[Hitman]

Hmmm - now this sounded like a very cool (and relatively easy) idea at first - if you have a decent range estimate, and you can measure the observed/apparent length (presumably by reference to the markings along the horizontal/x-axis of the scope/TBT), it would seem to be a relatively simple matter of math/formulas to compute the AOB based on the relationship of the apparent length to the actual length (available from the recognition manual).

I'm finishing a tutorial with screenshots on a method to get the AOB based exactly on that. I call it the "Aspect Ratio" method, because it relays basically in how much the relationship between height and length of the ship you see changes towards the standard aspect ratio when at 90º AOB.

This is the part that dials with the AOB:

2.- AOB (ASPECT RATIO METHOD)

Each ship has its own "Aspect ratio", which means the difference of its length versus its heigth. For example, a 100 yards long ship with a mast of 33 yards has an aspect ratio of 3,33:1. Now, because what you can see of the ship’s height remains constantly proportional (The mast) at any given distance, while the length you can see will change also proportionally depending on the AOB, you can read from your scope or TBT the new Aspect Ratio the ship shows you, and by comparing it with the standard aspect ratio at 90º, get the AOB directly.


You just have to do this:


1.- Note the target’s Standard Aspect Ratio (F.e. 3.95 in a Medium Modern Composite). You can get it from the recognition manual (length 103.6 metres divided by a heigth of 26.2 metres in our Medium Modern Composite) and have it listed already for faster consulting.


2.- Pause the game (You are now a Tracking Party member), and count the scope marks until the top of her mast, and the marks from her bow to her stern (Hint: The scope locks at the exact centre, so just count from the centre to the bow fairwater and multiply by two). It is easier to do if you raise the reticle to align the horizontal division with the mast top, like the next image shows.



Divide the number of lentgh marks by the number of heigth marks, directly (No need to convert them to anything else). In our example, we see aprox 13.25 marks to the bow (26.5 marks total length of the ship) and almost exact 7 marks to mast top. Dividing it, the resulting value is 3,78


3.- Use following formula to determine the percentual variation of the aspect ratio:


New Aspect Ratio (3,78 in this case) x 100
Variation = _____________________________________

Old Aspect Ratio (3,95 in this case)


Variation in this case would be 95,8 %, i.e. nearly 96%


4.- Use this ruler (It is simply a Sinus scale) to determine the AOB:



In this case, 96% in the lower scale represents a 75º AOB, as you can see in the upper scale. Easy, isn’t it?

Now unstop the game, plug that value in your tool and send it to the TDC.

NOTE: If the target is heading away from you (No converging course) the result in degrees must be added to 90º. The aspect ratio variation will be the same if the target has an angle on the bow of 45º or of 135º, i.e. you will see 70% change towards the original Standard Aspect Ratio in both cases, so it is up to you to correct that. But its is fairly easy to see in general terms if the target is moving away or converging, and the masts of the ship will always provide you an orientation in the most difficult cases.