General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: Night attack
Posted by:
Ken Dunn
()
Date: August 11, 2021 10:25PM
Hi David,
Typically, the First Watch Officer (IWO) conducted all surfaced torpedo attacks from the bridge using the bridge optics (UZO). The Commander was responsible for conning the boat for surfaced torpedo attacks. He could do this from the conning tower or the control room. There were speaking tubes on the bridge, in the conning tower and in the control room for passing information & commands. The IWO could also just shout down the bridge hatch.
Once the shot was setup, the Commander would give the IWO permission to fire.
The Commander generally conducted all submerged attacks from the conning tower using the attack periscope. However, he might choose to use the sky periscope for night submerged attacks. While its larger head left a more visible wake it also had larger optics with better light gathering characteristics.
The Commander was, well, the Commander, and he could do it any way he wanted to do it. He could even conduct surfaced torpedo attacks himself. Also, for example, if the IWO proved to be not very good at torpedo shooting from the surface, he might designate the IIWO as the Torpedo Officer for that task and the IIWO would conduct the remaining surfaced torpedo attacks if he proved to be better at it than the IWO.
Also, the Commander might allow the IWO to conduct some submerged torpedo attacks from the conning tower if for example, the IWO was scheduled to go to commander’s school after that patrol. I know of at least one case where the IIWO was allowed to conduct a submerged torpedo attack too.
Regards,
Ken Dunn
Typically, the First Watch Officer (IWO) conducted all surfaced torpedo attacks from the bridge using the bridge optics (UZO). The Commander was responsible for conning the boat for surfaced torpedo attacks. He could do this from the conning tower or the control room. There were speaking tubes on the bridge, in the conning tower and in the control room for passing information & commands. The IWO could also just shout down the bridge hatch.
Once the shot was setup, the Commander would give the IWO permission to fire.
The Commander generally conducted all submerged attacks from the conning tower using the attack periscope. However, he might choose to use the sky periscope for night submerged attacks. While its larger head left a more visible wake it also had larger optics with better light gathering characteristics.
The Commander was, well, the Commander, and he could do it any way he wanted to do it. He could even conduct surfaced torpedo attacks himself. Also, for example, if the IWO proved to be not very good at torpedo shooting from the surface, he might designate the IIWO as the Torpedo Officer for that task and the IIWO would conduct the remaining surfaced torpedo attacks if he proved to be better at it than the IWO.
Also, the Commander might allow the IWO to conduct some submerged torpedo attacks from the conning tower if for example, the IWO was scheduled to go to commander’s school after that patrol. I know of at least one case where the IIWO was allowed to conduct a submerged torpedo attack too.
Regards,
Ken Dunn
Subject | Written By | Posted |
---|---|---|
Night attack | David Mcguinness | 08/11/2021 07:55PM |
Re: Night attack | Ken Dunn | 08/11/2021 10:25PM |
Re: Night attack | David Mcguinness | 08/12/2021 03:12PM |