G7a and G7e torpedoes

[U-84]

just throwing it out here, is it me or do i always seem to do better loading my U-boat VIIB with G7e torpedoes than G7a. It seems that everytime i fire a G7a at a merchant, warship etc, i usually miss by several feet, but when i fire a G7e, i usually hit the target... and just wondering...which of these torpedoes did U-boat crews usually load up with?

[Avatar]

I believe actual Uboats loaded up with a mix of the steam and electrics. Though someone here will definately know the actual answer to this.
I personally prefer the electrics, because I dont rely on the weather or time of day for an encounter with a target, and the wakeless electrics are practically invisible. The only drawback is the range; just 3km for the G7e, where the G7a, on slow speed setting had a range of 7.5km.
Some people prefer the wake producing steam, but I have found that the electric works very well with a little patience and skillful maneuvering.
One big drawback with the G7e is when attacking a Bogue HK group, because the limited range of the torpedoes and the skill of the escorts.

edit: If you perfer a mix load then fire your G7a at the furthest ships first then manuver to fire your G7e at the closer of the targets.

[U-84]

it just seems like everytime i fire a G7a i miss by just feet away, while the G7e, im almost guaranteed a hit it seems like...i have a questoin though, will the speed affect a G7a?....if a ship is closer do i set it fast, and if a ship is farther do i set the torpedo to slow speed?

[antikristuseke]

Speed settings do indeed make a diference, the faster the torp runs, the less likely it is to be avoided, but electrics have the advantage of never being spoted.
Personaly I use a mix of both in most cases, though generaly prefer the G7a, today managed to hit a large merchant in a convoy with 3 from a spread of 3 at 7500 meters, but ofcourse after the greatest longshot i have ever pulled i was proptly killed on my way back home by three destroyers which bernard never reported before the first depth charges exploded next to my boat. Shot was taken with manual targeting using the OLC ui

[Jimbuna]

I presume your opening your torpedo doors first.

Because of the slower speed of the electric, your time delay with a magnetic is amplified

[Zajcev]

I prefer steam torpedo (only loaded falke and fats by mistake last time I was in port - they cost you prestige! - lost 2000 like that). I attack from 400-800m when they always hit regardless of weather. Under 600m they also hit if convoy is zigzagging. Merchants don't have time to evade it even if they can spot it due to its higher speed. It's also more effective against destroyers.

[U-84]

yes i do open my torpedo doors, when i bought and played it for the first time, i didn't know you could do that, lol, but yes, now everytime i open the torpedo doors first, right now im in december 1939, when is the next date when new torpedoes are accessed?

[Platapus]

Does SH3 and GWX2 model the chance of the ship detecting the G7a wake?

I remember in several of my reference books (both Atlantic and Pacific) that it was pretty hard to see the wakes of steamers from sea level. The wakes really showed up from the air view point.

I can't remember the exact citation but one of my references stated that unless the water was very smooth and the sun angle was low, the wakes were pretty hard to see.

I like using steamers for the speed. I tend to shoot from under 1000 meters so even if the game does model the wake visibility, there is little the ship can do

Any way, does SH3/GWX model the wakes with respect to the ships maneuvering to avoid?

[Letum]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Any way, does SH3/GWX model the wakes with respect to the ships maneuvering to avoid?

Yes. For sure.

And I rather suspect it also alerts destroyers to your location too.

[devildog]

one shot kills.maybe just me but when i set a ga to magnetic, set it about 1 meter under hull, it seems to do more damage-when attacking a convoy i start with ge-no trail back, so i usually go outta port about 50-50, and use whatever torp the situation calls for

[danurve]

If your working with a mix and switch tubes from Electrics to steamers remember there is an old gyro bug. You need to click on the S/Speed even though you can't change the speed of an Electric eel it resets the gyro. Something like that.

I prefer the electrics, even the early homing - slow eels. Exept for unreliable m/p's in rough seas and being slightly out of position for med/fast tanker convoys off the US coast :hmm:

[predavolk]

I use 80-20 or 75-25 steams to electrics. I prefer electrics when I require stealth. Typically when shooting at an escorted target and for the first shots in a massed convoy attack. Also when making a first shot at a warship (admittedly rare, I prefer to let them go rather than take chances).

I prefer steams for all other situations. They're much faster, which makes maneuvering your boat simpler, especially in snap-shot situations (like attacking in horrible weather). Their speed and shorter path to target minimizes targeting mistakes, they have much better range, they don't keep me hanging around the target for as long, and they are rarely dodged by merchants who aren't already dodging (and in those cases, I think my aim is off due to AoB errors). I also like to set them shallow (usually 2M, sometimes 1M) so that I can actually see the path target of my torpedoes. It lets me know if something's wrong with my aim (e.g., forget to clear the datapad- , or if my calculations of speed or range are slightly off).

Currently, in my IX-B, I like to sail with two front torps as electric, one rear torp electric. I keep two front electric spares, and two rear electric spares, so most of my reloads are steam. I just like having the electrics on hand in case a juicy target pops up that is, or is escorted by, a warship. Otherwise steam does it for me!

[kurtz]

There is a realism angle here in that Electrics (IIRC) could not be stowed externally as the batteries got too cold, I don't know if the damage was permanent though.
I tend to go all electric and try and shoot from about 600 yards. My external reloads are of course steam powered.