How did WW2 submarines aim torpedoes?

How did WW2 submarines aim torpedoes?

With the older, straight-running torpedoes, it had been necessary to aim the submarine at the target—or, really, at where the target would be by the time the torpedo reached it. By setting the gyro angle, the torpedo would turn onto the proper track after it was fired.

Did WW2 subs have active sonar?

German U-boats of WW2 DID have active sonar..they just did not use it and it was eventually removed. (again these are under ideal conditions). An active ‘array’ would have given much greater range (probably out to 15000 meters).

How do submarines avoid torpedoes?

The first approach to protect warships was chainlink nets strung from the sides of battleships, as defense against torpedoes. Nets were also deployed across the mouth of a harbour or naval base to stop submarines entering or to stop torpedoes of the Whitehead type fired against ships.

What is a torpedo firing solution?

It’s called Target Motion Analysis (TMA). The torpedo itself is adjusted for depth of attack. It detonates when it hits the target, physically, or as it goes beneath the target, magnetically (if it works). A “perfect” solution is when the torpedo hits the target’s Middle Of Target (MOT) at 90-degrees.

How do submarines fire torpedoes?

Open the equalizing valve to equalize pressure in the tube with ambient sea pressure. When the launch command is given and all interlocks are satisfied, the water ram operates, thrusting a large volume of water into the tube at high pressure, which ejects the torpedo from the tube with considerable force.

How does sonar work on a submarine?

Active sonar emits pulses of sound waves that travel through the water, reflect off the target and return to the ship. By knowing the speed of sound in water and the time for the sound wave to travel to the target and back, the computers can quickly calculate distance between the submarine and the target.

How does a submarine fire a torpedo?

A submarine torpedo tube bears fairly close resemblance to a large naval gun. Its shape is somewhat similar. It has a barrel with breech and muzzle. As the gun fires a shell, the submerged torpedo tube fires a torpedo, using compressed air rather than an explosive for the purpose.

How did WW2 submarines make sound?

On the surface, the US used a Target Bearing Transmitter (TBT). There was one on each bridge wing. Most WWII submarines used directional hydrophones that would allow them to find the direction to sound sources. Just over the railing, you can see a device that looks a bit like an aircraft wing.

Why didn’t the Allies use sonar in WW2?

The Germans had a passive-acoustic homing torpedo that would acquire the target’s propeller noise. The problem with sonar was that it didn’t have accurate bearing resolution. The reason, for the Allies, was that the distance between trainable hydrophones was only a portion of a wavelength long. Here’s a JT sonar.

What is the purpose of the submarine fire control system?

It describes how to plan a submarine’s approach and attack using the fire control systems on Fleet and Guppy submarines with straight running torpedos (without homing, wire guidance, etc.). It represents the submarine fire control problem of WW II and the immediate post war period.

What is this rotating hydrophone on a WWII submarine?

That’s a rotating hydrophone head on USS Bowfin, a WWII submarine on display in Pearl Harbor as a museum ship. It was rotated manually from the forward torpedo room.