Realistic Deck Gun load times

[kaleun69]

Anyone know what would be a realistic for firing rate the 88cm and 105cm deck gun? I know the guns them selves can fire quickly. But you gotta move the ammo up in a bucket brigade after the intial shots from the shot locker were used. 1 minute seems realistic but oh so slow, lol.

[Iranon]

The default rate is realistic... for the first few shots under near-perfect conditions.

[Jimbuna]

This is a an article on what you are asking, in it the approximation is 15 to 18 rounds per minute but much would depend on the training/efficiency of the gun crew and how stable the firing platform was:

http://www.uboataces.com/weapon-deck-gun.shtml

There were two standard deck guns during World War II; the 8.8cm (on Type VII) and the 10.5cm (on Type IX). The U-boat however, was a poor gun platform since it rolled a lot, and ocean waves frequently washed over, making the gun platform slippery and hazardous. To prevent the crews from being washed over, they were fastened with life lines. A further factor was deck guns had no range finders, so engagements had to be done at close range. Depending on sea and weather conditions, it was also not possible man the deck gun at all times. The deck gun also contributed much to hydrodynamic resistance, slowing the underwater speed and increasing crash dive time. Indeed, deck gun engagements made the U-boat very vulnerable; since the gun and ammunition had to be secured and the crew had to get below deck, all of which meant that it took much longer than usual to submerge.
Three men operated the deck gun – gunner, layer and loader, usually under the supervision of the second watch officer. A chain of men were required to bring the ammunition from below the control room floor, then up the conning tower and onto the upper deck. A small watertight locker placed near the gun held a few more rounds ready for use, providing an advantage during the first few vital seconds of engagement. The rate of fire with a good crew was 15 to 18 rounds per minute.

[Sailor Steve]

As Iranon said, the listed rates are always taken from ideal situations, usually on land.

The problem is much more than just having to get the shells up from inside the sub. The gun is not stabilized. It has the same complications that have been with naval gunnery since the sailing ship days, and that is that the ship pitches and rolls, and the gun moves with it. The gunner performs what the British called "Firing on the roll", which means waiting until the boat is level before pressing the trigger. Obviously this takes time, and the heavier the roll the more time is needed.

The problem is with the game itself - it doesn't adjust for changing weather conditions nor for the fatigue of the loaders.

I keep mine set to 12 seconds for the 8.8cm gun and 15 seconds for the 10.5cm, and call it good.

[Missing Name]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The problem is much more than just having to get the shells up from inside the sub. The gun is not stabilized. It has the same complications that have been with naval gunnery since the sailing ship days, and that is that the ship pitches and rolls, and the gun moves with it. The gunner performs what the British called "Firing on the roll", which means waiting until the boat is level before pressing the trigger. Obviously this takes time, and the heavier the roll the more time is needed.

Yes. Even though my load time is still the preset 4 seconds, I wait at least 15 seconds between shots to get a level platform. Even in 0 knot winds, there is still a bit of roll, and this is made worse by moving and shooting.

[kaleun69]

Thanks for the insights. That's alot faster then I imagined it would be. I'll try setting 15-20 seconds as I know that efficiency of the crew reduces load time. So let's say a drunken incompetent crew can do that then let my trained watch officer and flack gunner make sure that they sober up!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by kaleun69

Thanks for the insights. That's alot faster then I imagined it would be. I'll try setting 15-20 seconds as I know that efficiency of the crew reduces load time. So let's say a drunken incompetent crew can do that then let my trained watch officer and flack gunner make sure that they sober up!

Good way of putting it

[K-61]

Setting a slower rate of fire will also compensate for the declining rate of fire after the crew begin to fatigue, ready ammo is used up and so forth. I set mine to 20 seconds for the 88 and 30 seconds for the 105, to act as an averaging mechanism.