Default setting for Torpedo pistol selector?

[soopaman2]

This discussion kind of inspired this question.

Is there a particular situation you should use a differing detonation method? I am distrustful of magnetic because I do alot of my sinking in northish latitudes and am wary to how realistic the magnetic north pole screwing with torpedoes is simulated here.

[1480]

Originally Posted by soopaman2

This discussion kind of inspired this question.

Is there a particular situation you should use a differing detonation method? I am distrustful of magnetic because I do alot of my sinking in northish latitudes and am wary to how realistic the magnetic north pole screwing with torpedoes is simulated here.

You will get differing opinions from different Kaleuns. Magnetic pistol always for a down the throat shot at an charging escort. As Frau said above, trying to get as close to a 90-60 degree angle for an Impact pistol. A lesser AOB is where the Magnetic is better suited. Magnetic also comes in when attacking a convoy, ships of lesser importance usually get the outside picket positions, the juicier targets are on the inside. Their draft is usually a bit deeper than the lesser ships, bypassing those in hopes that the eels will bite the bigger targets.

Not sure if the magnetic's are as realistic in the Nord see as in real life. Cannot remember correctly if the cheerful psychopaths otherwise known as the GWX team messed with it or its hard coded.

[Sailor Steve]

We're much luckier than the real kaleuns were. They didn't have a switch that could give you one or the other. To change the torpedo warhead had to be physically removed and the pistos switch out. The operation took about an hour.

[Hinrich Schwab]

In my experience, mag pistols are really sensitive to heavy seas and are increasingly likely to detonate prematurely after a run of about 900 meters. Impact pistols are equally weird about the angle of impact. Ensuring a 90 degree Angle-on-Bow is extremely important. Mag pistols are best with short range shots and impact is best (from my observations) at long and extreme range. Even in calm waters, the longer the torpedo runs, the likelihood of a mag pistol misfire increases.

[andwii]

the thing I like about megs is they are fantastic in last ditch efforts to save your skin when a destroyer is comin right for you. The thing that sucks about T1's is they can somehow see the steam bubble wake a mile away even in rough seas and pitch black skies (figures) and they will avoid it, usually causing a miss or dud. It does not make much sense they would see it. Didnt otto get into the middle of convoys on the surface? if so then why can they see me so easy! lol

[Osmium Steele]

Otto went in decks awash.

Though, one time, fire his forward tubes, reloaded all 4 tubes, fired them, and brought his externally stored torpedos into the boat while in the middle of the convoy!

Betcha there was no moon that night.

[Fish In The Water]

Originally Posted by Osmium Steele

Though, one time, fire his forward tubes, reloaded all 4 tubes, fired them, and brought his externally stored torpedos into the boat while in the middle of the convoy! .

Much like the thin line between genius and insanity, there's also a thin line between nerves of steel and foolhardiness. I guess the outcome determines which side of the line you were on.

[desirableroasted]

[QUOTE=andwii;1759915]the thing I like about megs is they are fantastic in last ditch efforts to save your skin when a destroyer is comin right for you. The thing that sucks about T1's is they can somehow see the steam bubble wake a mile away even in rough seas and pitch black skies (figures) and they will avoid it, usually causing a miss or dud. It does not make much sense they would see it/QUOTE]

But that is a different issue (T1 vs T2). Whether you are using stock or GWX makes a lot of difference here, too. In stock, if they see you, they might simply stop (or go to warp speed). In GWX, as far as I can tell, some basic rules of physics apply.

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

We're much luckier than the real kaleuns were. They didn't have a switch that could give you one or the other. To change the torpedo warhead had to be physically removed and the pistos switch out. The operation took about an hour.

Sorry to necro this, but...
I've always been curious about this aspect. I've always been under the impression this is true with US torpedoes but I've never read anything about German torpedoes.

So one of my "personal realism settings" has always been to select one or the other prior to action and not switch it in the middle of the action, both in SH3 and SH4.

While surfing last night, I came across this on the U-boat Archive website about torpedo pistols:

"Pi 2 (Pi 39H) December 1942 Selectable impact and magnetic or impact alone (new German designed magnetic detonator - impact mechanism same as Pi1) G7e TIII "

Here's the link showing the whole article and all of the different pistols and dates used(it is less than a third of the way down on the page):

http://www.uboatarchive.net/KTBNotesArmament.htm

I interperate that as it was selectable at time of firing from 12/42 on on the T3 eels. Earlier pistols didn't seem to be selectable. I'm going to try to some more digging and see if I can find anything more definite.

[Gargamel]

7.5 points! Good post!

Sorry, I have nothing intelligent to add.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by sharkbit

Sorry to necro this, but...
I've always been curious about this aspect. I've always been under the impression this is true with US torpedoes but I've never read anything about German torpedoes.

And there's new information. This is the source.
http://eaglescholar.georgiasouthern...._201005_MA.pdf

I got some grief awhile back when I pointed out that there was a switch, but it wasn't available until late 1943, when the magnetic problem was solved. On page 30 the author says that the switch was there from the beginning. Later, on page 48 he says "At the time U-boats carried torpedoes equipped with either the MZ or AZ pistol. The option that would later allow the commander to interchange these settings while on patrol had not yet come into being, so whatever setting the pistol was set to when delivered to the boat was what it was stuck with for the duration of the patrol. It was impossible, in other words, for a commander to change his torpedo’s pistols from MZ to AZ setting and vice-versa.

Either way, the documents should keep you entertained for quite some time.

[bigboywooly]

Interesting
If you read the KTBs etc of the Norway assault the magnetic failures are well documented.
Boats at sea were advised to change all fuses for impact as magnetic couldnt be trusted.( Later to be found out that impact didnt work correctly either )
So by that reasoning it was possible for them to change fuse types after delivery

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

So by that reasoning it was possible for them to change fuse types after delivery

It was my understanding before that they could be changed, but they had to be physically replaced. Maybe that was the case at the beginning. Or maybe they were like the US torpedoes, with both types installed, and the magnetic ones had to be removed.

It's hard to tell.