[dashyr]

Originally Posted by p7p8

Stadimeter was good during WWII for attacking surface ships but today naval warfare rely on different sources of gaining information.

Today "short" range for torpedoes is 8-10 nmi (over 15 km). It shows that stadimeter haven't primary role in DW

Many ships and maritime patrol airctafts have "mast detectors" - they can automatically detect your periscope so using Stadimeter is not recommended. Personally i never used it :P
Visual detection for gaining range is recommended when you have laser range device (some modern subs have it)

Your best friend is TMA and passive detection via low fraquency sonars like Towed Array. You can detect and after some time find solution to attack even on very large distances - far beyond radar (limited by radio horizont)



It means your solution wasn't good enough for engaging.
You should to predict where target will go. It's hard task when you fail your first attack because enemy probably change course and speed.
If target is not too far (<10-12 nmi) you can ping active sonar when your torpedoes are close to solution.

For attacking submarines using periscope is not very smart. Not only because submarines are usually under water but also because your sonars works best not very close to surface (waves generates some noise)

My advices:

1. Turn Autocrew for TMA (its not cheating because autocrew gives you solutions with error). It allow you to focus on more important things than resolving puzzles of TMA. It's not a shame: 99% players in MP use autocrew ON

2. Forget about Silent hunter practices, like:
- using visual obserwations for making solution on target
- hearing contacts for predicting range/type/etc
- staying at periscope depth
- going to maximum depth in case of danger
- trusting for "termocline" will hide you
- using radar
- being "perfectionist" for working on solution
- relaying only on yourself for building battle picture
All of this above are "bad habits" silent hunter players in DW

3. Watch some experienced players (like me ) RA gampelays for understanding how to engage with or without autocrew TMA

4. You don't have to read all weapon guide but only sections for your current loadout.

I read some of the red book. I used a trick in it that lets me know the enemy's minimum range using the tma. It's not precise, but its at least something.


Also, my stadimeter "estimates" are not "that" off providing I use multiple readings and make an average approximation of it's course and range. Wich is often enough with most torpedoes that have a minimum of tracking. I try to be sneaky about it. Rising my periscope. Taking a pic then hide it again. So far it has not been a problem if used sparringly. I cannot remove the risk but I sure can minimize it.



This time I used said trick, combined with stadimeter to have a good picture of the range and course of the convoy. I shot a torpedo at each of them hoping to cripple and disable them. Second volley will take care of the survivors. Of course I calculated the second volley while the first was on it's way. VERY approximate but it did work. I then quickly dived under the thermal layer and headead straight toward the escort ship. Accelerated. Cut engines and order a 90' turn. Let the momentum carry me southwest. Making a solution on the ship in case I need to / keeps me busy too during those moves. Didn't had to sink him... managed to lose him.