External Reserve | Forums

[Blitzkaiser]

This is a stupid newbie's question:
where exactly is the "external reserve" in an U-boat? I think it must not be outside the hull. Then where?

[The_Silent_O]

It is indeed outside the sub if you are talking about the external reserve of torpedoes. Both the type vi an ix had external canisters under the decking in which extra torpedoes were stored. In order to load these topedoes the submarine had to surface, erect a small block and pully system then lower the torpedo into a small hatch into the respective topedo rooms. This had to be done in calm seas.

I think CEL999's got a picture somewhere in his bag of tricks...

Now where history and the game stray:

1) After May 1943, Doenitz ordered all external torpedo canisters removed except for a few IXs that were designated for distant patrols. So the game shouldn't show any extra torpedoes on board after that date, but it does.

2) In reality U boat crews could float a torpedo from a rear canister position to the front torpedo room. The game does not allow that.

[Foehammer-1]

Hmm, aren't torpedoes' engines started by contact with seawater? Would floating a torpedo mean it could star up and go?

[trident42]

No torpedos wouldn't start up with contact to see water otherwise when the tubes were flooded the torpedos would instantly start going when loaded and primed in the tube, they are ejected by compressed air i believe.

It would be intersting to know how the TDC set up the torpedo to fire, setting the depth and speed etc

[blue_76]

Originally posted by trident42:
It would be intersting to know how the TDC set up the torpedo to fire, setting the depth and speed etc

the giro angle was send by the tdc by sincronic motors, they are a set of two trifasic motors, the second motor repit the position of the first, the first was set by the tdc inside it, and an electric conection send the signal to positioning the second motor inside the torpedo.

[blue_76]

here's celeon's pic of a torpedo being loaded. it was a very dangerous operation, but these men were well trained.

[The_Silent_O]

Originally posted by blue_76:
here's celeon's pic of a torpedo being loaded. it was a very dangerous operation, but these men were well trained.

Blue, that's actually a shot of the men floating a torpedo from the rear canister to the front of the boat. You can tell by the fact they are floating it with the life preservers.