Torpedo Problem

mido · 12-26-11, 09:09 PM

It is August 1943 by now in my first career with RFB/RSRDC and the game was total fun so far. But now, since the Mark 10 torpedo is not available anymore one has to use the useless Mark 14 Torpedoes again.

NOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM:

I shot 15 torpedoes so far on this patrol, all hit the target but were duds. Were the torpedoes really that bad or is this a game bug? In 1941/42 the Mark 14 worked at least 50% of the time but now in '43 none explodes, all duds. I tried different angles on impact and different speeds, NO DETONATION!

TorpX · 12-26-11, 09:47 PM

Historically, the Mk 14 was certainly known to produce many duds. Different sources have given different figures. Unfortunately, no one is in a position to say *exactly* how many failed. I think RFB was intended to give about 80% duds at 90 degree impact. You might try magnetic influence detonation when seas are calm, or sharper angles of impact.

If you are at mid '43, you should soon have better torpedos, though.

I have been having the same problem with torpedos in WitP. All the USN torpedos are nerfed and how. I would guess that about 75 or 80% fail here.

Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Miss...Dud...Dud...D ud...Miss...Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Miss...D ud...Dud...

The appalling irony of it all, is that almost all the problems in the Mk 14 were with the Mark 6 exploder and if Bu Ord had bothered to test these, a replacement design could have developed without extraordinary trouble. Other than the exploder, the Mk 14 worked well.

razark · 12-26-11, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mido

Where the torpedoes really that bad...?

Yes.

Quote:

After shooting nine torpedoes at a sitting duck over almost an hour and a half 1009 to 1131, and taking time out to examine the fish in the torpedo room between shots, Lieutenant Commander Daspit took Tinosa back to Pearl Harbor with the single remaining weapon.

Kongo Otto · 12-26-11, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mido

Where the torpedoes really that bad or is this a game bug?

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

Yes.

More about the Mark 14 Problem: Mark 14 Torpedo

What are the angles when your Torpedo hits the Ship?
What distances have you shot?
Which Detonator have you used?

mido · 12-27-11, 12:36 AM

Thanks to all for the answers, makes me feel better. Sounds like I just got frustrated like a real sub commander.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kongo Otto

What are the angles when your Torpedo hits the Ship?
What distances have you shot?
Which Detonator have you used?

I tried all kinds of different angles (not 90 degrees, read that somewhere...) but no difference. Shooting distance was always between 800 and 1,500 yards and I always used the contact detonator.

I finished the patrol by now and of that 24 torpedoes only (!!!) 3 detonated but all torpedoes hit the target as the game gives you the message "...is a dud, sir."
If the torpedo misses you get the message that it missed. A freighter would not sink after 2 hours game time, so I wanted to give her the 'coup de grace' and fired 6 torpedoes at a stationery ship and none would explode. Finally finished her off with the deck gun.

USS Drum · 12-27-11, 01:30 AM

Here's the answer do NOT try to hit the target at a 90 degree angle I tried it in TMO and when I hit at a 90 degree angle dud.,... non 90 degree angle bang bang bang bang .

mido · 12-27-11, 07:02 AM

How do you get better results in terms of detonation, shooting the torpedoes at high or low speed?

Hylander_1314 · 12-26-11, 11:14 PM

Yep! US torpedoes really sucked bigtime until about mid to late 1943.

One account of a sub Skipper said that of all 24 torpedoes fired only one detonated on target.

The key to success early in the war,

1. Don't use magnetic detonators! Ever!

2. Set torpedo depth as shallow as the dial will allow. The Mk 14 fish were known to run as much 10ft deeper than the depth setting. This was due to something with original test firings not having the weight of the warhead in them when they were tested, so this never got addressed until the torpedoes were fired finally, in anger.

3. Always set up your attack, so the fish will hit at at least a 45 degree angle. The closer to a 90 degree impact, the greater the possibility of the contact firing mechanism being bent or broken before it can strike the firing pin.

4. Until these issues were solved later in the war, it is not recommended to set up attacks in medium to heavy seas. The wave action of strong winds and whipping seas can cause premature detonations. The highest wind speeds I fire early in the war are 5 to 8mps winds. Anything above, is usually a waste of torpedoes.

And trust me, it sucks letting a juicy target go unmolested on it's merry way.

But if you follow the above guidelines, you can count on anywhere from 75% to 90% success ratios for your torpedoes doing what they were meant to do.

12-26-11, 09:09 PM	#1
mido Engineer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 203 Downloads: 191 Uploads: 1	Torpedo Problem It is August 1943 by now in my first career with RFB/RSRDC and the game was total fun so far. But now, since the Mark 10 torpedo is not available anymore one has to use the useless Mark 14 Torpedoes again. NOW, THIS IS A PROBLEM: I shot 15 torpedoes so far on this patrol, all hit the target but were duds. Were the torpedoes really that bad or is this a game bug? In 1941/42 the Mark 14 worked at least 50% of the time but now in '43 none explodes, all duds. I tried different angles on impact and different speeds, NO DETONATION! Last edited by mido; 12-27-11 at 12:41 AM.

12-26-11, 09:47 PM	#2
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	Historically, the Mk 14 was certainly known to produce many duds. Different sources have given different figures. Unfortunately, no one is in a position to say exactly how many failed. I think RFB was intended to give about 80% duds at 90 degree impact. You might try magnetic influence detonation when seas are calm, or sharper angles of impact. If you are at mid '43, you should soon have better torpedos, though. I have been having the same problem with torpedos in WitP. All the USN torpedos are nerfed and how. I would guess that about 75 or 80% fail here. Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Miss...Dud...Dud...D ud...Miss...Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Dud...Miss...D ud...Dud... The appalling irony of it all, is that almost all the problems in the Mk 14 were with the Mark 6 exploder and if Bu Ord had bothered to test these, a replacement design could have developed without extraordinary trouble. Other than the exploder, the Mk 14 worked well.

12-26-11, 11:14 PM	#8
Hylander_1314 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2006 Location: 5 Miles Inland West Of Lake Huron Posts: 1,936 Downloads: 139 Uploads: 0	Yep! US torpedoes really sucked bigtime until about mid to late 1943. One account of a sub Skipper said that of all 24 torpedoes fired only one detonated on target. The key to success early in the war, 1. Don't use magnetic detonators! Ever! 2. Set torpedo depth as shallow as the dial will allow. The Mk 14 fish were known to run as much 10ft deeper than the depth setting. This was due to something with original test firings not having the weight of the warhead in them when they were tested, so this never got addressed until the torpedoes were fired finally, in anger. 3. Always set up your attack, so the fish will hit at at least a 45 degree angle. The closer to a 90 degree impact, the greater the possibility of the contact firing mechanism being bent or broken before it can strike the firing pin. 4. Until these issues were solved later in the war, it is not recommended to set up attacks in medium to heavy seas. The wave action of strong winds and whipping seas can cause premature detonations. The highest wind speeds I fire early in the war are 5 to 8mps winds. Anything above, is usually a waste of torpedoes. And trust me, it sucks letting a juicy target go unmolested on it's merry way. But if you follow the above guidelines, you can count on anywhere from 75% to 90% success ratios for your torpedoes doing what they were meant to do. __________________ A legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law. -John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ---------------------

12-27-11, 01:30 AM	#6
USS Drum Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 977 Downloads: 126 Uploads: 0	Here's the answer do NOT try to hit the target at a 90 degree angle I tried it in TMO and when I hit at a 90 degree angle dud.,... non 90 degree angle bang bang bang bang .

12-27-11, 07:02 AM	#7
mido Engineer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 203 Downloads: 191 Uploads: 1	How do you get better results in terms of detonation, shooting the torpedoes at high or low speed?