speed estimation

[Joe S]

As you know, speed estimation is probably the most important element in a firing solution. The new patch tries to simulate the calculation by the fire control party but the fly in the ointment is that your periscope range estiimation, which should be the least important component of the firing solution, can really throw off the speed calculation if its just a little bit off, and it often will be due to pitch and roll of the boat, or error in estimating the height of the target. In reality, there were many different ways to estimate range and the crew would use all of them until they got a solution that works. In SHIV, we are a little bit limited as to how we do it, due in part, to the lack of the ability to manually imput range into the TDC.

At any rate, I play with map contacts on to simulate the work of the fire control party in maintaining a manual plot. Using the map, I mark the bow of the target and start the stopwatch and lower the scope beneath the waves. You do not have to lower it all the way. Ten seconds before the desired time elapses, zoom in on the expected location of the target and get your marker ready and raise the scope. As soon as the target appears on the map, mark the position of the bow and go to the scope. You can then enter range and bearing and lower the scope and make a mental estimate of the AOB. You can enter AOB with the scope down. Activate the position keeper and go to the map.
Using the compas, mark the first timed mark and drag the pointer until the circle intersects your second mark, making sure to move the pointer in a left and right manner so that when you are finished, the line showing the radius of the compas circle is oriented left and right. Now slide the map until the line marking the radius of the range is aligned with the scale at the upper left of the map. You can now make an accurate estimate of the distance travelled and calculate speed. My hit percentage has gone way up since I started using this method. I never had much luck using the ruler due to the lack of accuracy in the ruler. I hope someone finds this usefull, I like it. Of course, your milage may vary. Joe S

[Frederf]

A cute method that I have yet to use is the "Ship travels its own length in x seconds" and then convert from ft/sec to knots and bingo. Unfortunately the ship lengths aren't in the recognition manual but the info is in the PDF manual that came with the game as well as in some promising recognition manual mods.

The neat thing about the travel-own-length method is that it works under nearly all AOB (so long as the bow and stern are decernable and it's actually moving across your vision) since the less square the AOB is, the less across-your-vision speed component there is but that effect is exactly compensated by the visual squishing of the target ship as it's AOB is less than square.

[Joe S]

I considered trying that method but decided that in many cases it would require keeping the scope up for a long time. Maybe I am wrong about that, but I have been trying to devise a system that can work with very brief scope observations. Thanks for the reply and the interesting comment! Joe S

[joegrundman]

At any rate, I play with map contacts on to simulate the work of the fire control party in maintaining a manual plot.

Dude, there's nothing wrong with playing with map contact updates on, if you want to. But it ain't simulating anything.

You are the guy looking through the periscope. Not the plotting party. They get to write down what you tell them.

You want perfect range estimates, send some pings, but be prepared to pay the price if destroyers hear.

[joegrundman]

Incidentally there is another way to get speed estimates. I use the reverse side of my SACF whiz wheel:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=106923&highlight=ISWAS

It's not perfectly reliable either, i find, but it certainly helps in conjunction with other estimation techniques

[C DuDe]

to the lack of the ability to manually imput range into the TDC.


Well actually you can... when you've done the range by pressing the appropriate button an pull down the picture over the vessel and see your estimate is to long or to short you can adjust with the transparent thingy to the right of the meter (just be careful when you adjust it cause one click is aprox. 100yds).

You can cross reference it on the attack map (line should be right on top of or just in front of the Dot representing the vessel).
Same goes for speed adjustments, when you see the dot (ie vessel) is going faster or slower then the PK line you've placed you can adjust it to match.

[Joe S]

well, I have learned a lot from your replies, and will test them all . As for simulating the fire control party, the captain was not the only one using the scope, on some boats the executive officer did most of the "shooting" . At any rate the fire control party would use scope observations, sonar and radar to develope the manual plot.

thanks for your helpful comments! Joe S