WW1 method of torpedo engagement?

[Clacker]

Hi all,

I've been reading some great topics recently on WW1 subs and their lack of automatic fire control.

Can someone enlighten me on what a WW2 U-boat captain would do if his TDC went to hell and would it be the same tactics used by his WW1 counterparts?

That brings another point, I've never heard much mention (praise or otherwise) for the targeting computer on the u-boats, anyone got anything on the subject, were they reliable?

Thanks, reading and watching Das Boot has got me thinking about the the men and technology back then.

Clacks

[Fritz]

WW1 uboats usualy fired the fish on the surface...most of the time...

while in WW2, even though if they had firecomputers, i'm betting they was used as a "secondary" system in tandem.

trust in the map, compas, ruler and a watch came first :-)

[don1reed]

They used the Law of Sines:
The torpedoes were fired straight out of the tubes...no gyro-angles. They only maneuvered the boat to perfect the perpendicular firing position.




This is from the appendix of the Orig. Silent Hunter, written by Capt. Wm.P.Grunner, USN, Retired.

Rgds,

[Clacker]

Originally Posted by don1reed

They used the Law of Sines:
The torpedoes were fired straight out of the tubes...no gyro-angles. They only maneuvered the boat to perfect the perpendicular firing position.


This is from the appendix of the Orig. Silent Hunter, written by Capt. Wm.P.Grunner, USN, Retired.

Rgds,

Great, thanks for this info and the attached page.

Clacks