Aiming a torpedo

[MK-84]

How were torps aimed from aircraft?  Did they have an actual aiming device, was it dead reckoning, or some other tactic?
And if there are different ways, what aircraft used what?

[Ruah]

I believe they were pre-set (which is the same with tube launched torps) probably by default they were set to go at a certain depth and straight.  Upon release, the gas or electric motor would engage.  

I will look through some stuff if someone does not come in here to give you the details first (since there are some people with personal library's for this sort of stuff here).

[PAKFRONT]

Yes there was a Torpedo sight.. The ones I've seen were kinda like an angle gauge with a bubble level to keep you from flying into the water when looking thru the sight.. You judge the target, then set the sight for target speed and release distance.. Which will point the sight to the port or starbord side of the nose.. When you line the sight on the ship, the plane will be flying at an angle to the target.. Release at the correct range, bingo!

[Scotty55OEFVet]

Lol, I have been on my share of Torpedo runs with every type of Aircraft that can launch one...I have not ONCE hit anything! I try to do it by the book when it comes to speed and elevation but for some reason I never see the torp for more than a few sec so therefore cannot judge if I launched it right or on target, etc. Maybe a new sight should be added (if found) so it is easier to actually make a successful run...thoughts?

[Butcher]

Lol, I have been on my share of Torpedo runs with every type of Aircraft that can launch one...I have not ONCE hit anything! I try to do it by the book when it comes to speed and elevation but for some reason I never see the torp for more than a few sec so therefore cannot judge if I launched it right or on target, etc. Maybe a new sight should be added (if found) so it is easier to actually make a successful run...thoughts?

The Training page on aces high gives great detail on this, I was reading it and practicing it and actually scored a pair of torpedo hits from well over 2k range from Ju-88s - its a guessing game - if the CV turns then you are screwed.

Lately I find going head on with a CV the best option, the closing distance doesn't give a CV much time to react on a turn, plus you can safely fire them further out then a broad side shot.

[Brooke]

I talked to a WWII TBM pilot once -- he said it was all done by eye and judgement.

As for torpedo bombing in Aces High, I think the most-realistic action for it comes from scenarios.  In the Main Arena, the auto ack is such that you can never get as close as people got in WWII for torpedo bombing.  In scenarios with torpedo bombing, we turn the auto ack way, way down so that torpedo bombers have a chance to get in there, even though they are going low and slow.  Then you get action like what you read about in WWII accounts.

Some pics from scenarios that have had torpedo bombing (Coral Sea, Philippine Phandango).

[Baumer]

Here is a photo of a typical USN/USAAF torpedo director for aircraft.



However, as Brook posted, later in the war the USN had adopted a visual torpedo targeting procedure and seldom used the sight. The USN published a manual on the visual torpedo procedure called "Aircraft Torpedo Sighting and Launching Data" OPNAV 33-NY-58.

[Scotty55OEFVet]

The Training page on aces high gives great detail on this, I was reading it and practicing it and actually scored a pair of torpedo hits from well over 2k range from Ju-88s - its a guessing game - if the CV turns then you are screwed.

Lately I find going head on with a CV the best option, the closing distance doesn't give a CV much time to react on a turn, plus you can safely fire them further out then a broad side shot.

Thanks a bunch Butch!