90 Degrees?

[chernoyaokula941]

What does it mean when a WWI sub launches a torpedo at 90 degrees? I dont think its launching it straight up in the air.

Spartak

[casey thrower]

I believe the target has

I believe the target has presented a 90 degree angle on the bow when the torpedoes are fired. If I'm not mistaken.

[chernoyaokula941]

Can you please explain that

Can you please explain that in abit more detail im writing a paper on this so i need as much detail as possible.
Spartak

[casey thrower]

Can you please explain that

Can you please explain that in abit more detail im writing a paper on this so i need as much detail as possible.
Spartak

You had to get the target lined up in you periscope. Then you have to set the targeting computer to the correct attack angle that you see in your scope. That means, if you see the target's stern (going directly away from you), you would set the computer to 360 degrees. If it was going directly to the right, you would set it to 90 degrees. If the target was going directly to the left, set it to 270 degrees. If it was coming directly at you, set it to 180 degrees And if the target is in between any of those headings that I've listed above, you have to use the appropriate heading on the dial.
This is of course for WWII U-Boats as the old WWI boats had no computer, but the Captain would have made the same angle of attack but using his head not a computer.



Edited By Casey Thrower on 1070849422

[petn7]

so how do modern subs

so how do modern subs launch torpedoes?

[casey thrower]

so how do modern subs

so how do modern subs launch torpedoes?

They are wire guided.

[wlambing]

They also have their own

They also have their own acoustic sensors and can track on their own. Most shots where the weapon is left to it's own tracking result in hits. The fish doesn't really need humans!!

[petn7]

how effective are torpedoes? 1

how effective are torpedoes? 1 kill for every 2 fired? how effective are counter measures? in the movies, they're REALLY effective. also, don't most modern torpedoes have proximity sensors? so it's impossible for the torpedoe to close in on its target, and miss completely w/o blowing up

[JWLaRue]

What does it mean when

What does it mean when a WWI sub launches a torpedo at 90 degrees? I dont think its launching it straight up in the air.

Spartak

>>> What does it mean when a WWI sub launches a torpedo at 90 degrees?

There are a couple of "angles" that you could be referring to.

I think that Casey was describing what is commonly referred to as the "angle on the bow"....though in that case if the target is coming directly at you the a.o.t.b would be zero degrees. Also, I usually see angles referred to like "port 30" and "starboard 30"....which means that an angle would never be greater than 180.

Then there is the angle that the torpedo itself is fired at in order to hit the target. I think this is called the "track angle". This is a computed angle that is intended to place the torpedo where the ship will be when the torpedo crossses the targets' track....i.e. hit the target. Think of it as 'leading the target'. The gyro in the torpedo can be set such that once the torpedo leaves the tube, the torpedo will turn to a specific heading (the track angle). This allows the sub to shoot the torpedo without having the bow pointed at the computed ship-torpedo intersection point.

(I'm sure that if I've gotten something wrong, one of our practicing bubbleheads will jump in an correct me!)

-hope this makes sense!

Jeff