External Reloads

[Snakeeyes]

Once again... sorry for dumb questions... I'm a nuke driver turned diesel.

I notcied on the way back from my patrol that I still had two external reserve torpedos and I was wondering how I reload?

I tried pulling the torpedo icon over to the empty tubes but nothing happened. Was the weather too rough? Was I doing it properly?

Teach me how oh glorious U-boat Gods.

[Dowly]

If the weather is poor, you cant reload them IIRC.

Just drag the external torpedo to the internal reserves. You dont really notice first if the transfer has started. After awhile, a black line appears to the external torpedo. After the whole torpedo is 'under' the black line, the transfer is complete.

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Dowly

If the weather is poor, you cant reload them IIRC.

SH3 couldn't care less what the weather is like when it comes to reloading externals. This is in contrast to the real life situation.

This is a FAQ and searching The Community Manual for "external torpedoes" will mention what Downly already said plus a few other points.

[ref]

Originally Posted by Snakeeyes

I tried pulling the torpedo icon over to the empty tubes but nothing happened. Was the weather too rough? Was I doing it properly?
Teach me how oh glorious U-boat Gods.

Pointing the obvious, you have to be on the surface, also check that you have enough crew in the torpedoes compartments.

Ref

[AntEater]

It takes just about forever (100 mins ONE torp!).
But in SH3 you're still much better of than in reality.
In reality the crew had to surface (obviously), remove the deck gratings covering the storage tube, open it (sometimes pressure build up in those cannisters and at least one crewman was killed when he was struck in the head by the lid of the cannister), rig up a small crane, carry it forward or backward to the torpedo loading hatch, which had to be equippec internally and externally with a slide, halyards and so on and slide it down to the torpedo room.
Only there it would be examined and fuelled.
It was impossible to dive in such a situation, not a comfortable situation for a submarine, as there were over a dozen additional men topsides and the loading hatch could not be opened and closed as easily as the tower hatch.
So if you want to play it realistic, wait until nightfall in totally calm seas and do not dive whatever happens.
For obvious reasons, only ATOs (air propelled torpedoes) could be carried topsides, not ETOs (electrics).
A ATO without fuel is practically dead iron which can be stored infinetely, it was only fuelled inside the sub, while an ETO contains a lot of chemicals in the batteries which have to be checked and refilled all the time, and the batteries have to be heated in order to work.
So only use T-1s in external storage. IXs normally carried only ETOs (T-2, T-3) inside and ATOs (T-1) external.
I'm not sure how to handle FATs based on ATOs though, maybe their machinery was too delicate to be left without maintenance.

Somthing else: When you first drag the icon, nothing seems to happen. Actually, the icon does turn grey. Hold the cursor over the icon; if it's working you'll get a little note telling you how long it will be. As time passes the external torpedo icon will begin to grow smaller.

It's kind of screwy, but that's the only way you can tell.

Make sure you have silent running turned off also or your crew won't reload anything!

[bookworm_020]

As well as enough crew. The higher the green bar in the torp rooms the faster the reload. A officer or trained warrent officer doesn't hurt either as it will keep them on their toes!