Transfer of External Torpedoes at night

06-13-07, 06:44 AM

This has been discussed before and I thought it not possible. But, I came across the first written documentation that external torpedoes might have been transferred at night.

The history and career of U-175, Type IX, is covered in the book: Shadows on the Horizon: The Battle of Convoy HX-233 (ISBN: 1840675241) by W A Haskell. U-175 was sunk during an attack on HX-233 and therefore was written about in this book.

On page 59, in Chapter 5: U-175's First Patrol: The Caribbean Theatre, the author states "U-175 had now expanded her torpedo supply inside the boat and had to surface to trasnfer the eight torpedoes from the deck storage containers. This had to be done at night, without lights, and involved six to seven hours of heavy, arduous and dangerous labour."

Any comments?

Kpt. Lehmann · 06-13-07, 06:56 AM

Desparate times... call for desparate measures!

tenakha · 06-13-07, 07:18 AM

does anyone has a picture that show where the storage compartment were and how the transfer was done?

SmokinTep · 06-13-07, 07:32 AM

I would like to see it modded where you couldn't load externals in rough weather just like not being able to use the deck gun.

Ubåtskapten · 06-13-07, 08:22 AM

I'm trying to use that rule myself, although it would be nice if it was modded in the game as an option.

Kpt. Lehmann · 06-13-07, 09:00 AM

Unfortunately, that bit appears to be hard-coded.

However, you can adopt a rule-of-thumb. If you cannot man the flak guns... don't try to bring your external torps down.

I'd like to mod SH3 so that going above 5 knots when using the snorchel, causes damage to it... Unfortunately, we are stuck with that too, so I simply choose to not go more than 5 kts.

Corsair · 06-14-07, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokinTep

I would like to see it modded where you couldn't load externals in rough weather just like not being able to use the deck gun.

That's simple to simulate : just don't do it...

GoldenRivet · 06-14-07, 06:20 AM

i hold myself to strict minimums in this regard.

If the weather is rough enough so that the watch crew must wear rain gear i wont load.

It must be daylight.

The sub must be stopped and adrift.

Cannot submerge until the fish are loaded.

there must not be a great potential for air or surface attack on the U-boat.

basically all of the factors that could result in a man being washed overboard or the work taking a long time are considered. if all of the above conditions can be met, i load the externals.

Jimbuna · 06-13-07, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenakha

does anyone has a picture that show where the storage compartment were and how the transfer was done?

Not the largest of pictures....but pictures nonetheless

http://www.uboataces.com/weapon-torpedo.shtml

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...%3Den%26sa%3DN

Heibges · 06-13-07, 06:15 PM

Transferring torpedoes at night in the dark would be fine. It probably isn't pitch black anyway.

Darkness is a totally different issue than rough seas.

In rough seas, I take it one step further, and submerge to reload my internal torpedo tubes also.

CapnMike U-69 · 06-14-07, 05:45 AM

Hi all Kaleuns,

I have a hi-resolution .pdf copy of the excellent book 'Anatomy of the ship, Type V11', by Westwood, which has some good drawings of the mechanism used to load deck storage eels into the hull - as well as much MUCH more more nice info and superb pix and diagrams. It's an absolute treasure! (about 100 pages long)

The problem is that it's 21 MB, so cannot put it up here for anyone to downlaod.

If one or two of you want a copy then i could send by email, or someone can host on their site for everyone to get it ... or maybe every kaleun already has it ? !!

Happy Hunting,

Mike C

06-13-07, 06:44 AM	#1
von Zelda Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Transfer of External Torpedoes at night This has been discussed before and I thought it not possible. But, I came across the first written documentation that external torpedoes might have been transferred at night. The history and career of U-175, Type IX, is covered in the book: Shadows on the Horizon: The Battle of Convoy HX-233 (ISBN: 1840675241) by W A Haskell. U-175 was sunk during an attack on HX-233 and therefore was written about in this book. On page 59, in Chapter 5: U-175's First Patrol: The Caribbean Theatre, the author states "U-175 had now expanded her torpedo supply inside the boat and had to surface to trasnfer the eight torpedoes from the deck storage containers. This had to be done at night, without lights, and involved six to seven hours of heavy, arduous and dangerous labour." Any comments?

06-13-07, 06:56 AM	#2
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,993 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	Desparate times... call for desparate measures! __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

06-13-07, 07:18 AM	#3
tenakha Bosun Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Paris, France Posts: 64 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	does anyone has a picture that show where the storage compartment were and how the transfer was done? __________________ Korvettenkapitän Wolfgang Barten 01SEP39 U-52, Type VIIB (7 patrols) 24SEP40 U-93, Type VIIC (7 patrols) Capital ship sunk: HMS Victorious; HMS Royal Oak days at sea: 384, tonnage: 823138/54000 GWX 3.0 user

06-13-07, 09:00 AM	#6
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,993 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	Unfortunately, that bit appears to be hard-coded. However, you can adopt a rule-of-thumb. If you cannot man the flak guns... don't try to bring your external torps down. I'd like to mod SH3 so that going above 5 knots when using the snorchel, causes damage to it... Unfortunately, we are stuck with that too, so I simply choose to not go more than 5 kts. __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

06-14-07, 06:20 AM	#8
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	i hold myself to strict minimums in this regard. If the weather is rough enough so that the watch crew must wear rain gear i wont load. It must be daylight. The sub must be stopped and adrift. Cannot submerge until the fish are loaded. there must not be a great potential for air or surface attack on the U-boat. basically all of the factors that could result in a man being washed overboard or the work taking a long time are considered. if all of the above conditions can be met, i load the externals. __________________

06-13-07, 07:32 AM	#4
SmokinTep Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Suffolk, Virginia Posts: 1,027 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would like to see it modded where you couldn't load externals in rough weather just like not being able to use the deck gun.

06-13-07, 08:22 AM	#5
Ubåtskapten Soundman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 141 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	I'm trying to use that rule myself, although it would be nice if it was modded in the game as an option.

06-13-07, 06:15 PM	#10
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Transferring torpedoes at night in the dark would be fine. It probably isn't pitch black anyway. Darkness is a totally different issue than rough seas. In rough seas, I take it one step further, and submerge to reload my internal torpedo tubes also. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

06-14-07, 05:45 AM	#11
CapnMike U-69 Seaman Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 36 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Anatomy of the Ship Type V11, by Westwood Hi all Kaleuns, I have a hi-resolution .pdf copy of the excellent book 'Anatomy of the ship, Type V11', by Westwood, which has some good drawings of the mechanism used to load deck storage eels into the hull - as well as much MUCH more more nice info and superb pix and diagrams. It's an absolute treasure! (about 100 pages long) The problem is that it's 21 MB, so cannot put it up here for anyone to downlaod. If one or two of you want a copy then i could send by email, or someone can host on their site for everyone to get it ... or maybe every kaleun already has it ? !! Happy Hunting, Mike C