[magic452]

For a vector analysis firing solution everything needs to be at zero, you don't use the TDC at all, you fire straight out the bow.

For O'Kane or Cromwell attacks you use the TDC but I have found that I get better results(fewer mistakes) if I zero everything out before I start inputting any data. That way I know that I don't have any old data to content with.

Vector Analysis is the most accurate method there is as far as I'm concerned but the O'Kane method is very very good. You just need to make sure you have everything set up right. After you do it a few times it's very easy.

Getting the targets course is most important. After mid '43 you have radar and with map contacts on it's easy to do.

Radar will update every 20 seconds so once you get a contact wait until
the targets jumps ahead and mark an X. Bring up the stopwatch and start it, wait 3 minutes and when the target jumps mark another X. Leave the stopwatch running and mark a third X at the next three minutes, I do this for 9 minutes and will have 4 X's

If you draw a line from the first X to the last X, that will give you the targets course, just extend the line way out there and you will be able to see the best place to intercept it.

Use your speed advantage to get into position well before the target gets there, set up about 1,000 yards off the course line and wait.

As you wait measure the distance between the first X and the second.
This distance will give you the targets speed, if the distance is 600 yards the speed will be 6 knots. 1,000 yards = 10 knots. One knot for every 100 yards. If you have used the full 9 minutes you measure form the first X to the forth and divide that distance by 300 to get speed 1,800/300 = 6 knots. This course and speed will be very accurate.

Once you have target course and speed and you set up your intercept right the rest is pretty easy. You can use a regular TDC attack or any one of the zero gyro angle attacks.

A good target course will also make AoB much easier and far more accurate. While you are waiting for the target to get to you you can also get your AoB. Take the protractor tool and put the center on the target course line a head of the target. Read the number on the outer edge nearest the target ship. wirte this number down, it's the targets course in degrees. The compass rose is inverted so it's important to remember to read the number closest to the target.

Now go to the data input dials, the right set of dials, and input the target speed. turn on the position Keeper (PK), left side dials at the bottom right.
Send speed to TDC.

Bring up the AoB input dial and you will see port and starboard and the number of degrees with a ship icon in the center. Turn that ship to port or starboard depending on which side of the target you will be shooting at and send to TDC. When you do this look at the left top dial and you will see the target ship dial turn. The bow of the target icon will point to a number on the outside ring of the top left dial. That number is what you told the TDC the target course should be. That is all AoB does. Adjust the the input dial until you get the left target dial to point to the course you wrote down earlier. It sounds complicated but it's not really, just turn the AoB input dial and send to TDC and see what the left dial does, you'll soon get the hang of it.

Well there you are waiting for the target to get to you and you already have speed and AoB and you're in a good firing position and you haven't even seen the target yet.

All you need is range and bearing and you have a very good firing solution for a standard TDC attack. Use the steadymeter to get range and bearing and your all set. With the Position Keeper on the TDC will update all this data for you. The little white X on the attack map is the projected impact point of your torpedo and it should be right on the target icon, if it isn't adjust the data for your firing solution.

With vector analysis all you need is target course and speed and draw the triangles, shoot when the target gets to the lead angle line.

With O'Kane you have all the info you need for a successful attack.

With these last two, I zero the TDC just to make sure I have all the right data in the TDC.

Magic