Basic Help

[Sub Sailor]

I just got the simulation yesterday and starting the training missions. Is it possible to make VERY MINOR couese changes in SHIV. If I use Hard Rudder I am just to dam old and slow to catch it with Rudder Amidship. Can any pody give me some pointers?
I must be really slow but on the Navigation Training, but is the designated zone the flag?

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)
A Really Old Nuke

[fred8615]

Click the button right underneath the compass. That changes it to a gauge that gives you finer helm control.

[Zantham]

I doubt you can get it accurate to a degree, but you can click with your mouse on the compass on the bottom of the screen to select a new heading, its pretty easy to get within a few degrees doing this, or you can click below the compass and change the display to a rudder control, and you can click this to give you pretty good control over how fast you turn.

There is no keys I've found that do any more than apply full rudder either way, and center rudder.

[peabody]

I just got the simulation yesterday and starting the training missions. Is it possible to make VERY MINOR couese changes in SHIV. If I use Hard Rudder I am just to dam old and slow to catch it with Rudder Amidship. Can any pody give me some pointers?
I must be really slow but on the Navigation Training, but is the designated zone the flag?

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)
A Really Old Nuke
Welcome Ron,

Well, here's an answer from another that's very old and slow and also very new to the game, not yesterday but about a month. You don't need to use the keyboard, you can use the mouse and click on the compass at the bottom of the screen. It's not super accurate but it works better than hard port or starboard on the keyboard. Using hard starboard you end up with the ship drifting by before it gets straightened out. And except for manually docking the ship, you really don't need to be that accurate in the game anyway. There is a button to plot your course on the map by drawing waypoints, If you draw a line to the star and then zoom the map in closer you will see you may have missed it by a long shot, but it will probably count as getting there anyway. So don't worry about "minor" corrections while you are learning, you really don't need it.

And all through the game, even in "Career mode" when they tell you where to go, there will be a star of some kind. So, the simple answer is yes the star is your destination. Also, if you are new the different colors of water on the map screen mean different depths, so be careful you don't submerge too deep expecially in "White". That is only about enough for periscope depth and sometimes not even deep enough for that. Not as accurate as a real life map with accurate depths but it is really all the info you need for the game.

The manual as most here will tell you, is horrible!!!! The buttons in the manual don't agree with all the buttons on the sub. Some do, some don't. If you hover your mouse over them, there will be a popup that tells you what it does. There are some excellent tutorials on this forum when you start getting a bit more advanced. Look above for "Sticky: Technical help and questions...", and there are others thoughout the forums, just ask and someone will help you out.

If I may ask, what does the MMCM(SS) stand for? I was never in the navy, I did take Air Force ROTC but my eyes kept me out of the sky, so I never did serve. I just want to tell you I have the highest respect for those who did serve. I thank you for that!!

Peabody

Edit: I guess the old man types too slow, I see there are already two answers before me!

[JREX53]

peabody,

MMCM(SS) (RET), means he is a Retired Master Chief Machinist Mate qualified in submarines.

[Yanaran]

Another good command to know is "heading to view" (+). It turns the boat in the direction you're looking. I use it mostly when already engaged in combat but it's useful for making small corrections to course for example when lining up a shot. Say you've decided to line up straight north and click the compass and end up with 358 degrees. Instead of trying to click 0 degrees with the mouse I just go to periscope, point it 2 degrees to starboard and hit heading to view (after the boat has already lined up at 358 of course).

[Major Johnson]

I like this guy, he got the sim yesterday, and he's got 480 some odd posts! Ok, maybe he's got SH3, or maybe he's just a member. Point being, here I am with a little over 120 posts, bought the game when it first came out and I can relate to his plight! I agree with peabody, the manual is useless, and the steep learning curve is what's kept me away from the game for so long. Personally I liked how they had it in SH1 where you could use the left/right arrow buttons and they would increment in 5 degrees until you got to 35 degrees in one direction or the other. I find that quicker than using the mouse and fumbling for the compass. And the up and down arrows worked for setting bow and stern planes so that the boat would angle the boat up or down, rather than having to specify a depth right away. I would give the order to dive the boat, then go to the control room and then decide my depth.

But I do like the tip about the + key being used to direct the boat in the direction your looking! I'm going to try that one out tonight!! Is there a key function that automatically sets the view to 0º??? I know, I know, I'm stuck in SH1, but some of those features were so convenient! :p

[Zantham]

Yes there is a set heading to view, and there is a set view to heading key... and if I was at home I could even tell you what it was!!! :damn:

[Yanaran]

Is there a key function that automatically sets the view to 0º??? I know, I know, I'm stuck in SH1, but some of those features were so convenient! :p Yes, the command is called view_to_heading in the cfg file and should be the - key (not the keypad one).

[Major Johnson]

Thanks for that tip Yanaran!! I just may get the hang of it yet!! :yep:

[Sub Sailor]

This is why I have been a member of this site since Moby Dick was a minnow. That is also why I have 480 post which is nothing compared to others.
MMCM(SS)--Master Chief Petty Officer Machinist Mate, Submarine qualified. Served on the boats from 1962 until I retired in 1982. Most of the Cold War. Was on both Fast Attacks and Boomers and loved every minute of it. I am Nuke qualified.
An update I staggered through the 1st training mission, now trying to shoot down the dam airplanes in the 2nd. No luck but I have burned up a lot of ammo.
This is the greatest site in the sim world. I actually became a member in the 90s but a computer problem made me start over. I learned 688i and Fast Attack off this site. I have posted missions on SC and DW.

Thank you all and standby for further question,

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret):arrgh!:

[Captain Dave]

You have to lead those aircraft, just like you do a duck. Sometimes quite a bit.

[Powerthighs]

One other tip, use high explosive ammo on the airplanes, not armor piercing. You will find them a lot easier to shoot down.

[Sub Sailor]

That presents a question, how do I select the ammo? I am really trying to use the manual but haven't found it.
Can I offer an observation, don't want to make anyone angry-I like this sim and the graphics are great, but is there any purpose to the crewman other than just effect? It is the most detailed of any sim I have ever played.
I am also still trying to figure out the crew screen.
I am really impressed with the detail of ships and planes. Honestly the over all graphics are the best I have seen.
I really appreciate the help from all of you.
I don't know about any of you but with the high cost of fuel I am putting in a lot more computer time than I was. But, hunting season is over, and fishing season is coming up-really a hard choice. May not go after buffalo next fall.

You all have a great day,

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)

[Sub Sailor]

I here the sound of the scope going up and down, but never see any thing. Is the depth different for this scope or do I have a problem? The attack scope is fine.

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)

[Quillan]

Here's the trick to shooting down the planes:

Don't do it yourself. Let the crew take care of it.

In the crew screen, put crew on the AA guns, then either command Battle Stations or Man the AA guns. Click on Fire At Will, and let them go to it. You may have to use your binoculars to look at one of the planes and hit the spacebar to get them to start firing, but after that they should handle it themselves. The crew are far more accurate than I could ever be.

[Sailor Steve]

I here the sound of the scope going up and down, but never see any thing. Is the depth different for this scope or do I have a problem? The attack scope is fine.

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)
Opposite buttons. One is Page-Up and Page-Down, the other is Insert and Delete. If you're in one and hit the buttons for the other you'll here it go, but won't see it.

[Major Johnson]

I am also still trying to figure out the crew screen.

May I suggest this thread??
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=132360

Someone started a thread with a crew management question and I chimed right in as I'm as dumb as stump when it comes to that screen!! But a few things are getting a little clearer.

And what you said about this being the best sim site, I just posted in a different thread how I peruse a number of forums but this one has the most intelligent content!! These guys here really know their stuff!! :rock:

[Powerthighs]

That presents a question, how do I select the ammo?

While manning the deck guns, you will see three different types of shells on the right hand side of the screen. Clicking one or the other will cause the gun to be reloaded with that type. I'm not sure what the third type is, its not available early in the war and I haven't gotten that far yet.

[Sub Sailor]

Well guys with your help (God I hope all of you are guys or I put my foot in it again) I have completed the first three training missions. The Auto Crew for Airplanes was a great advice.
Now I can not get my sound adjusted so I can hear it. Is this a problem in the Sim or my sound card. I tested in dxdiag and it works fine. I can hear sound fine in everything except SH4. I have sound but it is like the original DW really low.

Thanks

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)
Baby nuke says to old nuke "Why do we have to qualify in the forward part of the ship, old nuke replies because if the front sinks so do we, now get working on you quals you NQP.":nope:

[fred8615]

The game volume is low for some reason. Slide the controller all the way up on the Volume Control in your toolbar before starting the game.

[Sub Sailor]

With your help I got the first three training lesson completed and I have played them several times now. I have practiced my navigation and using the tool. Just generally getting a feel for the sim. I feel I got them down pretty well.
I was able by using Auto-Crew to get the airplanes. Now I am hung up on lesson 4, The Convoy, sink 10,000 tons of merchant shipping. I keep getting sunk but I don't why. I use my sonar and my scope and all of a sudden I am up to my arm pits in damage. I have at least hit some stuff but never completed.
Can anyone help?

Ron Banks, MMCM(SS), USN(Ret):damn:

[Sub Sailor]

A gentleman on the forums page sent me a procedure for setting up the sound and WOW I got sound, in fact the best I ever had. I did not know all the different controls that were available. I almost get blown out of the chair now.

Thanks everyone,

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret):rock: :rock: :rock: :D

[osirvio]

What key is for the command "All Stop"?

Manual says "~", but i have to press Alt to get that.

[Major Johnson]

What key is for the command "All Stop"?

Manual says "~", but i have to press Alt to get that.

What it means is press "`", which is the key you specified without pressing alt at the same time.

[Slick Wilhelm]

A gentleman on the forums page sent me a procedure for setting up the sound and WOW I got sound, in fact the best I ever had. I did not know all the different controls that were available. I almost get blown out of the chair now.

Thanks everyone,

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret):rock: :rock: :rock: :D

Did he send you a link to that setup procedure for sound? If so, could you please share it with me?

Thanks!

[Sub Sailor]

Slick Wilhelm;
No he did not send me a site it is just posted on the site in Title.

Ron

[Rockin Robbins]

My desk has sat straight ever since I put the manual under the short leg. :sunny:

[Sub Sailor]

SW;
Should have proof read my last sorry.
No he just posted on the SH4 web page on the general forums.

Ron

[Zantham]

My desk has sat straight ever since I put the manual under the short leg. :sunny:

I thought the manual was very complete. It explained how to d

[kylesplanet]

My desk has sat straight ever since I put the manual under the short leg. :sunny:

It wasn't thick enough to level mine:88)

[Slick Wilhelm]

My desk has sat straight ever since I put the manual under the short leg. :sunny:
I thought the manual was very complete. It explained how to d

Now, that, ladies and gentleman, is humor!

:up: