Wild Torpedo

MarkCt · 03-13-12, 10:35 PM

Running TMO 2.5 and RSRDC I had my first wild torpedo. Running at PD I fired three fish at a freighter. Most of the time if there are no destroyers around I just sit back and watch the run. But this time I switched to the chart that shows the torpedo tracks and was shocked to see one of them coming around to the left back towards my ship. I immediately hit crash dive. I could feel my heard beat a little faster as I'm telling the sub to "go, go, go". As it makes it's finale turn towards the stern of my sub I sit and watch helplessly. Finally it loops right over my sub and continues to circle as I dive below it. Now I know a little of how O'kane must have felt.

I've always read in these forums about premature detonations and dud torpedoes but not wild torpedoes. This was pretty cool.

Armistead · 03-14-12, 02:00 AM

Yep, they can be a pain and I've had many careers ruined by them. Worse one for me was chasing a carrier through the bungo, it was going so fast I had to do a night surface attack at about 4000 yards, but I hit it with 3 torps out of 6 and stopped it. I closed in and shot my last 4 at it at scope depth after the two escorts left, 3 hit the carrier, one got me. I got the ship sunk message and then died.

Stargazer · 03-14-12, 03:55 AM

Stupid question time:

You say you pulled up a map that shows torpedo trails. I'm guessing this is similar to SH3's tactical map? Where would I find such a thing? I've only ever found the navigation map in SH4. Or is this something that comes with the mods you've applied? I'm only running GFO.

Aviv · 03-14-12, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargazer

Stupid question time:

You say you pulled up a map that shows torpedo trails. I'm guessing this is similar to SH3's tactical map? Where would I find such a thing? I've only ever found the navigation map in SH4. Or is this something that comes with the mods you've applied? I'm only running GFO.

Yeah you hit the F6 key to reach it, or it's the 2nd thing on the left on the navigation map "tab".

donna52522 · 03-14-12, 09:49 AM

If you're at all stop, the best way to deal with a circular running torpedo is to just hit "back one third", the torpedo will just circle around in front of you....hitting crash dive puts your engines at "all ahead flank" and propels you forward into the torpedoes arc.
Of course if it's an aft shot, move forward.

@ Stargazer, If your running stock, Aviv is correct...you want to hit the Attack Map Icon on the command bar that's across the bottom of the screen to find the "tactical map".

Armistead · 03-14-12, 10:38 AM

Tactical map that shows everything, be a man and stand on the bridge and watch the torp tracks.

Donna is right, going forward will often put you right in the torps path. The bigger issue is wild torps will hit you at periscope depth, how they always get me, no matter the torp depth setting. The problem arises when you're making multiple attacks and have to shoot quickly, no playing around with cheat maps, etc..

MarkCt · 03-14-12, 09:28 PM

Since this was the first time that I've ever seen this the first thing that came to mind was to crash dive since I was already at PD and doing about 2/3.

Armistead, I know you play ultra realistic with no maps but how would you know if you had a wild torpedo? I know the sonar man tells you the "torpedoes in the water" but you would think he would give you the heads up that the torpedo is not running straight.

Your right, it was the tactical map I was referring to that showed the track which is F6.

Bilge_Rat · 03-15-12, 08:12 AM

When attacking an escorted convoy/TF, I usually dive as soon as the last torpedo is fired, both to make it easier to escape and to avoid potential circle runners. If you go to the Sonar station, you can easily detect them since they change bearing quickly, a torpedo running true keeps a fairly constant bearing.

If at PD and the torpedo has a wake, like the mk XIV, you can follow the wake with your scope. I usually check the wake to see how good my solution is. Again, by looking at the wake, it is easy to see if it is going straight or turning around.

btw, all the circle runners I have seen always circle clockwise to starboard. Has anyone seen them going the other way?

Hinrich Schwab · 03-15-12, 08:29 AM

AFAIK, all circle runners do turn starboard. Mercifully, I can count on my hands the number of times I have had this happen to me and have fingers left over. Lucked out and avoided the thing each time. Whether it gets you or not, one circle runner will just ruin your day. I would rather lose the boat's ice cream maker.

Armistead · 03-15-12, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkCt

Since this was the first time that I've ever seen this the first thing that came to mind was to crash dive since I was already at PD and doing about 2/3.

Armistead, I know you play ultra realistic with no maps but how would you know if you had a wild torpedo? I know the sonar man tells you the "torpedoes in the water" but you would think he would give you the heads up that the torpedo is not running straight.

Your right, it was the tactical map I was referring to that showed the track which is F6.

When I play with cams off and I seldom if ever look at the attack map. If I'm playing realistic, I won't use 0 speed, but will go .5kt, I can usually get my attack off and dive before a circle runner comes around and I do try to watch the torp tracks. My problem is when I'm in a good convoy shooting sterns and bows, takes time, once I even had a stern and bow torp go wild, two at one time.

The good thing is when the wild torp takes out a DD making a run at you, seen that several times...

MarkCt · 03-15-12, 12:55 PM

Wow two at the same time. I was shocked just to see one. I don't look at the attack map much either unless it's a stern shot at a DD or a multiple target shot. This was just one of those times when it was a night shot and I had a little time before impact.

As Bilge Rat does I usually dive and change course as soon as I'm done shooting.

BTW my shot went counter clockwise.

WernherVonTrapp · 03-15-12, 01:34 PM

Now, what determines the occurrence of circular runners? Is it simply a matter of checking or unckecking the "Dud Torpedoes" option?

EricW · 03-15-12, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hinrich Schwab

AFAIK, all circle runners do turn starboard. Mercifully, I can count on my hands the number of times I have had this happen to me and have fingers left over.

NOT true......I've had half a dozen or so and all but one have been to the left

I've only been hit twice though, both times on the surface.

Bilge_Rat · 03-15-12, 01:43 PM

the % of circle runners is set in the UStorpedo.sim file along with the other dud/malfunctions. The occurence rate is actually quite low, something like 1 in 50, but like all probabilities, you can get 2 in a row.

MarkCT, yes I did remember afterwards that a circle runner fired from the stern will circle counterclockwise, but always to the starboard of the boat. I will have to check the sim file to see what variable controls that.

MarkCt · 03-15-12, 10:11 PM

My shot was a forward shot. I fired two and then decided to fire another one because the last few ships I had took more than two or three hits to sink. After firing the third one I went to the attack screen and noticed my third shot was circling to the left, counter clockwise.

When you guys were hit with your own torpedo, did all of you know it was yours or did you think it was from something else? I have the event camera on so that would give me a clue that I was sunk by my own torpedo and not a shore gun.

03-13-12, 10:35 PM	#1
MarkCt Electrician's Mate Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 133 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 0	Wild Torpedo Running TMO 2.5 and RSRDC I had my first wild torpedo. Running at PD I fired three fish at a freighter. Most of the time if there are no destroyers around I just sit back and watch the run. But this time I switched to the chart that shows the torpedo tracks and was shocked to see one of them coming around to the left back towards my ship. I immediately hit crash dive. I could feel my heard beat a little faster as I'm telling the sub to "go, go, go". As it makes it's finale turn towards the stern of my sub I sit and watch helplessly. Finally it loops right over my sub and continues to circle as I dive below it. Now I know a little of how O'kane must have felt. I've always read in these forums about premature detonations and dud torpedoes but not wild torpedoes. This was pretty cool.

03-14-12, 09:49 AM	#5
donna52522 Lady Mariner Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 544 Downloads: 225 Uploads: 0	If you're at all stop, the best way to deal with a circular running torpedo is to just hit "back one third", the torpedo will just circle around in front of you....hitting crash dive puts your engines at "all ahead flank" and propels you forward into the torpedoes arc. Of course if it's an aft shot, move forward. @ Stargazer, If your running stock, Aviv is correct...you want to hit the Attack Map Icon on the command bar that's across the bottom of the screen to find the "tactical map". __________________ Last edited by donna52522; 03-14-12 at 10:04 AM.

03-15-12, 08:12 AM	#8
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,793 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	When attacking an escorted convoy/TF, I usually dive as soon as the last torpedo is fired, both to make it easier to escape and to avoid potential circle runners. If you go to the Sonar station, you can easily detect them since they change bearing quickly, a torpedo running true keeps a fairly constant bearing. If at PD and the torpedo has a wake, like the mk XIV, you can follow the wake with your scope. I usually check the wake to see how good my solution is. Again, by looking at the wake, it is easy to see if it is going straight or turning around. btw, all the circle runners I have seen always circle clockwise to starboard. Has anyone seen them going the other way? __________________

03-15-12, 01:34 PM	#12
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Now, what determines the occurrence of circular runners? Is it simply a matter of checking or unckecking the "Dud Torpedoes" option? __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

03-15-12, 01:43 PM	#14
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,793 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	the % of circle runners is set in the UStorpedo.sim file along with the other dud/malfunctions. The occurence rate is actually quite low, something like 1 in 50, but like all probabilities, you can get 2 in a row. MarkCT, yes I did remember afterwards that a circle runner fired from the stern will circle counterclockwise, but always to the starboard of the boat. I will have to check the sim file to see what variable controls that. __________________

03-14-12, 02:00 AM	#2
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,865 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Yep, they can be a pain and I've had many careers ruined by them. Worse one for me was chasing a carrier through the bungo, it was going so fast I had to do a night surface attack at about 4000 yards, but I hit it with 3 torps out of 6 and stopped it. I closed in and shot my last 4 at it at scope depth after the two escorts left, 3 hit the carrier, one got me. I got the ship sunk message and then died.

03-14-12, 03:55 AM	#3
Stargazer A-ganger Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 76 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Stupid question time: You say you pulled up a map that shows torpedo trails. I'm guessing this is similar to SH3's tactical map? Where would I find such a thing? I've only ever found the navigation map in SH4. Or is this something that comes with the mods you've applied? I'm only running GFO.

03-14-12, 10:38 AM	#6
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,865 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Tactical map that shows everything, be a man and stand on the bridge and watch the torp tracks. Donna is right, going forward will often put you right in the torps path. The bigger issue is wild torps will hit you at periscope depth, how they always get me, no matter the torp depth setting. The problem arises when you're making multiple attacks and have to shoot quickly, no playing around with cheat maps, etc..

03-14-12, 09:28 PM	#7
MarkCt Electrician's Mate Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 133 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 0	Since this was the first time that I've ever seen this the first thing that came to mind was to crash dive since I was already at PD and doing about 2/3. Armistead, I know you play ultra realistic with no maps but how would you know if you had a wild torpedo? I know the sonar man tells you the "torpedoes in the water" but you would think he would give you the heads up that the torpedo is not running straight. Your right, it was the tactical map I was referring to that showed the track which is F6.

03-15-12, 08:29 AM	#9
Hinrich Schwab Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 908 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 0	AFAIK, all circle runners do turn starboard. Mercifully, I can count on my hands the number of times I have had this happen to me and have fingers left over. Lucked out and avoided the thing each time. Whether it gets you or not, one circle runner will just ruin your day. I would rather lose the boat's ice cream maker.

03-15-12, 12:55 PM	#11
MarkCt Electrician's Mate Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 133 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 0	Wow two at the same time. I was shocked just to see one. I don't look at the attack map much either unless it's a stern shot at a DD or a multiple target shot. This was just one of those times when it was a night shot and I had a little time before impact. As Bilge Rat does I usually dive and change course as soon as I'm done shooting. BTW my shot went counter clockwise.

03-15-12, 10:11 PM	#15
MarkCt Electrician's Mate Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 133 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 0	My shot was a forward shot. I fired two and then decided to fire another one because the last few ships I had took more than two or three hits to sink. After firing the third one I went to the attack screen and noticed my third shot was circling to the left, counter clockwise. When you guys were hit with your own torpedo, did all of you know it was yours or did you think it was from something else? I have the event camera on so that would give me a clue that I was sunk by my own torpedo and not a shore gun.