Offloading torpedoes for supply missions?

[cj95]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

+1 on what PB posted.

usually, torpedoes from the Aft compartment were "sacrificed" because stern shots were more difficult to arrange. so, for supply missions, insertion missions, et.al. where extra space was needed for non-submarine stuff (and personnel), the Aft torpedo room was the place. they would load the available torpedo tubes with war shot and then the space occupied by the spares was re-allocated to supplies and non-sub personnel.

hope that helps.

Interesting.

Was it ONLY the aft torpedo room thus sacrificed?

[propbeanie]

Again, depended upon the situation, but usually, both rooms, fore & aft, lost all re-loads and they carried only what was in the tubes. It was more a weight issue than a space issue. They didn't want to just be able to dive, but also surface when needed...

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by cj95

Interesting.

Was it ONLY the aft torpedo room thus sacrificed?

pretty much.
have to keep in mind that there is not a lot of extra room on a sub.
when they shove off on patrol or special mission, they are packing food, ammo, etc for 50 days.
now...over and above that, they have to make room for the whatever "cargo" they are transporting. something has to stay home (guns vs butter) and it will not be food, nor fuel. so it ends up being some bullets.
if you read the operational history of the WWII boats, you will read that stern shots were tough to set up and execute, with all of the zig-zagging and shallow shorelines and reefs and escorts.