Zauns and homing ctrls

[DarkBlueWaters]

Zauns are the only torpedoes in the game that employ electronic homing controls. These controls, however are not automatically autonomous. The must be close enough to determine - or "hear" - the sound of the locked target's props (propellers). My experience has been that they have to be within 1.5 and 2 km from target before on board homing system takes over from the sub control system. At this point the torpedo's homing system becomes autonomous in its operation(s). Remember, the specs:

T-V G7es Zaunkonig I T-XI G7es Zaunkonig II

Speed: 24 kn Range: 6 km/6km Speed: 24 kn Range: 6 km/ 6 km
Explosives: 287 kg Dud probability: 14 % Explosives: 349 kg Dud Probability: 14 %
Arming Range: 400 m Arming Range: 400 m

[AlbertRoss]

Ah yes well, acoustic homing devices indeed, here is a link to uboat.net where there is historical data on the torpedoes.

The Steinbutt is an LUT torpedo:

All the German U-boat torpedoes were 53.3cm (21 inch) in diameter and had a warhead of 280kg (The T5 had 274kg). There were also two important pattern-running devices which could be applied to various torpedo types. These were FAT and LUT.The FAT (Federapparat Torpedo) ran a wandering course with regular 180-degree turns, was useful against convoys, and was fitted to both G7a and G7e T3s. From the end of 1942 onwards it was manufactured at the rate of roughly 100 per month.

LUT was a more sophisticated version of the FAT, with more variable patterns, but was only used operationally towards the end of the war.

Much other interesting intel there too.

Early in WW2 the dud rate was around 40%...

Regards,

AlbertRoss.

[See_Wolf]

Ahoi DarkBlueWaters.

Thank you for your effort.
The ZK recorded its target within 500 meters.
The tracking system is activated by the focus are the torpedo. So 400 meters after leaving the tube.
Locate frequency is reached from ship more then 12kn speed of the ZK-I. When ZK-II more then 10kN.
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In real terms, the German U Boats had to go after the firing of a ZK on slow speed and at great depth.
The Reason:
The tracking system had otherwise acquired their own boat. (Kreisläufer / Circle Runner)
Too bad that is not included in the game. ;-))

Gruß,
See_Wolf

[DarkBlueWaters]

Yeah I ran across that link but didn't think to post on here; thx for doing it for me lol

[AlbertRoss]

Hello DarkBlueWaters,

Aye there's much fascinating reading at uboat.net - copied below from the page on torpedoes is some info as mentioned above by See_Wolf

G7s T5 Electric 5700m/24kts

The Zaunköning (Wren) came into service during the autumn of 1943. Intended to be an escort-killer, it achieved some early minor success only to be countered by the allied Foxer noise-making decoy. It was scoring hits against escort and merchants to the end of the war though.

The weapon was designed to lock onto the loudest noise after a run of 400m from its launch. This often proved to be the U-boat itself and standard issue-orders were to dive immediately to depth of 60m after launch from a bow tube while a stern shot was to be followed by a complete silence in the boat. Two U-boats were almost certainly lost when hit by one of their own T5 torpedoes, U-972 in Dec 1943 and U-377 in Jan 1944.

T11 Electric 5700m/24kts

A modified T5, less affected by Foxer. Never used in battle conditions although late test results were promising.

Thankfully in the game they behave much more benignly

Regards,

AlbertRoss.

[See_Wolf]

Ahoi, AlbertRoss. :-)))

The English text, I know not, but the ZK, I always think of U 972 and U 377 and a few unexplained sinkings German U Boats.
Craziness, that only a small penny expensive part was enough to cause the ZK astray. :-))

Gruß,
See_Wolf