to clearify this question!

[Paul Riley]

I think you are taking a risk going for the keel all the time,as early torpedoes had depth keeping problems.I would stick to impact for most of your shots and try and aim for the bow or at the very least the fore section,this could have 2 benefits,a shot to the bow has more chance of hitting than nearer the stern due to his already forward momentum carrying him into the path of the torpedo,and 2 the forward momentum could increase the rate of flooding.As far as depth?,I think to set your torpedoes probably no more than 1 metre of the target ship's keel would be sufficient.Also,dont forget that doing this in rough sea is a mistake,due to the heavily fluctuating depth of the target's keel.
Dont be overly concerned with angle on bow,there is a very simple and VERY effective way to do all this.

THIS IS FOR MANUAL TARGETING

1- if you going for a 90 degree shot and you are on the same course as your target set the AOB to say 270 for this shot,that is 90 deg port side on the dial.
2- next set the bearing dial to 90 deg.
3- make sure all your other settings are correct
4- at this point you want to have the scope unlocked
5- now lock the TDC from manual to auto,until the green light goes red
6- now lock the scope to the target
7- if you want to hit amidships leave the scope locked and the TDC should already aim for the centre
8- if you want to aim for parts yourself,unlock the scope and point the crosshair at the section you want,the TDC will STILL update everything for you,SO LONG AS THE TDC IS LOCKED!CHECK THE GREEN LIGHT IS RED!

Now the TDC will update the torpedo release angle for you,you dont need to do a thing,just make sure you release it in good time at the bearing you have decided on,eg 270 or 90.

Dont forget,firing your torpedoes shouldnt require you to be an expert at maths or geometry,we want to keep it as simple and effective as much as possible (this is what the TDC was designed for,IT does all the calculations for you,so long as the basics are already inputted) because some situations require speed and quick thinking instead,and you must use your own judgement then.

Hope SOME of this was useful,works a charm for me,and I can attack from any angle and in almost any condition...most times

[LostDream]

Originally Posted by KL-alfman

hmm, I really need some advice from my fellow Kaleuns.
mostly I just use the default settings of my TDC:
depth: 4.5m
pistol: magnetic
speed: slow
I just change the solutions if I have to conduct convoy-attacks when a fast speed of the last eels is needed.

recently though I tried for keel-shots as they are supposed to sink vessels with only one shot. when I approached a target with a mean draught (found in the recognition-manual) of let's say 9.2m, I set the depth of eel to 9.8-10.2m?
is that correct?
and the angle on the bow isn't that important like in impact-pistol solutions?

thx in advance for your help to clearify this question!

Im calm seas, what works for me is to add .5 meters to the keel depth. now since we can only use a dial and not direct input, there are times when i just round up to the nearest tenth and "eye ball it".

Kinda like "Kentucky Windage" for when I was in the Marines, when shooting at a unknown distance target.

[Paul Riley]

Good point,your own eye can tell how much he is pitching,at least approximate.In any case,I would NEVER use a mag tip in seas rougher than about 4mps.

[pickinthebanjo]

I almost always come in aft of my target, trying to mask my engine noise with their own. Then if my target is over 6000 tons I set my torpedo depth accordingly for a keel shot, the resulting explosion cripples their engine room.
I then set up for the final shot (usually 90 degrees port, impact 4' depth).
If my target is under 6000 tons I just use whatever is most likely to strike a hit in whatever the situation calls for.

I use this tactic in convoys to great success for the fact that I can immobilize 4-6 large freighters/tankers, dodge some destroyers for while then surface a few hours later and finish the job.

I play on 89%(I think) realism the only thing i left on is the camera (F12 I think)
Iv'e been busy so i can't remember the exact realism i use but it's pretty high.

Oh yeah I use:
1939-1941 - Type VIIB Stock
1941-1944 - Type IXB Stock
1945-1945 - Type XXI Stock
I can't remember the name of the torpedoes, I use that first one G7(steam) I think

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Paul Riley

I think you are taking a risk going for the keel all the time,as early torpedoes had depth keeping problems.

But they didn't know that until after the fact.

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

But they didn't know that until after the fact.

I've always had that niggling in the back of mind while playing SH3/4-hindsight is 20/20.

Our knowledge of WWII events may lead us to play somewhat unrealistically. We sometimes put ourselves in a position to take advantage of our knowledge-be it historic events or knowledge of different tactics/equipment issues.

EXAMPLE-I was patrolling near Norway in April 1940. I worked my way up to Narvik because I knew what would take place there. I rationalized with the idea that Bdu ordered me there during the operation. Of course I knew the Warspite would be cruising thru there eventually.

I try to avoid that though. I go where ordered and take advantage of any mission orders, but sometimes, it is hard.

Just my 2 cents.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by sharkbit

I've always had that niggling in the back of mind while playing SH3/4-hindsight is 20/20.

Our knowledge of WWII events may lead us to play somewhat unrealistically. We sometimes put ourselves in a position to take advantage of our knowledge-be it historic events or knowledge of different tactics/equipment issues.

EXAMPLE-I was patrolling near Norway in April 1940. I worked my way up to Narvik because I knew what would take place there. I rationalized with the idea that Bdu ordered me there during the operation. Of course I knew the Warspite would be cruising thru there eventually.

I try to avoid that though. I go where ordered and take advantage of any mission orders, but sometimes, it is hard.

Just my 2 cents.

I think what your describing is a phenomena experienced by many SH3 players.....a balance between historical accuracy and the inevitability of knowing what that brings.

Sadly, the tradeoff is sometimes a lowering of the immersion factor.

To each their own I suppose.