What the Falke?

spork542 · 05-15-07, 07:31 PM

The Falke works as an acoustic homing torpedo. You need to have a ship moving at a decent speed for it to lock on, and at a range beyond about 200-400m. At this range, it will turn towards whatever the loudest noise it hears is. Obviously, you want to go silent when you use this torpedo. Normally aiming in the general direction of your target works if it is going at the recommended speed of 10-20 knots. Not sure if it works with less, but that's what would work IRL.

ReM · 05-16-07, 03:14 AM

It's a nice sight to see a Falke creeping up on a dd and finally sinking it!

I believe it was common practice in the German navy to dive after firing an acoustic homing torpedo in order to not get hit by your own torp!

Got a few kills with the Falke, never got hit by one...

rb4door · 05-16-07, 03:46 AM

oooh so they are available as early as '42?

I'm on my first career in GWX and have just reach February 1942 - cant wait to try them

HunterICX · 05-16-07, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb4door

oooh so they are available as early as '42?

I'm on my first career in GWX and have just reach February 1942 - cant wait to try them

if I,m correct you automaticly get some Proto types.

you cant buy them yet, but you get them

maillemaker · 05-16-07, 06:33 AM

I've used the homing torpedo twice and have had it chase down and hit DDs. It's fun to watch them in the TDC - you can see the torpedo squirming around if it's tracking.

Chock · 05-16-07, 06:47 AM

Only prototypes were available that early, and given to a very few boats to test, but I guess you could regard yourself as one of the lucky test boats, so it is 'sort of' realistic to have them that early.

Incidentally, it was recommended at the time of those tests to place the acoustic homing torpedo only in the rear tube, so that you could run away from it, also as ReM points out, diving was common practice too in order to be below the 'floor' of the seeker (a common practice with torpedoes today in fact).

It was noted at the time that they were unlikely to be 'miracle weapons' as there would be many occasions where a standard convoy engagement firing position would not be conducive to use of the acoustic homing torpedo, so if you are having problems employing them, that's realistic, as the real sub skippers faced that too.

There's a lot of useful info about their use and capabilities in the book 'Type VII U-Boats' by Robert C Stern (ISBN 1-86019-855-4), which I thoroughly recommend if you are even remotely interested in German submarines, as it is a mine of information, and in fact one of the 'modders bibles'.

filefool · 05-16-07, 07:44 AM

The guideline for Falke torpedoes was to dive to at least 50m after a shot from the bow tubes and to go to silent running after a stern shot.

BTW i am in May 1943 and all i get are those lousy FAT I & III torpedoes. Does the BdU hates me or am i just unlucky?

Dietrich · 05-16-07, 08:55 AM

You still need to set the shot up for acoustic torpedoes. This includes setting the depth correctly -- for an "under the keel" shot. Acoustic torpedoes will rarely result in a nice impact shot, but they do work nicely by following a DD, undershooting the props and blowing up under the rear magazine.

They work well for removing escorts, but they can also be used to cripple a merchant (e.g. a fast moving tanker), allowing you the time to evade any escorts and come back for it later.

(PS: There's nothing wrong with FaT I torpedoes. I really like them!)

05-15-07, 07:31 PM	#1
spork542 Chief Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 328 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	The Falke works as an acoustic homing torpedo. You need to have a ship moving at a decent speed for it to lock on, and at a range beyond about 200-400m. At this range, it will turn towards whatever the loudest noise it hears is. Obviously, you want to go silent when you use this torpedo. Normally aiming in the general direction of your target works if it is going at the recommended speed of 10-20 knots. Not sure if it works with less, but that's what would work IRL. __________________

05-16-07, 03:14 AM	#2
ReM Commodore Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brewsky, Galore Posts: 618 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	It's a nice sight to see a Falke creeping up on a dd and finally sinking it! I believe it was common practice in the German navy to dive after firing an acoustic homing torpedo in order to not get hit by your own torp! Got a few kills with the Falke, never got hit by one... __________________ Daddy cool Last edited by ReM; 05-16-07 at 03:27 AM.

05-16-07, 07:44 AM	#7
filefool Loader Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austria. Far away from any port or shore. Posts: 87 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The guideline for Falke torpedoes was to dive to at least 50m after a shot from the bow tubes and to go to silent running after a stern shot. BTW i am in May 1943 and all i get are those lousy FAT I & III torpedoes. Does the BdU hates me or am i just unlucky? __________________

05-16-07, 03:46 AM	#3
rb4door Machinist's Mate Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St Naz Posts: 129 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	oooh so they are available as early as '42? I'm on my first career in GWX and have just reach February 1942 - cant wait to try them

05-16-07, 06:33 AM	#5
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	I've used the homing torpedo twice and have had it chase down and hit DDs. It's fun to watch them in the TDC - you can see the torpedo squirming around if it's tracking.

05-16-07, 06:47 AM	#6
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Only prototypes were available that early, and given to a very few boats to test, but I guess you could regard yourself as one of the lucky test boats, so it is 'sort of' realistic to have them that early. Incidentally, it was recommended at the time of those tests to place the acoustic homing torpedo only in the rear tube, so that you could run away from it, also as ReM points out, diving was common practice too in order to be below the 'floor' of the seeker (a common practice with torpedoes today in fact). It was noted at the time that they were unlikely to be 'miracle weapons' as there would be many occasions where a standard convoy engagement firing position would not be conducive to use of the acoustic homing torpedo, so if you are having problems employing them, that's realistic, as the real sub skippers faced that too. There's a lot of useful info about their use and capabilities in the book 'Type VII U-Boats' by Robert C Stern (ISBN 1-86019-855-4), which I thoroughly recommend if you are even remotely interested in German submarines, as it is a mine of information, and in fact one of the 'modders bibles'.

05-16-07, 08:55 AM	#8
Dietrich Sparky Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 152 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You still need to set the shot up for acoustic torpedoes. This includes setting the depth correctly -- for an "under the keel" shot. Acoustic torpedoes will rarely result in a nice impact shot, but they do work nicely by following a DD, undershooting the props and blowing up under the rear magazine. They work well for removing escorts, but they can also be used to cripple a merchant (e.g. a fast moving tanker), allowing you the time to evade any escorts and come back for it later. (PS: There's nothing wrong with FaT I torpedoes. I really like them!)