In this case, it's a choice of 'Fucked if you do, and fucked if you don't'.<br/><br/>Option A: is to take an aerial torpedo in the side; the blast will shred a full fifth of the Ridge's gasbags, light internal fires, and cause enough structural damage to force the ship to slow to at most 40 MPH until it can dock for (extensive) repairs, that'll likely run up to several thousand dollars, and a week in dock.<br/><br/>Option B: is to turn as hard as possible because the torpedos are unguided, hope the gunners can throw up a wall of lead to keep the Defenders from firing it at minimum range, but that'll put the Ridge through the leading edge of that big old thundercloud, which is (100%) likely to slow the ship down from the crosswinds, and possibly tear off some of the outer skin from wind shear.<br/><br/>So, in this case, taking option B means a few hundred dollars worth of damage, instead of having a gaping hole torn in the side of the ship, massive damage, internal fires, and all sorts of 'Oh shit' moments.<br/><br/>Remember; the airship's guns are to deter, not to actually shoot anything down (though, if that happens, it's a happy moment), and the planes can launch at an angle, but it's risky as hell. The smaller planes (Bloodhawk, and Devastator) can literally be dropped out of the hatch at a 45-degree angle, because the belly hatch is damn big. The larger ones, at absolute worst, can be dropped at a ten degree climb or a ten degree yaw, and even then it's sphincter-tighteningly nerve-wracking. (that'd be the Avenger and Vampire)<br/><br/>As for the flying sieve, well, It's airworthy, but anyone insane enough to fly with it into battle is running the risk of being shot down by a raindrop, much less all the lead flaying about.<br/><br/>So, it's a combination of factors; in this case, the navigator is doing what he feels needs to be done to mitigate the risk to the ship. (Note: 3 aerial torpedos will 'sink' any non-military Zeppelin; with 60% of the ship's lift capacity blown, and the remaining bags damaged, it would no longer have enough lift to sustain its height.)