| Cap'n Crunch |
01-07-2011 04:59 AM |
If you want a fairly in depth history of the USN Torpedo both air and sub versions, get a copy of John Kernan's "The Unknown Battle of Midway". Has a whole chapter devoted to the great torpedo scandal and the resulting cover up.
The new US data in game has it all wrong any way. The major difference in early to late is in the explosive composition and weight of explosives. It had to have some rear stabilizing fins added because it was heavier in the nose.
At the time of Midway, no pilot in the entire battle group had even dropped a dummy round. The survivors testified they'd never even seen an airplane take off a carrier with a simulated torpedo load. Basically no one knew how to drop one, and the tactical employment parameters were all wrong any way. Too slow and low were actually giving zero chance, the mechanisms were being damaged entering the water at the wrong angles. A study at CalTech in 43 finally figured this out and speeds and height were corrected for all models.
Any way, read the book, at least the chapter on torpedo's, a great read. These guys never had a chance, but went any way, the speed and altitude restrictions made them easy meat for ship and air gunners on the approach.
Throughout most of the war, the IJN didn't regarded air torpedo's as a serious threat. Wasn't the same other way around, the early US Yorktown style carriers were highly vulnerable. Only the Enterprise survived, it was the only one never hit by a torpedo. Now you know why the most famous USN ship was immediately scrapped after the war, it was a floating death trap.
|
