Newbie w/ questions

[overandout]

This simulation is so interesting and addictive! In playing the game further, I had some questions:

1. How to correctly identify ships using the manual? Many turn perpendicular to my boat making the id hard. Also, a lot of ships look alike and I think that might be a reason why my torpedoes didn't hit them.

2. The other possible reason for the misfires where how to ensure that the ship viewed through the periscope is the same on the map? Sometimes, more than one ship is about the same distance away from the sub. That makes developing a target solution harder.

3. How to avoid ships that "sneak up" on me? In the Midway quick mission, destroyers suddenly appear out of the air.

4. How can I use sonar more effectively? I read that you need to run silent and dive at 80-95 ft. However, how to ensure that I am tracking the correct ship?

Happy Hunting!

Lee

[ReallyDedPoet]

Welcome to SUBSIM Lee :up:

1. This can be difficult day or night and eventualy you will get better with time spent playing the game and experience using the Rec. Manual. Remember too that there is an option in it to pan and get different views.
2. Again being aware of your surroundings, when I have a number of contacts I usually lock my main target with the scope, identify it, then lock the position keeper and begin my settings for a torp attack. If you want to know if you got the right ship, go to the attack map and the ship you have locked will be highlighted.
3.You can set your sonarman to do a general sweep rather than a staying with a specific contact. This will help you keep track of other contacts.

I'll let some others respond to 4 as beyond the basic stuff, I do not use sonar as much, yet anyway.

This is a nice post for beginning players, lots of nice links there:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=737548&postcount=3

Good luck with it and welcome to the SH4 experience.


RDP

[Sailor Steve]

I'll just add this:

WELCOME ABOARD!:sunny:

[-Pv-]

I don't think sonar is precise enough to track individual targets in a large convoy while still beyond attack range. Within torpedo range, all manual use of the sonar station can do is confirm sightings you've already made visually.
Slower and further away targets will have slower prop turns and be softer.
Although you can use the manual station to send a vector to the TDC, it will by nature be less precise than visual observations. If you simply cannot risk raising the scope, give the sonar/hydrophone targeting a try. Keep in mind you'lll have to fire more torps and use a wide spread in hopes one or more of the fishies will get near your target.
-Pv-

[tomoose]

I very rarely shoot beyond 2000yards and prefer to be within the optimum range of 1500yds or less. There's no confusing of which ship is which at that range.
Getting to that range without being spotted is the trick though!!!;)

As for identifying ships, I always start with the smoke stack and the smoke (one? two? fat? skinny? tall? short? centered? aft??) it's usually easy to spot regardless of the orientation of the ship and getting that nailed down will narrow down your choices (the direction of the smoke can also give you a rough idea of your targets direction of travel although that is difficult at long distance). Next the masts (quantity, angled rigging or vertical etc). After a few patrols you'll start to recognize types of ships from quite far.

As Pv says, the sonar is not accurate enough for targetting at long range but can be handy when closer. Myself, I use sonar more defensively than offensively but that's just me.

[SteamWake]

For a noob you ask some good questions.

I think the best thing I can do for you is point you to this thread http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=108931

You will find alot of answers and advice there.

Welcome to Sub Sim.

[Mush Martin]

Welcome aboard. :up:

what bearing your periscope is on is indicated on the periscope
try locking onto a target and look at the bearing then jump to
the map to find the relative target.

understand that 0 degrees bearing relative from your sub is dead ahead
of you off the bow and that 180 degrees is directly behind you
90 degrees is on your right shoulder when your looking at the bow
and 270 degrees is on your left shoulder when your looking at the
bow.

the bearing readings are not your boats course nor your targets course
they are where the ship your looking at or rather direction your looking
in is relative to your ship not the compass.

AOB or Angle on Bow is the reverse of this that is what bearing you
are from the target relative to his orientation not his course.

Hope it helps a bit

the idea is lock onto a few ships figure out what bearing and range
in the periscope and then going to the map and seeing where on the
map the unit is that you were looking at by figuring out which way to
look from the sub and how far away to look you can guess on the
bearing after a few tries and if you need the range use the ruler tool
on the right to measure the range between you and the target on the
mapscreen. doing this a few times will give you the orientation you
need to enjoy the situational awareness your looking for.

I also will pass on question four.
M