Too many dud torpedos in OM - March 1940

[Akula4745]

When I first started my U-boat career in 39' it seemed all my torpedoes ran straight and true. I cannot remember a single dud in the first three patrols... but the high dud count in the 4th and current patrol (March 40') are killing me... relentless duds - as many as 3 out of 4. I have learned (with the help of the forum) what the settings mean and what I think they should be... but still having an unusually high number of duds regardless of selecting contact or magnetic fuses - also it seems to make no difference what speed setting is used... with the 37a models.

Am I missing something here? Is this a historic reality? Is there a secret I am not yet privy to? Help!

[lurker_hlb3]

Originally Posted by Akula4745

When I first started my U-boat career in 39' it seemed all my torpedoes ran straight and true. I cannot remember a single dud in the first three patrols... but the high dud count in the 4th and current patrol (March 40') are killing me... relentless duds - as many as 3 out of 4. I have learned (with the help of the forum) what the settings mean and what I think they should be... but still having an unusually high number of duds regardless of selecting contact or magnetic fuses - also it seems to make no difference what speed setting is used... with the 37a models.

Am I missing something here? Is this a historic reality? Is there a secret I am not yet privy to? Help!

as designed

http://www.uboat.net/history/torpedo_crisis.htm

[Akula4745]

Thanks lurker... a very interesting read.

This game has really opened my eyes to some of the history of WWII. I really get a kick out of the historical components like the torpedo failures (no matter how much I cuss at my monitor!)... its like learning/reliving history in the first person.

[kstanb]

I read in another post (related to the pacific campaing, so might not be relevant) that you can get 50% less duds if setting torpedo speed to "slow"

is this valid for German steam torps?

also, were early war steam torps more reliable than electric?

thanks

[Akula4745]

Originally Posted by kstanb

I read in another post (related to the pacific campaing, so might not be relevant) that you can get 50% less duds if setting torpedo speed to "slow"

is this valid for German steam torps?

also, were early war steam torps more reliable than electric?

thanks

I don't know the answer yet, kstanb... but next patrol I will be trying out the 37e model torps - just to see if the dud ratio is any better.