Subject: SMML VOL 1781
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 11:20:45 +1000

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MODELLERS INDEX

1: HMS Bristol
2: Re: PT Boat torpedo launching
3: HMS Bristol
4: Torp aiming
5: Re: Firing Torpedos from PT Boats
6: James Corley's Type VII details and the SMML get together
7: Re: U-boats

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Model club & SMMLcon Infomation

1: Re: IPMS(US) Nats
2: Re: IPMS Nationals SMML get together
3: Re: VaBeach Attendees List....

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MODELLERS

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1)
From: "Malcolm N. Waite" <mw99@rapid.co.uk>
Subject: HMS Bristol

 hi

 Albatros does HMS Bristol in 1/1250th, code no ALK 81 and she's done as 1982.

 Regards

 Malcolm Waite

 PS very nice model.
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2)
From: Edd Pflum <eddp@netzero.net>
Subject: Re: PT Boat torpedo launching

 Franlyn wrote:

>> When the torpedo tubes of a PT Boat were cranked out at an angle to the keel, how was the torpedo reliably aimed at the target? I have always assumed that in the case of a submarine-launched torpedo, the entire submarine was pointed directly at the target, and the submarine's tubes guided the aquatic missile on a course that was unalterable once it left the tube. <<SNIP>> <<

 Franklyn,

 The torpedoes had a gyro steering device which allowed them to assume a pre-programmed heading following launch. This allowed submarines to launch a "spread" with each of several torpedoes taking a slightly different heading, and the PT fish to assume a dead ahead course (or whatever was desired) after launching.

 The 21-inch torpedoes had to be tube launched to avoid "tumbling" these gyros. Later boats used an 18-inch aircraft torpedo which had more robust gyros. These could be simply roled over the side. Also, though submarine torpedoes were launched by air pressure, the PT tubes were powered by a gunpowder gas generator (the milk bottle-shaped object above the breech.) In action, a crewman crouched by this device with a mallet. If the electric firing circuit failed, the crewman could hit a plunger with the mallet and detonate a primer to fire the torpedo manually.

 Late in the war, the Germans and US (at least) had acoustic guided homing torpedoes. The TBM Avengers on CVEs used the acoustics to hunt U-boats. (The U-boats used them to hunt Ces ;-) ) I believe the Germans also had wake-homing and wire guided versions, but I don't know if these were operational.

 Edd
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3)
From: "John Rule" <jjrule@rogers.com>
Subject: HMS Bristol

>> Does anybody know if I can buy a kit of HMS Bristol a Royal Navy type 82 destroyer circa 1982 in any scale. Injection moulded or resin. <<

 I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist in any scale and definitely not in 1:700, or else I would have one.

 I have a drawing of her and tease myself with the idea of scratchbuilding her some day. She was/is a very attractive ship. I saw her when she visited Toronto a number of years ago. I saw her again last year in Portsmouth, albeit in a sorry state.

 John
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4)
From: Erwin Van Deynze <erwin.van.deynze@pandora.be>
Subject: Torp aiming

>> When the torpedo tubes of a PT Boat were cranked out at an angle to the keel, how was the torpedo reliably aimed at the target? I have always assumed that in the case of a submarine-launched torpedo, the entire submarine was pointed directly at the target, and the submarine's tubes guided the aquatic missile on a course that was unalterable once it left the tube. <<

 I believe that wasn't the case, the torpedoes could be set to a certain course, later German torpedoes could a elaborate pattern programmed into them, or a circling pattern, so that a direct miss could give a chance of hitting at least something in a convoy...

 Altering the course after launching the torpedo wasn't possible, possible the Germans did some research in wire guidance, but that meant continuous tracking of the target, and at that stage of the Battle of the Atlantic it was just 'launch the damn thing and get the hell out of here' tactics...

 Erwin
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5)
From: EFGRUNE@flash.net
Subject: Re: Firing Torpedos from PT Boats

 Franklyn was asking about the mechanism for aiming and firing torpedos from US PT boats.

 Victor Chun has some very good diagrams in his book US PT Boats of World War II. The short answer is there is a gyro turn preset into the torpedo. Torpedos fired to the left turn back to the right (by the magnitude of the tube train). Torpedos fired to the right turn to the left. This results in a straight-running spread of torpedos - not a fan spread.

 Chun also diagrams the fire control solution triangle. The captain has an aiming sight that gives him the lead angles for a known range. When the sight lines up with the aim point he fires, gets his torpedos clear and turns to evade.

 Ed
 Mansfield, TX
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6)
From: EFGRUNE@flash.net
Subject: James Corley's Type VII details and the SMML get together

 Cripes James - are you still working on that conning tower for the Revell Type VII?   You had a bunch of resin bits and pieces for the thing at last year's Nats!   Have you solved the problem of the bent periscopes?

 I'll be at the convention. I made the mistake of opening my mouth about the Club Entry and I got the job. Be sure to look for us in the model room. We have "100 Years of the US Navy Destroyer". We have some absolutely beautiful scratchbuilt 1:700 scale pre-WWI destroyers. If everybody does what they have signed up for we'll have every class from the Bainbridge to the DD-X Zumwalt class.

 Ed
 Mansfield, TX
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7)
From: Ives100@aol.com
Subject: Re: U-boats

>> Further Mirage subs are U-673 (VIIC Turm II), U-570 ( VIIC Turm I), and the U-875 (IXD2 Turm II), with the autogiro. This would make a great diorama, if you could figure out a way to support the giro! <<

 The autogyro was towed behind the U-boat on a line. You could use a stiff wire, gently curved up, to suspend the autogyro.

 Tom Dougherty
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Model club & SMMLcon Infomation

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1)
From: "Robert Healy" <arrow206@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: IPMS(US) Nats

 Greetings All,

 Maybe I missed it but is anyone getting together at the Nat's for a bit. Perhaps lunch or for a while in the evening. I was going to make a day trip there and would set my day trip for that time...

 R./

 Bob Healy
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2)
From: Darren <hawkone@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: IPMS Nationals SMML get together

>> How about starting a list on line of who will be attending? Just keep it running and let folks add to it as they get their planning done. Also lets try to all get together early on Friday. I'll take the lead for this and contact the IPMS folks and try to get a place for us all to meet on Friday AM or get another location that is close. Give me some feed back if this is OK with most of you guys. <<

 Thanks for the effort Charlie, Count me in on Friday with my 'instant glue' tip making demo!

 Darren Scannell
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3)
From: stillmo@mb.sympatico.ca
Subject: Re: VaBeach Attendees List....

 The Beanster....Ray Bean from   Winnipeg, Canada....will be there, and friend, who I hope will be making his own announcement. Dont you think it might be nice for us all to do a HARBOR CRUISE together?? A bunch of us lathered up with cameras and beers all interested in the same thing making use of good time. I would rather do that anytime than sit in a bar, its really a short convention and so much to see and do......your thoughts, chappies?

 RDB
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 Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Backissues, Member's models & reference pictures at:

 http://smmlonline.com

 Check out the APMA site for an index of ship articles in the Reference section at:

 http://apma.org.au/
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End of Volume