Riggerby Beta Tester 306 posts 3,108 battles Report post #1 Posted March 5, 2019 Hi all!, I've always wondered what these thing's are, Usually they're strapped to the side of parts of the super structure or slung on the sides of the barbette's, At first i thought they were Torpedo's perhaps (That's what they look like) but i have noticed them on ship's which both do not have Torpedos, And the shape / size / colours of them is nothing like the Torpedo's that ship uses. Does anyone know what they are? Most ships in the game have them. Ta! (Here is an example on Hindenburg, Though i have noticed them on ships of all classes) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
250swb Players 628 posts 2,129 battles Report post #2 Posted March 5, 2019 Hydroacoustic drones to be towed behind the ship? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
[TAKEN] ColonelPete Players 37,618 posts 18,642 battles Report post #3 Posted March 5, 2019 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paravane_(weapon) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Riggerby Beta Tester 306 posts 3,108 battles Report post #4 Posted March 5, 2019 1 minute ago, 250swb said: Hydroacoustic drones to be towed behind the ship? That would make sense i suppose. Asashio has some on mounts at the rear, Which would be perfect for that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Centurion_1711 Players 538 posts 7,269 battles Report post #5 Posted March 5, 2019 Yeah, like ColonelPete said, they are paravanes. Used for minesweeping, they would be towed behind a ship, and the cables would then hopefully cut the tethers on any mines, causing them to float to the surface. There they could be destroyed with gunfire. 39 minutes ago, 250swb said: Hydroacoustic drones to be towed behind the ship? I guess you mean towed array sonar? If I recall correctly, that stuff came much later, during the cold war. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Riggerby Beta Tester 306 posts 3,108 battles Report post #6 Posted March 5, 2019 51 minutes ago, Centurion_1711 said: Yeah, like ColonelPete said, they are paravanes. Used for minesweeping, they would be towed behind a ship, and the cables would then hopefully cut the tethers on any mines, causing them to float to the surface. There they could be destroyed with gunfire. I guess you mean towed array sonar? If I recall correctly, that stuff came much later, during the cold war. Sorry if this comes across as a bit stupid but... If they're being towed behind the ship, They're not really stopping the ship itself hitting the mine right? Haha. I take it these things were more along the lines of mine clearing channels for allies / later passage as oppose to actually protecting the ship deploying them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
[TAKEN] ColonelPete Players 37,618 posts 18,642 battles Report post #7 Posted March 6, 2019 5 hours ago, Riggerby said: Sorry if this comes across as a bit stupid but... If they're being towed behind the ship, They're not really stopping the ship itself hitting the mine right? Haha. I take it these things were more along the lines of mine clearing channels for allies / later passage as oppose to actually protecting the ship deploying them? The article explains it, but ok.... They are pulled beside the ship. That is why that thing has wings. The wings make the thing move away from the ship. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Centurion_1711 Players 538 posts 7,269 battles Report post #8 Posted March 6, 2019 8 hours ago, Riggerby said: Sorry if this comes across as a bit stupid but... If they're being towed behind the ship, They're not really stopping the ship itself hitting the mine right? Haha. I take it these things were more along the lines of mine clearing channels for allies / later passage as oppose to actually protecting the ship deploying them? Oh, yeah, perhaps I could have worded it better. They would be towed by the ship, but fins on the paravanes would be set so they pulled outwards, away from the ship towing them. This would allow them to cover a wider area and like you say, clear a path that friendly ships could navigate. Spoiler They were also used as an anti-submarine weapon, by loading the paravane up with explosives. Once again they would be towed, the paravane would ride at a deeper depth and behind the destroyer. If it struck the sub, it would explode and result in a very bad day for those submariners. Spoiler So the paravanes you see on destroyers could be for either purpose. The ones on larger ships would more likely be for minesweeping to protect the ship. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LastButterfly Beta Tester 5,499 posts 2,939 battles Report post #9 Posted March 7, 2019 On 3/6/2019 at 8:48 AM, Centurion_1711 said: They were also used as an anti-submarine weapon, by loading the paravane up with explosives. Only the British attempted that now right ? I don't recall any other explosive-filled paravane design from other nations (although I admit I haven't checked in depth). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
