What distance do you usually launch torpedos at?

frenema · 09-09-07, 11:50 AM

Title says it all. I usually go as close to the target as possible (400~500m) because any distance more than 800m I tend to miss.

Is it normal to fire at such distances or do I need more practice with precision? Also, any history buffs know what distance the actual U-Boat commanders kept with their target?

And just one more question on the side so I don't have to start a new thread: Does pinging for depth under keel give your position away to the enemy close by? I have a habit of pinging for depth before hiding from destroyers and those bastards always manage to find me somehow.

PapaG39 · 09-09-07, 12:20 PM

I usually try to shoot under 1000m, but then I have only been doing this for a 6 weeks or so. I tried a couple of shots 2000m but they missed or blew up before they got there.

I asked the same question when I first started & the answer that I got from several old swabs was "NO!" so ping away. I do the same as you & it hasen't brought any dd's to me for pinging close by.

BROJD · 09-09-07, 12:32 PM

5-800 meters is typical for me. Remember, what matters isn't the range when you fire but the distance the torpedo travels.

Hakahura · 09-09-07, 02:28 PM

Ping for depth?

Bad move they will certainly hear you. I never ping for depth ever. You can't be sure how far your ping will be heard and you can never be sure you have'nt missed something dangerous. Survival is your priority, stay out of shallow water.

As for range thats a tricky one. For me that depends on many factors...

Type of target merchant or warship?
Speed of target?
Steam, Electric or Homing Torpedo?
Is the target Zig Zagging?
The year?

General rule for survival vs kill ratio...
Early war : close, under 1000 meters.
Late war : distant, as far as I think the eel will run!

Spruence M · 09-09-07, 02:37 PM

On the question about depth readings: I always thought that the enemy destoryers would hear the sonar, so I always took my depth reading when I knew that they already had my position, or as a torpedo exploded so they would be distracted.

I have always tried to keep my eels under 1km, but there are times when you cannot get close enough to a target to fall under such strict ruling. A tip when firing from long range, stay undetected, and dont fire from long range if you have been detected. Once they know you are there, they will begin to zig zag, and any chance of making a long range hit are shot. No Pun Intended.

3Jane · 09-09-07, 02:53 PM

3000 my generaly prefered maximum range, although I have used longer ranges. I much prefer 2000 though, but not too much under. Maybe down to 1500 if there is no time to try for another shot. I like to have a little time to reach even a moderate depth before they impact.

melnibonian · 09-09-07, 03:06 PM

Early in the war I fired them 800-1200m away from the target. From 1944 onwards I never get closer than 3500-4000m, as I want to get my boat back to base

Canovaro · 09-09-07, 03:12 PM

3Jane makes a good point.
Firing from close distance has two pro's: you are far more likely to hit the target where you want it to be hit, plus the chance that a torpedoes goes boom before reaching the target is very small.
But when you are targeting a convoy with escorts swirling around, it is another story. You definitely want the longest time between the moment you dive and the moment the torpedoes hit the target, because you want to be as deep as possible from that moment.

Personally I fire at single merchants between 500 and 1000 meters.
In convoys, That's usually 1000-2500.

The other question...I haven't tried that out, but I heard ppl say yes and others say no.

frenema · 09-09-07, 03:32 PM

3000km? How do you guys get the ship's distance accurately at such distances? Especially in rough water. Do you guys use some other method other than the standard one?

melnibonian · 09-09-07, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenema

3000km? How do you guys get the ship's distance accurately at such distances? Especially in rough water. Do you guys use some other method other than the standard one?

Not really. If you're undetected and the ship is moving in a straight course you can hit it accuratelly up to 4.5Km away. Usually I fire two torpedoes in these cases just to be sure

Brag · 09-09-07, 04:34 PM

First the easy answer. You should know your depth under the keel well in advance of attacking escorted ships. So no need to ping the bottom with escorts trying to locate you.

As to torpedoes, I like 600 meters.

I've made a couple of shots at approx. 3,000 meters and got hits.

WolfOfCampscapel · 09-09-07, 07:20 PM

I've hit fast runners from 6km off under perfect conditions. Very enjoyable. Two fishes, of course, in case of duds.

StarFox · 09-09-07, 07:32 PM

on average i try no more then 3000 meters. once, I managed to score a hit (a unintended hit mind you) at around 12,000 meters.

I usually cant hit farther then 3,500

and if i can get withen 2,000, ill always try to do that

XLjedi · 09-09-07, 07:43 PM

For me... a good ambush position is 1500m.

If I'm not worried about retaliation I creep in as close as 700m.

XLjedi · 09-09-07, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenema

3000km? How do you guys get the ship's distance accurately at such distances? Especially in rough water. Do you guys use some other method other than the standard one?

Wow... 3000km

...that would be impressive. I guess you'd need like mirrors in space to see around the Earth for that shot.

Seriously though, if you fire at a 0°-gyro angle (or close to it) the distance doesn't matter; you can set it at 1000m and pretty much not worry about it.

09-09-07, 11:50 AM	#1
frenema Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 116 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	What distance do you usually launch torpedos at? Title says it all. I usually go as close to the target as possible (400~500m) because any distance more than 800m I tend to miss. Is it normal to fire at such distances or do I need more practice with precision? Also, any history buffs know what distance the actual U-Boat commanders kept with their target? And just one more question on the side so I don't have to start a new thread: Does pinging for depth under keel give your position away to the enemy close by? I have a habit of pinging for depth before hiding from destroyers and those bastards always manage to find me somehow.

09-09-07, 02:28 PM	#4
Hakahura Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Posts: 785 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ping for depth? Bad move they will certainly hear you. I never ping for depth ever. You can't be sure how far your ping will be heard and you can never be sure you have'nt missed something dangerous. Survival is your priority, stay out of shallow water. As for range thats a tricky one. For me that depends on many factors... Type of target merchant or warship? Speed of target? Steam, Electric or Homing Torpedo? Is the target Zig Zagging? The year? General rule for survival vs kill ratio... Early war : close, under 1000 meters. Late war : distant, as far as I think the eel will run! __________________ Sir Humphey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO and MA. Britain's Greatest Orator, well bar that Churchill fellow.

09-09-07, 02:53 PM	#6
3Jane Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: York. Northern England. Posts: 1,004 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	3000 my generaly prefered maximum range, although I have used longer ranges. I much prefer 2000 though, but not too much under. Maybe down to 1500 if there is no time to try for another shot. I like to have a little time to reach even a moderate depth before they impact. __________________ Fate opposes me in vitality and morality, forced ever onward, burdened, always in shackles. So this very moment, without tarrying, pluck the quivering strings. Because fate punishes the one who plays, all lament with me. (http://hosted.filefront.com/KatherineRowan) Last edited by 3Jane; 09-09-07 at 06:05 PM.

09-09-07, 03:06 PM	#7
melnibonian Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Reading UK Posts: 3,473 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Early in the war I fired them 800-1200m away from the target. From 1944 onwards I never get closer than 3500-4000m, as I want to get my boat back to base __________________ http://www.thegreywolves.com/ http://wolvesatwar.com/ Download GWX and other goodies: http://hosted.filefront.com/melnibonian

09-09-07, 04:34 PM	#11
Brag Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Docked on a Russian pond Posts: 7,072 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	First the easy answer. You should know your depth under the keel well in advance of attacking escorted ships. So no need to ping the bottom with escorts trying to locate you. As to torpedoes, I like 600 meters. I've made a couple of shots at approx. 3,000 meters and got hits. __________________ Espionage, adventure, suspense, are just a click away Click here to look inside Brag's book: Amazon.com: Kingmaker: Alexey Braguine: Books Order Kingmaker here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html For Tactics visit:http://www.freewebs.com/kielman/

09-09-07, 12:20 PM	#2
PapaG39 Frogman Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 297 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I usually try to shoot under 1000m, but then I have only been doing this for a 6 weeks or so. I tried a couple of shots 2000m but they missed or blew up before they got there. I asked the same question when I first started & the answer that I got from several old swabs was "NO!" so ping away. I do the same as you & it hasen't brought any dd's to me for pinging close by.

09-09-07, 12:32 PM	#3
BROJD A-ganger Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 77 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	5-800 meters is typical for me. Remember, what matters isn't the range when you fire but the distance the torpedo travels.

09-09-07, 02:37 PM	#5
Spruence M Sonar Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 14 Meters Posts: 394 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	On the question about depth readings: I always thought that the enemy destoryers would hear the sonar, so I always took my depth reading when I knew that they already had my position, or as a torpedo exploded so they would be distracted. I have always tried to keep my eels under 1km, but there are times when you cannot get close enough to a target to fall under such strict ruling. A tip when firing from long range, stay undetected, and dont fire from long range if you have been detected. Once they know you are there, they will begin to zig zag, and any chance of making a long range hit are shot. No Pun Intended.

09-09-07, 03:12 PM	#8
Canovaro Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,062 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	3Jane makes a good point. Firing from close distance has two pro's: you are far more likely to hit the target where you want it to be hit, plus the chance that a torpedoes goes boom before reaching the target is very small. But when you are targeting a convoy with escorts swirling around, it is another story. You definitely want the longest time between the moment you dive and the moment the torpedoes hit the target, because you want to be as deep as possible from that moment. Personally I fire at single merchants between 500 and 1000 meters. In convoys, That's usually 1000-2500. The other question...I haven't tried that out, but I heard ppl say yes and others say no.

09-09-07, 03:32 PM	#9
frenema Torpedoman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 116 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	3000km? How do you guys get the ship's distance accurately at such distances? Especially in rough water. Do you guys use some other method other than the standard one?

09-09-07, 07:20 PM	#12
WolfOfCampscapel Mate Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: In the fjords Posts: 58 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've hit fast runners from 6km off under perfect conditions. Very enjoyable. Two fishes, of course, in case of duds.

09-09-07, 07:32 PM	#13
StarFox Engineer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado, USA Posts: 216 Downloads: 59 Uploads: 0	on average i try no more then 3000 meters. once, I managed to score a hit (a unintended hit mind you) at around 12,000 meters. I usually cant hit farther then 3,500 and if i can get withen 2,000, ill always try to do that __________________ Devoted fan of the SS United States, America's Flagship! I dream of her second life....

09-09-07, 07:43 PM	#14
XLjedi Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 8	For me... a good ambush position is 1500m. If I'm not worried about retaliation I creep in as close as 700m. __________________