[REQ] Torpedo Loading....%???????

[U-Bones]

Originally Posted by perisher

Is it realistic to reload in action? Moving a ton and a half of torpedo in a cramped compartment using only muscle power and block and tackle is difficult, dangerous and unpredictable, not to mention noisy. I know that it wasn't common practise in the Royal Navy and I suspect other navies avoided doing so too. Imagine being on the wrong end of a depth charge attack with a torpedo slung from ropes or chains swinging about in the fore ends of your sub. Chances are you will get some serious casualties. Are you prepared to risk a near miss from a d/c while you have the rear door of a tube open? A wise skipper would break contact, and go deep to reload. Once all was secure again he could attempt to regain contact.

Having said that, I am sure there were times when skippers took calculated risks and reloaded in action, but not as a common practise.

Agree. My standing orders are NO reloads without explicit orders, always have been.