To be fair, these tactics did work well during the furious night combat around Guadalcanal and, to a lesser extent, the Solomon Islands. Of course, the Americans were the ones using them more effectively during the later parts of the Solomon Islands campaign and at Leyte Gulf, torpedo tactics were all but ditched in favor of radar-directed naval gunfire.
To be fair, these tactics did work well during the furious night combat around Guadalcanal and, to a lesser extent, the Solomon Islands. Of course, the Americans were the ones using them more effectively during the later parts of the Solomon Islands campaign and at Leyte Gulf, torpedo tactics were all but ditched in favor of radar-directed naval gunfire.
Indeed, Sendai is glorifying classic destroyer tactics. This kind of surprise attack on a heavy target originated with the first modern torpedoes of the later 19th century and the torpedo boats that carried them. These "torpedo boats" weren't the fast planing-hulled boats the term automatically brings to mind today, like the PT boats of World War Two; rather, they were slender-hulled steam-powered boats, like tiny, slow destroyers. Indeed, destroyers (originally, "torpedo boat destroyers", or TBDs) were developed to counter these boats, but were so much faster and more capable than their intended opponents that they ended up assuming the torpedo-attack role for themselves.
The Japanese went on to use nighttime destroyer attacks extensively during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, especially in the nighttime surprise attack at Port Arthur which started the conflict and in the aftermath of the Battle of Tsushima, which ended it. Nighttime destroyer actions were also common during World War One, including in the last phase of the Battle of Jutland, that great but inconclusive clash between the British and German fleets.
(Yes, I know that neither Das Boot in general nor the specific scene with this music have anything to do with destroyer attacks on surface ships. Ignore that. Just listen to the music on its own.)
Enemy fleet spotted!! Lots of cruisers!!Nooo problemIn the midst of this, the destroyers approach even closer.Finally, when the timing is just right, the torpedoes are launched.The flagship illuminates the target with a searchlight.After spotting the enemy, the ships accelerate rapidly to close the distance.Meanwhile, the destroyers make their individual approaches to close the distance while firing their guns.The pressure from this formation sows chaos among the enemy.The flagship, a light cruiser, acts as a decoy, making use of its superior speed and manuevering skills to avoid the enemy's attacks.The torpedo squadron primarily operates at night.In a night raid, the enemy's ability to counterattack is greatly impaired, so any difference in firepower is not a problem.Sendai Torpedo Squadron, engaging!Destroyer Divisions 11 and 19, full speed ahead until we get into rangeIt's a battleship! Repeat, battleship!!Focus on the illuminated targetWell, with the advent of radar and the emphasis on carrier warfare, our chances to setup this kind of favourable situation decreased greatlySo, how is it actually?Night battles are so awesome -nodesuWaah... so cool...We're still too far away, when I draw the enemies away, then's the time to charge! Charge!CloserAttack!CloserWell, that's how it feels to fight in the Torpedo SquadronCloser!Eat my torpedooooeeeess!!!And that's night battle for you!! You want to do it too, don't you?Don't expend your torpedoes on the escorts!!
