Manual Shooting

[ddiplock]

The dreaded manual shooting game of Silent Hunter 4. lol

Anyway, my torpedos keep skimming behind enemy ships and just miss when i fire them, i'm assuming this must be due to my AOB calculations but....i'm inputting the same value that the protractor gives me on the nav map, which can't be wrong!!!

Also, when is the best time to put on the position keeper?? Because as soon as I've identified my ship, I turn it on. Is this the right thing to do? Or do you collect all the info first, and then turn it on? :o

Cheers for any suggestions guys :)

[ddiplock]

It seems the best solution is achieved if you activate the PK as soon as possible. The more often you update the PK the better your chances of scoring a hit. If you are not already doing so it's a good idea to check your progress on the PK/Attack plot to verify the "X" is on track with your intended target.

From what you've stated so far it appears that you may have incorrectly set target speed too slow.

My weapons officer has been doing the speed estimates and i've sent them to the TDC. Should I be doing more than one speed check though to try and get it more accurate?

[JSF]

It seems the best solution is achieved if you activate the PK as soon as possible. The more often you update the PK the better your chances of scoring a hit. If you are not already doing so it's a good idea to check your progress on the PK/Attack plot to verify the "X" is on track with your intended target.

From what you've stated so far it appears that you may have incorrectly set target speed too slow.

My weapons officer has been doing the speed estimates and i've sent them to the TDC. Should I be doing more than one speed check though to try and get it more accurate?

Through trial and error this is what I have used but I suggest that you read the steps mentioned in the previous thread called "Steps to automatically determine speed using 1.3 Patch (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=118522)" Judging from everyone's response the method employed in this thread achieves good results. I will check it out later tonight. Good Luck!

[ddiplock]

I'm wondering if the aiming system in the game works at all, I just set a solution in teh training mission, did each check twice, and input all the data into the TDC, had my tube doors open and fired.....no sooner had they left the tubes and i could tell in external view they were all misses......TOTAL misses :(

[JSF]

I'm wondering if the aiming system in the game works at all, I just set a solution in teh training mission, did each check twice, and input all the data into the TDC, had my tube doors open and fired.....no sooner had they left the tubes and i could tell in external view they were all misses......TOTAL misses :(

Yes...I know...it's all very frustrating. Take note...at the beginning of this forum is a wide range of topics containing post from members who have all experienced the same difficulties which you have described here. I would read thru a few of the pages before going any further and then try to duplicate, in the game, what they suggest in the form. You will find a great many good tips...And, your frustartion level will lower along with your blood pressure.

[mrbeast]

Correctly calculating the speed of the target is crucial. If you get that right errors in ranging and AOB wont matter so much as long as they are roughly correct. Conversley you could have perfect range and AOB data and still get a miss if your speed estimate is wrong.

Don't bother trying to get the game to calculate speed for you it rarely gets it right. Better to do it yourself. There are a few systems for doing this. I find the easiest is with a 'nomograph'. Its very easy to use, infact its as easy as litteraly drawing a line! Theres one you can download here for use in your game, enable it using JSGME:

http://hosted.filefront.com/ATR42/

But all you need is a time/distance/speed nomograph either metric or imperial depending on what you're using so if you found one on the net and printed it off it would do just as well.

Once you get calculating speed solved accurately you should find your hit rate increases.

[ddiplock]

Correctly calculating the speed of the target is crucial. If you get that right errors in ranging and AOB wont matter so much as long as they are roughly correct. Conversley you could have perfect range and AOB data and still get a miss if your speed estimate is wrong.

Don't bother trying to get the game to calculate speed for you it rarely gets it right. Better to do it yourself. There are a few systems for doing this. I find the easiest is with a 'nomograph'. Its very easy to use, infact its as easy as litteraly drawing a line! Theres one you can download here for use in your game, enable it using JSGME:

http://hosted.filefront.com/ATR42/

But all you need is a time/distance/speed nomograph either metric or imperial depending on what you're using so if you found one on the net and printed it off it would do just as well.

Once you get calculating speed solved accurately you should find your hit rate increases.

Cheers, i'll give the nomograph a go. But i've found my hit rates sky rocket all of a sudden now because i'm putting the PK on AFTER i've collected all the data. Before, I put the PK on, collected the data, then fired, and they always just missed the ship, skimming the back propeller. Now, when i get the data and put the PK on when i've got it, i've never missed yet.

Although i'm wondering if the ship drafts are incorrect. in the training mission the Mogami cruiser has a draft of 22ft....yet I can have my torps set at 20ft, and they'll still run UNDER the ship. Now bear in mind the weather is dead calm in the training mission, so the crusier isn't bobbing in the water. I've had to reset the depth to about 18 feet, to have them just skim under the cruiser and detonate successfully. Anything below 20+ft, despite the 22f draft listing in the ID book, and the torps just sail right on under.

[Frederf]

Although i'm wondering if the ship drafts are incorrect. in the training mission the Mogami cruiser has a draft of 22ft....yet I can have my torps set at 20ft, and they'll still run UNDER the ship.

The torpedos should deeper than your setting. The US Navy had a design error with their torpedos. Something about dynamic water pressure, depthkeeping sensors. You figure it out.

Also, I've never had a magnetic torpedo work without impacting a solid ship in SH4... ever. Also that contact/influence switch on the TDC interface? It might as well be a switch that changes your gender... i.e. it doesn't do dilly. I think early war torpedos are always influence and late war contact.. or the other way around. The switch is disgustingly vestigle from SH3.

[Rockin Robbins]

Ever hear that album (age showing mightily here)? Hey, the answers are available here at SUBSIM and the price is right. I personally don't believe in the crew derived speed and course. There is no substitute for plotting your solutions. That way any deviations in speed and course can be immediately detected. Your solution is only valid if neither change, and your detection method is missing the target, wasting a torpedo. Not acceptable.

You need to attend the WernerSobe School of Advanced Submarine Attack Tactics. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=118923. Werner has three videos that will rock your world and send your torpedoes to their targets instead of using them as funky automatic solution verification devices. Toward the end of the thread I have a tutorial in what I call the Dick O'Kane attack method, so accurate you can visually pick the exact spot on the ship where the torpedoes will hit. Take Werner's course and you'll never again question Silent Hunter 4's targeting tools. They're spot on! And you will be too.:up:

[ddiplock]

Hey guys, quick question: are the Trigger Maru mods enabled with JGSME?? or do you just copy the data files into the game folder? :S lol

cheers

[Rockin Robbins]

Hey guys, quick question: are the Trigger Maru mods enabled with JGSME?? or do you just copy the data files into the game folder? :S lol

cheers

Yup. Enable EVERYTHING with JSGME unless you enjoy keeping meticulous written notes and backup files of everthing, or never will want to upgrade or change anything. For most of us JSGME is the keystone that makes everything else stand. Without it WE fall.

[ddiplock]

Hey guys, quick question: are the Trigger Maru mods enabled with JGSME?? or do you just copy the data files into the game folder? :S lol

cheers

Yup. Enable EVERYTHING with JSGME unless you enjoy keeping meticulous written notes and backup files of everthing, or never will want to upgrade or change anything. For most of us JSGME is the keystone that makes everything else stand. Without it WE fall.

Does JSGME work at all with Vista Ultimate? :P lol

[Rockin Robbins]

Hey guys, quick question: are the Trigger Maru mods enabled with JGSME?? or do you just copy the data files into the game folder? :S lol

cheers
Yup. Enable EVERYTHING with JSGME unless you enjoy keeping meticulous written notes and backup files of everthing, or never will want to upgrade or change anything. For most of us JSGME is the keystone that makes everything else stand. Without it WE fall.
Does JSGME work at all with Vista Ultimate? :P lol

Only God knows. My copy of Vista works just great on my shelf, where it patiently waits for the time when it is unavoidable. In the meantime I buy Windows XP Media Edition for all the machines I build for family and friends.

I do want to thank all the early adopters who pay too much to beta test a product that isn't ready for release yet. HOLY COW! That sounds familiar! Have I heard some rumblings like that around SUBSIM at times? (NAW! SH4 was just as good as this when it was released :roll:)

[ddiplock]

seems JGSME doesn't want to work with Vista, keeps telling me the files are corrupt and to obtain a new copy. i've downloaded 2 copies off Subsim, and neither have worked :(

[NefariousKoel]

ddip-

Keep the default depth settings for your torpedoes. The game has a variability factor built-in regarding the actual running depth of your fish as, historically, they ran deeper than set. They rarely (if ever) run at their set depth.

It's extremely difficult to get a good magnetic detonation on a target due to that reason. I go for contact shots only in SH4.


I'd also suggest having show contacts on map turned on so you can use the 3 minute rule to measure the target's speed more easily. I used that if given enough time but if I need a quicker shot I use the method of measuring the time it takes the ship to travel it's own length and do the math with calculator in hand. :arrgh!:

That being said, I get ususally get good estimates from the built-in system as long as I'm confident in my range (and the first AoB measurement) between the two points I'm timing.

[ddiplock]

Whoa, that's weird. I just downloaded JSGME for a 3rd time in what i thought was a futile attemtpt to get it working. I was expecting to see the "files are corrupt, please download again or acquire newer version"......but , 3rd time lucky and it worked!!! :) I'll be able to use Trigger Maru and other mods now :P

Another question though, where can JSGME be installed? Default directory or into the game's main directory?

Cheers, :)

[Fincuan]

Game's main directory

[SteamWake]

LOL I pictured in my mind some one playing skeet shooting with the manual

PULL ! :rotfl:

[Powerthighs]

Make sure with Vista you always run JSGME by right-clicking the .exe file and selelcting "Run as Administrator...". This will avoid unexpected behavior due to new security features in Vista.

Note that you have to do this even if your account is a member of the Administrators group. Only the account actually called "Administrator" runs at this highest level, and that account is disabled by default.

[AVGWarhawk]

Anyway, my torpedos keep skimming behind enemy ships and just miss when i fire them, i'm assuming this must be due to my AOB calculations but....i'm inputting the same value that the protractor gives me on the nav map, which can't be wrong!!!


Make sure your torpedo doors are open. You loose a second or two on the solution if the doors are closed. Guaranteed miss everytime.

Get your initial estimates and turn the PK on. You will take several more observations as you get into firing range. By then you should have AOB/speed/range very accurate. Open your torp doors! Fire when at 1500 yards for less.