Ship auto targeting solution

[PapaG39]

With the auto targeting function the torpedo impact point always seems to be in the center of the ship.

You get a "green" solution 5 degrees from "zero" or centered whereby the torpedo doesn't have to make a 2,3,4 or 5 degree path change on its way to the target.

The problem I have with this is when you want to do a salvo shot.
On the IID boat for instance..has 3 torps.
I would think that with a 3degree spread that the center torp would strike dead center & the left torp to the left of center & the right torp to the right of center...
Nope...The first torp strikes dead center, next a bit aft of center & the last either on the stern or a miss aft of the back-o-da-boat...bummer

I have tried reliesing the "L key" prior to green & firing each manually, but that doesnt seem to change a thing in relation to where they hit.

Is there a-way to get the left torp set to hit to the left of center & the right torp to hit to the right of center?

I don't do manual ...by the time I would get the manual targeting solution figured out the ship would have gone on buy & sailed off the end of the ocean...
Also, 98 oout of 99 times I would be wrong anyway...

[von Zelda]

Why don't you manually shoot the salvo. The TDC will automatically update to the cross-hair. Open all tube doors, wait for target to pass the cross-hair and shoot 1st torpedo, click on the next tube and fire, click on the next tube and fire. This should be more accurate than the salvo method.

[PapaG39]

I have tried that, but the first torpedo still goes into the center, 2nd aft of center & the third either the tail or miss. I can't seem to get it to start at the bow, center, aft of center. I cant figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I think the computer hates me.

[Lzs von swe]

When in F6 screen, setting up the salvo, zoom in the map and you can see the spread of your salvo. It´s a give away, but you learn how many degrees to use.
Then unlock the scope, "L key", and turn the crosshair to under the fore mast of the ship and fire.
Or, fire each torp separately. Put the crosshair where you want to hit, different hitpoints for each torp. I never use the "lock scope" when firing my torps.

[von Zelda]

I have tried that, but the first torpedo still goes into the center, 2nd aft of center & the third either the tail or miss. I can't seem to get it to start at the bow, center, aft of center. I cant figure out what I'm doing wrong.

You should not be shooting salvos at unescorted ships; you're wasting valuable torpedos. Salvos were generally used for escorted convoys where the u-boat could not get close enough for accuracy or did not have enough time to plot an accurate torpedo solution. If they shot a 4 torpedo salvo in the general direction of the convoy, it was hoped that one or two torpedos just might hit something.

You might try shooting only one torpedo at an unescorted target. If it doesn't sink with one hit, go after it and set up for another torpedo solution. Two torpedos hits should sink just about any ship.

Next, turn off the automatic solution and use the Weapon Officer's Assistance for the torpedo solution. And get out of the habit of using the lock button for firing. Let the target move in front of your cross-hairs and fire at the exact spot that you want the torpedo to hit.

[NiclDoe]

Just aim ahead of the ship by a bit and the torps will go right to the target.

[PapaG39]

I spent quite a bit of time last night in the "Happy times" single player.
I found that once a ship has the yellow triangle over it the system seems to track it normally. If I would unlock it & just hold the cross hairs at the "00" & fire when they were exactly where I wanted to hit.. Dang! it works. I did several sinkings with just one torpedo in the right place.
Such a deal...lol

Well, back the the practice practice practice mode..

[von Zelda]

Once you have mastered this newly learned experience, the next step will be to disable the Automatic mode for targeting.

You then can learn to use the Weapon's Officer Assistance. Select your target in the scope, left click on the Weapon Officer icon, several boxes will appear and you click on the little periscope box far left, then in the next series of boxes click on the middle box for target solution while you have your scope locked on your target. This will give you a target solution for speed, AOB and distance. As you rotate the scope, target speed will not change and AOB will be automatically updated to where you point the cross-hairs. Distance will change but is not much of a factor as long as you do NOT have a large gyro angle such as 60 to 90-degrees. You can always recheck the target solution before you fire to update speed, AOB and distance in the TDC. Then let the target cross your scope and shoot at the appropriate spot.

Once you've mastered the Weapon's Officer Assisatnce you'll be ready for Manual Targeting. Post when you want tips on manual targeting. It's really not that hard once you know the basics.

[PapaG39]

Hmmmm, I'll have to give that some thought. So how does this work in nasty wx. such as:
high wave action, fog etc. sounds like 99.999 percent miss rate while I would be trying to figure things out...lol..

According to some of the scenarios in Iron coffins the capt was stearing the boat in the correct direction & the F/O was doing the calculating & telling someone else when to shoot..

I may give it a try in Happy Times to see how it goes, but I'm actually not very interested in manual targeting... I'm usually behind the power curve just doing one straight shot at a time...lol.. When I get rushed like with a turning boat I usually get all flusterd & turn to much or not enough & get all scrwed up...A real goat rope...