Zosimus opined:
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http://www.uboataces.com/weapon-torpedo.shtml However, bear in mind that the 300 metres is the distance the torpedo has to travel before the fuse is armed, not the range to target when it's fired. A torpedo fired at rather less than 300m at a fast retreating target might arm itself in time, whereas one fired at say 350 metres at a DD rushing straight towards your boat at speed may well not. |
AK3389. Convoy sighted. Outbound. 9 knots. Course... 230ish? I am directly in the convoy's path.
Cannot reload external torpedoes. Gale force winds. Heading 220 speed... 8 knots or so. One eel in the back. Hoping for the weather to change. |
April 4, 1943. Leaving Lorient for DO98. Patrol expected to take at least a month. We are equipped with the finest anti-air weapons available, skilled anti-aircraft officers, and a watch officer who is skilled in anti-air tactics.
I have also managed to get T3 pattern running torpedoes. I have two. I don't know how well they work, so this will be my chance to try them out. May 1943 is right around the corner. |
Patrol aborted early. One was plane shot down. However, four men were killed. After two hours on the bottom in 110-meter water, we stopped the leaks, blew ballast, and returned to Lorient. Total patrol time... about 5 hours.
U-66 is kaput. I am now commanding U-851 a new IXD2. |
One of my two current careers was started at the latest possible date in 1943, so I could get command of an IXC with a (relatively) experienced crew. On the last patrol out of Brest, we were attacked by so many large aircraft, in very unrealistic numbers, before reaching deep water on the way to the Caribbean, that I almost aborted the mission and gave up totally. Especially watching Sunderland FBs dive-bombing us, some climbing vertically after dropping bombs or DCs. A vertical Sunderland is an ex-Sunderland, whichever way the nose is pointing when it's flying vertically. The fuel and bomb loaded weight of a Sunderland was around 29 tonnes. I guess there's just one "flying model" in SH3, simply modified for aircraft speed.
After my gunners had accounted for a total of 50 large aircraft, in the first 250-odd km, probably more than Coastal Command had at any one time in the entire SW Approaches, I aborted and restarted from my standard "Outbound" save, where I've plotted the route to the target grid, avoiding aircraft hotspots like the Azores, and passing across likely convoy routes. Result - no aircraft attacks at all, though a few Sunderlands and Wellingtons were spotted some distance off, turning and flying away. Wellington crews seem to be as blind as my sonar man is deaf and dumb - one even flew right over us in the early dusk - no reaction at all, despite it sprouting radar aerials like a hedgehog. |
August 1940, U-22 (IX-B)
Departed Willemshaven on Early june, with a refuel in Spain. Tried going for Cape Town (South Africa) but due a fuel leak, BDU has ordered us to patrol around Lagos (*The port east of Takoradi, forgot its name, already closed SH3) We saw a large merchant anchored about a kilometer out of the harbor, promptly sunk it. Used 2x TII BDU ordered us to Freetown next. Sighted a small merchant, about 50km west of Freetown. shot off one T1, hit about 1/3 from the bow causing the bow to lay deeper in the water. She remained afloat however. Due to bad weather, couldnt use the deck gun, but wasn't worth a torpedo. We gave chase for 7 hours before the weather calmed down enough for the deckgun. 9 shots below the waterline sunk her. The cargo remained afloat, used our AA to sink it. Used; 1x T1, 9x 105mm, about 30 30mm and 80 20mm. Remained submerged for about 5 hours, listening for any ships coming to aid, nothing. Headed towards Freetown on surface with 7 knots. Kplt Malifozik, U-122 |
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U-65
October 1939 , AM 52
Wind 15 m/sec , sea state : harsh Traced and intercepted British small merchant Fired 6 TIs against her 2 premature explosions spotted 2 explosions on target seen 2 unaccounted for. Target sunk. A total waste of expensive torpedoes for such a small target. Update Just fired my last 2 TIs at a medium merchant (6000 grt) under the same weather conditions. Both premature explosions. No internal torpedoes left. She will move on. |
U-105 1st Patrol (Pt. 1)
01/09/1940
19:35 - Departed Lorient at 18:30, Escort ship has just left us. Current orders are to make way to grid BC62. Weather satisfactory - partial cloud cover with light fog. Sea 2. Light breeze, direction N. 04/09/1940 09:19 - Grid BF4812. We have sunk our first ship! A coastal freighter for 1869GRT. Had to use 3 torpedoes. First one fired from 800m missed after it passed under the target due to sea swell. Second and third torpedoes fired at a depth of 2m from 400m away. Lifeboat observed drifting E. Decided to continue on course without engaging with survivors. 05/09/1940 21:05 - BE6819. Received report of a large enemy convoy in BE6765 travelling in our direction. Moving to intercept despite poor conditions (sea 8 and strong gales). 06/09/1940 01:42 - Grid BE68. Sighted enemy convoy at around 22:30. Relayed information to BdU. Presumed spotted by enemy frigate at around 22:45 after it veered away from the convoy and moved towards us. Made several attack runs with depth charges, all astern of us. Moved under the convoy, escorts broke off attack. Let the convoy pass by and turned 180° after 30 minutes at silent speed. Surfaced and caught up with ships at the tail of the convoy before conducting 2 attacks from around 1,500m firing a total of 8 torpedoes. Of the first 4 fired, 3 exploded prematurely and the remaining torpedo missed. In the second attack 2 exploded prematurely, 1 missed and 1 hit a tramp steamer which quickly sank for 1958GRT. Escorts turned and began searching for us, we broke off immediately at 01:25. Lost visual contact at around 01:35. 11 torpedoes remaining, continuing on course to patrol grid. |
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That puts us in the same flotilla, roughly at the same time (I'm at JAN 1st 1941, just left on another patrol on DEC23 |
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No luck with torpedos. 3 duds, 1 ran deep and 1 hit for 4000grt merchant. finished her with deck gun action |
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KingOfNothing22 wrote:
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I didn't write down what speed I fired them at but if I remember correctly all but two of the torpedoes fired at the convoy were fired at medium speed (four of which detonated prematurely, with the other two missing) and the others were at slow speed, 1 of which also detonated very quickly after firing. I don't tend to set them to fast as I like to attempt to get some distance between myself and a target in case of escorts (in the case of convoys), so I can't say whether I've had any premature detonations using them at fast speed. |
In 1939 and 1940 I used all T1s, and all impact. I never had any problems. I set for slow and 3 meters of depth.
Of course, it all depends on the mods you're using. I just use GWX without H.Sie or Stiebler. Some mods require special depth settings on torpedoes to prevent them from prematuring. Now I just use slow everything, and 4 meters. |
07MAY41
U558, type VIIC, 1st Flot. Kiel Grid AL35 Large convoy heading-ESE, speed-7 knots Torpedoed and sunk two tankers from convoy. 23,192 tons Giebel, Herrman, Oblt. |
U-105 1st Patrol (Pt. 2)
07/09/1940
21:03 - Weather has deteriorated further. Strong gales, heavy rain, sea 8. Visibility is nil. Made the decision to dive to save fuel. 08/09/1940 07:14 - Surfaced at 07:00. No change in weather. Will continue diving at night until weather improves to preserve fuel load. 11/09/1940 08:32 - Sighted destroyer sailing SSW - suspecting convoy in vicinity. Shadowing at long range. Weather is partially cloudy, sea 8, gales direction W. Heading 250°, speed 14kn. 08:45 - Determined destroyer is acting as an escort for a convoy. Attempting to move in closer to determine size and course. 09:04 - Currently have sight of 15 merchants and 1 escort, a C&D destroyer, sailing WSW at 7kn. Attempting to leapfrog the convoy and attack from directly in front of it. 12:14 - Have successfully leapfrogged the convoy. Commencing attack in spite of poor sea state. 15:53 - Conducted attack on convoy. Fired 4 torpedoes. 2 misses and 2 hits on a small merchant, sunk for 2396GRT. Escorts carried out sporadic depth charge attacks around us. Stopped after around 45 minutes without success. Continued moving W, lost sound contact at 15:00. Surfaced at 15:45 and continued to BC62, course 276°. 14/09/1940 16:25 - Grid BC6233. Patrol grid reached. Beginning ladder search pattern ending in BC6277. Orders are to remain in area for 72hrs. Weather has improved after 9 days. Partially cloudy, light fog. Light easterly winds. 16/09/1940 21:02 - BC6277. New orders received to proceed to CC56. Course 226°, speed 11kn. Weather is clear, light breeze. Sea 1. 20/09/1940 03:49 - Arrived at grid CC5633. Adopting a search pattern to cover patrol area. Weather is poor - heavy rain, poor visibility. Sea 4. 23/09/1940 01:33 - Grid CC6412. Received new orders for CF95. Weather unchanged. 02/10/1940 03:30 - Grid CF8597. Sighted 2 merchants travelling W - A coastal freighter and large merchant. Attempted to attack both head on from 1,000m with remaining 3 fore torpedoes. All missed. Dived to periscope depth and turned 90° to attack the large merchant with stern torpedoes. Scored 2 hits at 380m, sinking it for 10660GRT. Forced to let coastal freighter continue heading W. 2 stern torpedoes remaining. Currently unable to use deck gun due to poor sea state. Fuel now below 50%. Taken the decision to start return passage to Lorient. 08/10/1940 02:09 - BF61. Awaiting escort vessel outside Lorient. 06:20 - Docked at Lorient. Patrol officially ended: 4 ships sunk for 16,883GRT. 38 days spent at sea. Received promotion to Oberleutnant zur See. |
**I will be providing better accounts in the future - being a rookie, I didn't keep track of all my actions.**
11 SEP 1939 2015 Patrol Report U-16 (Type IIA) 2nd Flotilla, Wilhelmshaven Walter Frönlich, Oberleutnant z.S. First war patrol commenced 25 AUG 1939, departing Wilhelmshaven at 1341 Ordered to grid AM18 for 24-hour patrol Received BdU radio message to get to grid AM18 by 01 SEP 1939, while maintaining radio silence and avoiding any other ship contact. Conducted diving, surface attack, submerged attack, defensive and damage control exercises during North Sea transit towards Orkney-Shetlands gap. Crew responded well to constant drilling; teamwork became the theme for this patrol. Received BdU radio message that British convoy would reach grid AM18 by about noon 03 SEP 1939. Made best speed to grid objective. U-16 never reached grid AM18, as boat was west of the Hebrides when war with Great Britain was advised by BdU radio message. 03 SEP 1939 time unknown (daylight) Intercepted merchant convoy consisting of five ships **types unknown - read, I forgot** Enemy plane forced boat to submerge, costing time and interception quality Launched three Type-I torpedoes at a range of about 4500m at chemical goods freighter - two torpedoes prematurely detonated, and one missed. Continued interception of convoy, and fearing ridicule and court-martial back home, continued submerged to reload last two Type-I torpedoes. At periscope depth, found distance to chemical goods freighter to be about 2500m - launched last two Type-I torpedoes, with one premature detonation and one striking target just aft of amidships. Verified chemical freighter sunk. 03 SEP 1939 time unknown Out of torpedoes, I was ordered to return to base by BdU. After continual enemy aerial and naval threats, reached dock at Wilhelmshaven on 11 SEP 1939 1800. Patrol Results Crew losses: 0 U-Boat damage: None Torpedoes expended: Five Type-I torpedoes (three premature detonations, one miss, one hit) Deck gun ammunition expended: None Enemy ships sunk: One Total tonnage: 1890 GRT (1) "Maiden Creek" 1890 GRT (chemical goods freighter) Grid AM35 - 20 crew, 18 lost (mail/packages) Promotions/Awards/Qualifications Oberleutnant z.S. Frönlich awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class and U-Boat Front Clasp **which I realize is inaccurate.** Bootsman (Torpedoman) Jörg Zander awarded U-Boat War Badge. Bootsman (Watchman) Otto Grau earned Watchman qualification. |
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