Increments of Speed, Anyone Know?

[Soundman]

I have gone to using a calculator for calculating the speed of my targets and I often have a hard time setting the dial exactly where I want it, so I can't help but wonder if perhaps I'm wasting too much time trying set a precise speed. What kind of increments does the TDC really accept. The closest 1/10 knot, 1/8 knot, 1/4 knot, 1/2 knot? Does anyone know the answer to this?

[wetwarev7]

Honestly, I don't think you need to worry about it. Round up/down to the nearest knot, and you'll be fine.

I would assume that since the TDC doesn't display 10ths of a knot, it does not take it into consideration.

[Soundman]

HeHe, guess I tend to be a perfectionist. I've missed shots before, or perhaps hit a boat in the stern or bow, only to reload the save, calculate more accurately the speed, reset the speed a half to one quarter knot and then land the fish more closely to where I intended it to. Therefore, I tend to disagree with you here. I do agree that the sim probably does not allow a 1/10 increment, but I would like to know just how much. I do believe it will take a quarter knot increment though. At least I would like to think so. If no one is sure, can anyone suggest a way to test this?

[wetwarev7]

HeHe, Guess I tend to be a perfectionist. I've missed shots before, or perhaps hit a boat in the stern or bow, only to reload the save, calculate more accurately the speed, reset a half to one quarter knot and then land the fish more closely to where I intended it to. Therefore, I tend to disagree with you here.

Are you taking into account that the stadimeter is borked, the ship mast height data is inaccurate, and that the ships tend to speed up and slow down sometimes?

No point in getting perfect speed data when the range is flaky and the speed does not remain constant. :p

But it is fun being accurate down to .001! :rock:

You could count the clicks in the speed setting between knots, and that might give you a starting point for knot resolution...

[Soundman]

True, I have witnessed some ships changing speed and this could (and would) be a factor here. I have been using map plotting to get my speed, sometimes as long as 24 minutes, so my calculations should be pretty accurate. Again, you may be correct, but I would like to know this.

Now you make me raise another question.....My original still stands, but now I wonder (and this may be easier to answer) at what increments do the AI boats speed vary? Again, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 knots?

[wetwarev7]

That is a good question. I have seen them change speed by as much as 3 knots(merchant ships) and much more for destroyers.

I would be interested to know just how accurate your shots are considering I generally only plot speed anywhere from 1-6 minutes using a nomograph. My shots tend to allways hit from about 25% (EDIT)from the bow, all the way to the props(end EDIT), and sometimes just barely miss the back end of the ship(usually when I only allow 1 minute for speed plotting).

What I normally do when sighting a ship or convoy is plot for one minute, get a rough estimate of speed, dive and get into position, then pop the periscope up, mark the spot, start timing, lower periscope till I can't stand it anymore(up to 6 minutes :p ) then up periscope to take a final speed measurement, AOB and distance. By that time, it's time to let loose!

[CaptBC]

Watch the dials in the TDC. If you get the "arrows" to line up (they represent your view from your boat and your view at the target.) your speed is close or correct. If your arrow is leading the target, reduce the target speed and recalculate AOB. Once you get lined up, you should get a hit! Hope this helps!

Capt. BC

[wetwarev7]

No crap? I didn't know that...

That might help in testing how much and how often a targets speed changes.