Question about firing a "Spread" or "Fan Shot"

[letterboy1]

Hi,
how do you set up a spread or "fan shot?" I have begun searching these forums but ask if you wouldn't mind pointing me in the right direction. So far I understand that the idea is to make torpedos hit multiple parts of the target in order to increase compartmental flooding and speed up sinking. However, I'm not clear about the setting up part. Is there something that makes all torpedos fire at once or is it a matter of hitting the fire buttons for all selected torpedos in quick succession?

By the way, I use GWX 1.02 if it makes a difference. I normally use automatic firing but am looking at the added benefits of selecting some options manually.

Thanks!

[Engel der Vernichtung]

The "T/S" switch on the torpedo fre control screen (F6) determines whether it's a tube or salvo shot; when you set it to S you will see multiple tubes selected, and the paths of the torps will appear on the display. Drop the degree spread to narrow the fan; the switch that selected the tube now selects which tubes you have selected. Hitting fire will fire all tubes you have selected.

[Dantenoc]

The idea of the "spread" or "fan" shot is not to hit multiple parts of the ship (even though that is very likely to happen) but rather to fire several torps at once at slightly different directions in the hope that at least one of them hits. Tactical situations where this could come in handy are when you're firing solution data isn't trust worthy (like when you don't know the enemy's exact speed, for example).

If your intent is to target several "key" parts of the target at once, I suggest you go with the "firing one by one in rapid succesion" method, taking care to point each torp into the desired compartment (always remembering to open the tube doors).

[Zero Niner]

What do you set the spread to, in terms of degrees? The default 5 (or was it 10) deg is too wide, some of the torps will miss. Even 1 deg spread may miss if you're trying a long range shot.

Any rules of thumb?

[Keelbuster]

What do you set the spread to, in terms of degrees? The default 5 (or was it 10) deg is too wide, some of the torps will miss. Even 1 deg spread may miss if you're trying a long range shot.

Any rules of thumb?
Yea - i've never trusted the salvo fire functionality. Rather, I fire my own spread firing the tubes one at a time, while moving the periscope crosshair along the target ship. If you want, aim a bit infront and behind the ship if you really have no idea how fast its going (like maybe a TF). This implicitly deals with the angle problem. I think this method is about as fast as a proper salvo because they fire in sequence anyway. Might not be as historical as you'd like though.

Kb

[letterboy1]

Wow, thanks for these replies! :)

[Dantenoc]

What do you set the spread to, in terms of degrees? The default 5 (or was it 10) deg is too wide, some of the torps will miss. Even 1 deg spread may miss if you're trying a long range shot.

Any rules of thumb?

you're missing the point... it doesn't matter if not all of them hit, the whole purpouse of the fan shot is to sacrifice all the other torpedoes in your fan shot as "misses" in exchange for insuring that the remaining one will hit.

How wide should you spread them? well, it depends on range to target and the length of your target. As you fire your fan shot, the torpedoes start very close to each other, but as they travel along, they start to "fan appart" (separate from each other, as they each follow their own course, as dictated by the angle that you chose). At the moment when they reach the target's range, they should be separated from each other by about ONE TARGET LENGTH. More than that you'll risk the target sliping by between two adjancent torpedoes, less than that and you won't be covering as wide an area as you could and you risk not hitting the target with any torps at all (assuming your firing solution was incorrect).

Turn on the "God's eye view" and play around with the setting while in the "f6" screen and you'll get the hang of it.

[Eagle Eye]

I seldom use fan shots unless a target is zig zagging. If you want to fire multiple shots quickly at a target... decide how many fish to use, then switch to a salvo using that many fish, take note of the tubes selected in the salvo, open your doors then change to single fire, the doors opened for the salvo stay open just make sure you fire the correct tubes. This way you can fire in rapid succesion without having to wait for each torpedo door to open and you can aim each shot where you want it to go.

[Zero Niner]

I see. So the concept of firing a spread is like a shot gun.
Thanks for clearing it up.
Too used to being a "sniper" if you know what I mean.

[danurve]

Well one thing's for sure, the default spread degree is a waste.

I have used tubes 2&4 or 1&3 on targets before, depending on what they are of course and adjusting the depth and pistol first. I've use both spreads on sucessfull convoy attacks as well, but in most all cases never more then .5 on the spread.
To narrow? Perhaps, but it works and so I like it.
http://huntny.us/sh3/2_22_07/21_19.jpg

[Jimbuna]

Yea - i've never trusted the salvo fire functionality. Rather, I fire my own spread firing the tubes one at a time

My preferred method too :arrgh!:

[CaptainAsh]

I almost always using salvo of 2 (tube 1 & 3 with type I and tube 2 & 4 with type II). But I m not using salvo to have one 1 hit on 2, I always expect to score 2 hits (even if dud torpedo happened...) or exeptionaly with salvo of 3 for Large Merchant and salvo of 4 for fast warship which deserve me to shot at (battleship, carrier, you know the fancy stuff ;)).
In the basic 2 fishs shot, my solution is complete in the computer maybe 30 secondes before I have to free the fishes so I'm ajusting angle less than 5 secondes before firing in a way that the distance between both torpedoes at the impact point should be half the target length. I m not use to notice the actual angle actualy... must be between almost null to 5 ° I guess.
I did my longer range shot yesterday evening, 1500 meters. Wasn t able to close more, that ship was moving 12 knots in an area were surfacing would habe been succide. The angle should have been really close to 0 I guess and both score a hit.

[Sailor Steve]

I also never use the salvo switch, since in real life they didn't have one. The torpedoes were fired one at a time, even when they called it a salvo, usually about five seconds apart.

[AVGWarhawk]

Sometimes I salvo with the switch. More often than not I do it individually when at the side of the convoy. Of the 4 sent someone is gonna get hit:up:

[mookiemookie]

What do you set the spread to, in terms of degrees? The default 5 (or was it 10) deg is too wide, some of the torps will miss. Even 1 deg spread may miss if you're trying a long range shot.

Any rules of thumb?

If you want all of your spread shots to hit the target ship, you need to find out how wide your target ship is in your periscope. Set your scope crosshair on the edge of the stern of the ship and remember the degree bearing shown (lets use 345 degrees as an example) then quickly move your scope crosshair to the very tip of the bow of the ship and notate that bearing (let's say it's 353 degrees)

There, now since 353 - 345 = 8, you should set your torpedo spread less than 8 degrees to ensure they all hit.

[Heibges]

Fan Shooting is a great way to boost your realism also.

from the Uboat Commanders Handbook:

171. As far as the supply of torpedos allows, several shots, in the form of multiple discharges (double or three-fold discharges) should be directed against worthwhile targets, even at short range, and the data are not in doubt. In this case, all the torpedoes should hit the mark in order to ensure the annihilation of the enemy. This means that torpedoes should be fired at different parts of the target.

172. If the range is over 1,000m, or if there is uncertainty as regards aiming data (high speed of the enemy), several torpedoes (2,3, or 4) should be released on the "fan pattern". The idea is to make sure of ONE hit. It is better to score only one hit than to miss the target with each of several consecutive shots.

[Engel der Vernichtung]

Right... I very rarely use the fan shot myself. One time I did, was when I was zeroing up on a T2, and the DD in front of the convoy was zeroing in on ME (1000m astern, and pinging me). I knew I'd only get one shot, so I let everything rip at that T2, and dove deep. As luck would have it, the very first torp blew the T2 sky-high, and that wasted the other torps :damn: but hey, T2's a good kill in any event.:know:

[FIREWALL]

I like to sucker in a DD head on and about 500 meters let go with a salvo
at .5 spread and his fast turn is to little to late. I also crash dive and turn
oposite his turn. :D




ps. Remember Bungo Pete. :p

[danurve]

I like to sucker in a DD head on and about 500 meters let go with a salvo
at .5 spread and his fast turn is to little to late. I also crash dive and turn
oposite his turn. :D




ps. Remember Bungo Pete. :p

I like that idea, sounds like it has brass. Might only get in one hit & waste eels but sinking a DD hunting you is most excellent.

[CaptainAsh]

I disagree...
one torpedo against a DD is a waste but can be a life savor.
3 or 4 torpedoes against a DD is just a waste. 1200 or 1300 tons?

[Keelbuster]

Sometimes I'll try for a DtT (down the throat) shot against a lone DD. If >3km away, I'll surface at flank and blaze directly away from the destroyer. Wait till he's at max speed, and going straight for you. Line up a rear T2 shot with 0 gyro and set it for 1m below keeldepth. Fire. Continue at flank - he'll probably miss with his shots. Dive with ~30 secs to impact. He'll continue at flank, and hopefull keep exactly that course. Sometimes you can get a kill with this. It works _much_ better with a wakehomer. You can just keep him running after you and let the wakehomer chase him down. But yea - in general - don't waste torps DDs.

[FIREWALL]

1939- 40 I even use deck gun to get his attention. When he turns at
me i dive to PD and line up at 0 degrees and use tactic in last post.
No Guts no Glory. Good practice for SH4.

[greyrider]

letterboy1
you might want to take a look at this chart, of torpedo offsets, as i think this chart will answer the question you asked.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2435/gyroanglespv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


this was not made by me, but by someone along time ago, it was written for sh1, so its gonna be good to use for sh4.
the offsets are given in yards, the english measuring system, not meters. if you want to use it for sh3, you have to convert from yards to meters.
the chart lists the torpedo offset angle on the left column, and the ranges at on the top.
to use this chart, ill make an example:
if you have a target vessel at 500 yards, and you want to fire a two torpedo spread at the target, and you set your two torpedoes for a half degree spread,
then when the torpedoes strike the target, they should explode 13 yards apart against the ships hull.
if you have a target at 2000 yards, and you want to fire a spread of 1 degree, then the torps will strike the targets hull at 105 yards apart from each other.
i hope this helps you, and answers your question, which was a very good one.

the data is hard to read with the blue background if your going to print this chart out, so i removed the blue, for white, which is easier to read now.

http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gyroanglesvh5.jpg