An S-Boat's top speed was several knots faster than the torpedoes they fired. So were attacks not delivered at top speed; did they throttle down before launching torpedoes so as not to run into them; or did they launch at high speed, then make a sudden swerve to avoid running into the torpedoes? Or did they launch at 30 kts, and throttle up for a quick get away? I could see a quiet and careful approach would be possible for a night attack, but in daylight they would be in plain view and a lightning attack would be necessary.

Biggles,

Every bit of footage and/or Hollywood filming I've seen shows the torpedo boat making an immediate turn after firing to clear the "fish". There was a pre WW2 British designed MTB which launched the torpedo screw first over the stern - this definitely needed a quick turn to clear the torpedo!

Indeed Gentlemen, S-Boats reduced their speed down to 10 Knots before shooting any torpedo, Which was ok for any convoy that mostly had a speed of 8 - 9 knots. There is a nice piece of movie where Kpt Lt Wuppermann is explaining his approach in the Mediterranean see, with a cruiser leading a convoy from Alexandria to Malta:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsLX8w3YzsU

with English subtitle after minute 10 Wuppermann is explaining the approach. Happy watching.

Bis denne

Christian

Thanks. Even though incorrect, an S-Boat at full speed launching torpedoes (as a dio) is more dramatic.

dramatic - YES
realistic - NO