T IX acoustic torpedo issues

[FrankTheTank586]

In my current patrol, it's March of 1945 and I'm in a Type XXI.

Sounds good, right? Well…not really.

I have 6 T IX acoustic torpedoes loaded on in case of trouble with escorts. But they don't seem to be working as intended.

Here's what I mean: they're supposed to home in on the loudest noise after around 400 meters or so, right? Well, for whatever apparent reason, it seems like a lot of the time, they'll just circle back around at me and try to hit me.

I've rigged for silent running, gone to full stop, and have aimed the torpedo DIRECTLY at the escort ship I want to hit, yet a lot of the time they'll target me and just circle until they run out of fuel. And I know they're homing in on my "noise" (even though I've done everything I can to keep quiet) and not just circling because it's defective since it does a sort of figure 8 pattern overhead after turning back around at me 180 degrees.

Those things cost 1000 renown! What the heck is going on? Am I forgetting to do something important to prevent this?

[desertstriker]

That's weird. what mods do you have? and how fast are the escorts usually going?

[FrankTheTank586]

It's GWX 3.0 with improved damage effects, captain America icons and integrated orders. Oh, and I'm using SH3 commander.

The escorts are usually going 10-12 knots, but I don't think the T IX torpedoes have a minimum speed the target has to be, do they? Even if they do, why the heck are they going after me?

[desertstriker]

In theory/IRL the acoustics needed a faster target 10-15 IIRC I recall reading somewhere that unless doing evasive maneuvers they where all but useless against a merchant.
You said you where at full stop so they shouldn't hear you. assuming your screws are stoped but still have momentum carrying you it could it sees you as being the noisier.

I primarily use acoustics as an ambush torp when I am ahead of a convoy and just sitting waiting for them to come. Even then I prefer Lut and standard T3 torps. I will see if I can recreate this later today.

[maillemaker]

You should have no problems.

The only problem I have with acoustic torpedoes is sometimes they don't hear the escort and sail off to oblivion. Or they will hear something else (a merchant behind the escort) and go after it instead. Which is why you want to always set up your shots so that when you throw your eel at the escort there is nothing "downwind" behind the escort - otherwise your eel will sail past the escort and head on towards whatever it hears down wind.

But otherwise if you throw them at an escort they should loop back and tag that sucker. They will even beat themselves against the escorts screws until detonation (you can watch this funny behavior on the torpedo map screen even if you have map contacts off).

Now I have had them come back on me and even had one tag me right in the conning tower once (didn't sink me though hah) but if you stop your engines it should go after the escort every time.

Steve

[Sandman_28054]

Don't forget to set the depth to 1 meter.

[sublynx]

Have a look at BdU's war diary 23.10.1943: http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30332.htm

When shooting from the bow they needed to crash dive to avoid the torpedo and there were speed and sea state restrictions.

Personally I have only used acoustic torpedoes for a very short time before I got sunk. I do remember that sinking destroyers was kind of easy but survival was not because the buddies of the sunken destroyer were quick to gathwr around to depth charge me.

I also remember using an acoustic torpedo in a regular attack. Depth 3 meters perpendicular attack, impact pistol. Sank a merchant that way.

[Sandman_28054]

GWX Gold 3.0 and SH3 Commander.

Been using these for close to five years, never had a problem with any of the acoustic eels.

Perhaps the God of War favors me.