External Reserve Torpedoes

[meduza]

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

I'm sure it wasn't a quick job either. As I remember Suhren did this mid-Atlantic 1942 where there wasn't Allied air cover yet.

I don't use the external reloads 'in game' unless-

1) I'm out of range of aircraft patrols.
2) The weather is perfect=clear skies, dead calm seas, daylight or full moon night.
3) Engines stopped.
4) I have enough fuel to make continuing the patrol worth it.

I have a bit less restrictive set of rules:
- the sea doesn't have to be completely calm. If I can use guns, I can reload torpedoes
- speed no more then ahead slow
- no diving while reloading!

Most of the time I reload during the night. I wonder how realistic is that?

[BulSoldier]

Furthermore IIRC the torpedos stored externally should be only non electric since the electric aals needed maitanance every few days unlike steampowered witch could have gone without this maitanance.

[Leg]

Originally Posted by BulSoldier

Furthermore IIRC the torpedos stored externally should be only non electric since the electric aals needed maitanance every few days unlike steampowered witch could have gone without this maitanance.

Do you ppl keep only steam torpedos in external reserves?

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by Leg

Do you ppl keep only steam torpedos in external reserves?

I do. I've read that somewhere as well. The electrics needed to be serviced every couple of days.

[meduza]

Originally Posted by Leg

Do you ppl keep only steam torpedos in external reserves?

Yep. And if I am not mistaken, the default set of torpedoes always has the steam torps as externals.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by sharkbit

I do. I've read that somewhere as well. The electrics needed to be serviced every couple of days.

Same here. And I've read that too. Electric torpedoes were never put into external reserve holds.

[Jimbuna]

Electrics were always kept as warm as possible because the batteries were quick to deteriorate.

[Kapt Z]

Originally Posted by meduza

I have a bit less restrictive set of rules:
- the sea doesn't have to be completely calm. If I can use guns, I can reload torpedoes
- speed no more then ahead slow
- no diving while reloading!

Most of the time I reload during the night. I wonder how realistic is that?

My restriction on the 'dead calm' sea state is there because you are opening a main hatch to the pressure hull at almost water level. You can fire the gun with spray blowing over you, but you wouldn't want a sudden wave to come over the bow with the hatch open.

Besides with the number of men on deck and a very heavy weapon swinging about on a jury rigged hoist doesn't sound like something I'd want to try in even a gentle swell.

I would think the men on deck would need all the light they could get for this type of operation. I don't know if it was ever tried at night, but you can still get suprised by a enemy at night even during a full moon and I would want all the warning time possible.

[Leandros]

Originally Posted by Kapt Z

My restriction on the 'dead calm' sea state is there because you are opening a main hatch to the pressure hull at almost water level. You can fire the gun with spray blowing over you, but you wouldn't want a sudden wave to come over the bow with the hatch open.

I should think there is a flaw in the game when external torpedoes can be downloaded in any weather....?....What do you think...?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by meduza

I have a bit less restrictive set of rules:
- the sea doesn't have to be completely calm. If I can use guns, I can reload torpedoes
- speed no more then ahead slow
- no diving while reloading!

Most of the time I reload during the night. I wonder how realistic is that?

Well, a torpedo weighs more than a ton, so any kind of rough weather operation is out of the question. I have heard, but don't remember where, that they wouldn't even attempt to reload internal torpedoes during an attack, because if they were counterattacked a steep enough diving angle could cause the torpedo to break loose from its loading rails and crush some hapless sailor.

Dead calm only for external reloads, and a dead stop to boot.