Jesus Tap Dancing Christ, I got a real taste of torpedo problems

Bubblehead1980 · 07-02-10, 06:06 PM

TMO 2.0 100 realism USS Skipjack Salmon Class May 1942

May 1942 while en route to Patrol Area A2 off Luzon in USS Skipjack Salmon Class, encountered a lone freighter while I was making a submerged passage of Balabac Strait(between Borneo and Palawan) sonar reported contact, went to scope depth in heavy seas and could see the smoke plume, battery was kind of low due to 4 knot speed had maintained but decided to close submerged at flank and went to GQ.Went to 100 feet for some safety from possible planes, when sonar confirmed was 5000 yards from target, back to scope depth for a look, I had a large Nagara Maru freighter in sight, nearly 8000 tons worth, had to attack.Tracked her speed at 9 knots, AOB and range bearing into TDC, dropped scope to continue to close.Plot showed should be able to close to 1400 yards for a shot, perfect.On next observation, bad news, the ship had moved closer to the shore, would be firing from 4500 yards instead, a long shot in daylight.Unreliable torpedos also crept into my mind.I then decided to let her get further away, surface for a quick end around and then dive and attack at dusk.

After an end around and a dive, had a great approach going, next observation, the SOB had turned north into the Sulu Sea! I was down to 30 percent battery.A quick plot showed I could close her to 1200 yards if went to flank speed, I decided to risk driving the battery too low, it was almost dark after all.After a 10 minute run at flank speed, up scope perfect shot coming up.Readied all four forward tubes, Mark 14's, would fire two first, one to bust te keel, other to hit at 15 feet(play at this point in the war as if no knowledge of torpedos running deep, sometimes they dont) Finally, on firing bearing, fired two, the first one prematurely exploded after leaving tube, the second went on her way.I then fired the last two with different spread to cover target.The remaining fish from first salvo seemed as if she would hit dead center but nothing, the third fish launched slammed into the side of the freighter under the stack, large explosion, number 4 hit also but sound man reported a dud.

The ship was on fire but damaged, I was already bringing stern around for a shot from stern tubes as the burning ship slowed.I then fired two more, both prematures.Fired two more, both prematures.Low on battery power, torpedos being reloaded and dark approached.I let the ship sail off then surfaced.The ship went dead in the water.I planed to use deck gun on her but made sure was not too close, she had big turrets fore and aft.At 4000 yards, deck gun opened up scoring hits but the 3 inch gun seemed to be lobbing spitballs with mostly missed, with torpedos reloaded, I dove and approached, fired multiple torpedos with plenty of prematures, duds and unexplained(prob ran deep) misses.Finally another fish hit and exploded, the ship burst into flames and sank in 20 minutes.

Taking stock of the situation.I had only four torpedos left, thats right, only four left in fore tubes.

I've read accounts of subs in early war firing over and over at same ship and having the issues I did.Really brings home some of the aggravation

Sailor Steve · 07-02-10, 06:25 PM

Cool! But we could really do without the language, especially in the title.

Ducimus · 07-02-10, 06:39 PM

Duci's version of indian weather rock for torpedos in TMO.

If sea is rough, use impact.
If sea is calm, use magnetic.

Lionfish298 · 07-02-10, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Cool! But we could really do without the language, especially in the title.

Agreed.

Armistead · 07-03-10, 02:43 AM

Don't feel bad. I lined up a perfect shot tonignt at a Carrier I had dead in the water after two end arounds. Shot my torp and why waiting for it to hit, I went to 150 ft due to a escort working it's way to me. It went past time and I came up to take another look. As I got to scope depth...WHAM. The escort was still 2000 yards away, I came right up to a circle runner that did 82% damage. I had to use speed to stay out of a dive that alerted the escort...that told his pals. Obvious couldn't go deep, could only go 3kts....they made quick work of me....

M18's seem to circle run at a much higher rate.

sergei · 07-03-10, 03:01 AM

Yep. My first patrol in TMO 2.0 went something like this.

Target One: Small Freighter
Dud, Dud

Target Two: Large Tanker
Dud, Dud, Dud,

Target Three: Medium Freighter
Dud, Dud, Dud

Target Four: Another Large Tanker
I am really PO'd now. Give her everything
Dud, Dud, Dud, Dud.
Turn around and give her the stern tubes.
Dud, BOOM!!!!!!!!!

Finally, I managed to sink something. Happy days.

Unfortunately, choppy seas every time, so forced to use the impact pistol.
I know the magnetic pistol is fairly reliable in calm seas.

I cannot even begin to imagine the frustration the real skippers must have felt.
And then to get back to base and have the lousy torpedoes explained away as poor shooting on their part.
Incredible.

07-02-10, 06:06 PM	#1
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,123 Downloads: 605 Uploads: 44	Jesus Tap Dancing Christ, I got a real taste of torpedo problems TMO 2.0 100 realism USS Skipjack Salmon Class May 1942 May 1942 while en route to Patrol Area A2 off Luzon in USS Skipjack Salmon Class, encountered a lone freighter while I was making a submerged passage of Balabac Strait(between Borneo and Palawan) sonar reported contact, went to scope depth in heavy seas and could see the smoke plume, battery was kind of low due to 4 knot speed had maintained but decided to close submerged at flank and went to GQ.Went to 100 feet for some safety from possible planes, when sonar confirmed was 5000 yards from target, back to scope depth for a look, I had a large Nagara Maru freighter in sight, nearly 8000 tons worth, had to attack.Tracked her speed at 9 knots, AOB and range bearing into TDC, dropped scope to continue to close.Plot showed should be able to close to 1400 yards for a shot, perfect.On next observation, bad news, the ship had moved closer to the shore, would be firing from 4500 yards instead, a long shot in daylight.Unreliable torpedos also crept into my mind.I then decided to let her get further away, surface for a quick end around and then dive and attack at dusk. After an end around and a dive, had a great approach going, next observation, the SOB had turned north into the Sulu Sea! I was down to 30 percent battery.A quick plot showed I could close her to 1200 yards if went to flank speed, I decided to risk driving the battery too low, it was almost dark after all.After a 10 minute run at flank speed, up scope perfect shot coming up.Readied all four forward tubes, Mark 14's, would fire two first, one to bust te keel, other to hit at 15 feet(play at this point in the war as if no knowledge of torpedos running deep, sometimes they dont) Finally, on firing bearing, fired two, the first one prematurely exploded after leaving tube, the second went on her way.I then fired the last two with different spread to cover target.The remaining fish from first salvo seemed as if she would hit dead center but nothing, the third fish launched slammed into the side of the freighter under the stack, large explosion, number 4 hit also but sound man reported a dud. The ship was on fire but damaged, I was already bringing stern around for a shot from stern tubes as the burning ship slowed.I then fired two more, both prematures.Fired two more, both prematures.Low on battery power, torpedos being reloaded and dark approached.I let the ship sail off then surfaced.The ship went dead in the water.I planed to use deck gun on her but made sure was not too close, she had big turrets fore and aft.At 4000 yards, deck gun opened up scoring hits but the 3 inch gun seemed to be lobbing spitballs with mostly missed, with torpedos reloaded, I dove and approached, fired multiple torpedos with plenty of prematures, duds and unexplained(prob ran deep) misses.Finally another fish hit and exploded, the ship burst into flames and sank in 20 minutes. Taking stock of the situation.I had only four torpedos left, thats right, only four left in fore tubes. I've read accounts of subs in early war firing over and over at same ship and having the issues I did.Really brings home some of the aggravation

07-02-10, 06:25 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Cool! But we could really do without the language, especially in the title. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-03-10, 03:01 AM	#6
sergei Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 1,788 Downloads: 405 Uploads: 29	Yep. My first patrol in TMO 2.0 went something like this. Target One: Small Freighter Dud, Dud Target Two: Large Tanker Dud, Dud, Dud, Target Three: Medium Freighter Dud, Dud, Dud Target Four: Another Large Tanker I am really PO'd now. Give her everything Dud, Dud, Dud, Dud. Turn around and give her the stern tubes. Dud, BOOM!!!!!!!!! Finally, I managed to sink something. Happy days. Unfortunately, choppy seas every time, so forced to use the impact pistol. I know the magnetic pistol is fairly reliable in calm seas. I cannot even begin to imagine the frustration the real skippers must have felt. And then to get back to base and have the lousy torpedoes explained away as poor shooting on their part. Incredible. Last edited by sergei; 07-03-10 at 05:25 AM.

07-02-10, 06:39 PM	#3
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Duci's version of indian weather rock for torpedos in TMO. If sea is rough, use impact. If sea is calm, use magnetic.

07-03-10, 02:43 AM	#5
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Don't feel bad. I lined up a perfect shot tonignt at a Carrier I had dead in the water after two end arounds. Shot my torp and why waiting for it to hit, I went to 150 ft due to a escort working it's way to me. It went past time and I came up to take another look. As I got to scope depth...WHAM. The escort was still 2000 yards away, I came right up to a circle runner that did 82% damage. I had to use speed to stay out of a dive that alerted the escort...that told his pals. Obvious couldn't go deep, could only go 3kts....they made quick work of me.... M18's seem to circle run at a much higher rate.