Salvoes and Spreads

[PortsmouthProwler]

It seems to me that in SH 1 and SH3 salvoes were easier. The dial here in 4 confuses me.

* The dial seems counterintuitive. The LH side is labelled RIGHT and vice versa. So, if I want a spread to the RIGHT (i. e., target's AOB is Starboard, thus travelling from left to right 'cross the scope), I twist Clockwise, ne c'est pas? This would produce:

Torp1 - x degrees - Torp2 - x degrees - Torp3 - ...

correct?

The other way round (LEFT) is to twist CCW, set the increment angle and produce:

... - Torp3 - x degrees - Torp2 - x degrees - Torp1

if I'm understanding this instrument correctly.

Incidentally, IIRC, a one (1) degree spread produces a linear difference of 17 yards at a range of 1,000 yards. IOW, long shots should be no more than one degree. I rarely go more than 2.5 for closer; reading US Sub Ops and other sources, it seems like 1.5 to 2.5 was very typical.

[Rockin Robbins]

The spread dial works identically to the one in the real submarine. It is a global setting, applying to all torpedoes. Therefore it must be set differently for each torpedo shot.

Let's not get all caught up on AoB or which direction the target is traveling, all that is irrelevant. Right means right of the aiming point. Left means left of the aiming point. When you are locked on the target, you are shooting at MOT, middle of target.

Let's visualize a target 4º long moving from left to right. Set the spread dial to 1º right and hit the fire button. This torpedo will hit halfway between the MOT and the bow.

Set the spread dial to zero and hit the fire button. This one will hit MOT.

Now set the spread dial to left 1º. Fire and this torp will hit halfway between MOT and the stern of the target.

Always make sure to reset the spread dial to zero after you're done shooting torpedoes at a target.

Comprendé?

There is no such thing as a salvo on a submarine. All torpedoes are shot with at least 2 seconds separation between shots to prevent interaction. For instance for torpedoes shot too close together one premature detonation would explode all torpedoes in the spread. This could ruin your whole day. German subs shot torpedoes the same way. Salvoes as you remember in primitive games are strictly game foolishness.

Personally I never use the spread dial. Each torpedo is individually aimed for a different and specific impact point on the target.

[PortsmouthProwler]

I appreciate the effort RR, but the key point is that to spread to the right, I use the RIGHT part of the dial, turning CW, correct? And the reverse for left - turn CCW to use the part marked LEFT?

Thus RIGHT: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (in order of firing, they spread to the right).

LEFT: 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 (where 1 is the first torp fired and they spread to the left).

I think I'm correct - just want a corroboration.