I'm goin' down
10-25-09, 10:34 PM
I started with SH4 knowing absolutely nothing about submarines. I made every mistake in the book. Here are the steps I recommend a captain master to understand and apply manual targeting. I recommend a captain complete each step before moving on to the next. This list is not intended to be exclusive. There are other lessons in the Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread, especially the ones dealing with the TDC that are important too.
1. Auto targeting. A good way to get started, as you will learn that hitting targets is not that easy, plus you will familiarize yourself with other aspects of the game.
2. Hitman's Tutorial for 100% realism manual targeting (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=111998&highlight=tutorial) in PDF format. Use while attacking until the method becomes second nature. See Neal Steven's sticky thread in the mod forum for the download reference.Crucial: Understanding AoB and aspect ratio. Best applied while at a range of 1,000 yds. while learning the procedures. If this looks like reading Greek, print the tutorial. Use it as a reference while you execute your attack. Keep a calculator nearby, and use it when necessary.
3. Dick O'Kane method. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread in SH4 forum and RR/Werner Sobe's tutorials re attacks at 90 degree AoB. Highest rate of success is at maximum range of 1,500 yds. Here you begin working with AoB, even if you do not fully understand the concept, and firing points and lead angles.
4. MaxOptics & SCAF fix mod. (one or both are by CapnScury). MaxOptics magifies the periscope view and SCAF centers the ship for range and aspect ratio determination. Replaces manual calculation of aspect ratio that Hitman's tutorial, supra, explains. See mod forum/Neal Stevens sticky re mods to download. As you become more skilled you may use an alternative mod or decide not to use one at all.
5. Easy AoB mod by Nicolas and ddrgn. Enables manual adjustment of the TGT dials to solve AoB, range and aspect ratio inputs to the TDC. See mod forum/Neal Stevens sticky re mods to download.
6. John Cromwell attack. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread/RR's & Nisgeis' tutorial re 35 degree AoB attack, long and short range.
7. Sonar only attack - See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread/RR and Werner Sobe's tutorials re sonar only attacks. (i.e. How to attack when submerged or you are otherwise unable see the target when you launch torpedoes.)
8.a. RocknShoals constant bearing attack. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread.
8.b. Solution Solver - program to run on desk top developed by gutted. Provides real time view of the battlefield via periscope view. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread, as well as thread in main SH4 forum
9. Attack multiple ships on an Attack run. See Tale's video tutorials re convoy attacks. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread.
10. Attack with aft tubes using manual targeting. (This could be inserted as no. 5.a.)
1. Auto targeting. A good way to get started, as you will learn that hitting targets is not that easy, plus you will familiarize yourself with other aspects of the game.
2. Hitman's Tutorial for 100% realism manual targeting (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=111998&highlight=tutorial) in PDF format. Use while attacking until the method becomes second nature. See Neal Steven's sticky thread in the mod forum for the download reference.Crucial: Understanding AoB and aspect ratio. Best applied while at a range of 1,000 yds. while learning the procedures. If this looks like reading Greek, print the tutorial. Use it as a reference while you execute your attack. Keep a calculator nearby, and use it when necessary.
3. Dick O'Kane method. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread in SH4 forum and RR/Werner Sobe's tutorials re attacks at 90 degree AoB. Highest rate of success is at maximum range of 1,500 yds. Here you begin working with AoB, even if you do not fully understand the concept, and firing points and lead angles.
4. MaxOptics & SCAF fix mod. (one or both are by CapnScury). MaxOptics magifies the periscope view and SCAF centers the ship for range and aspect ratio determination. Replaces manual calculation of aspect ratio that Hitman's tutorial, supra, explains. See mod forum/Neal Stevens sticky re mods to download. As you become more skilled you may use an alternative mod or decide not to use one at all.
5. Easy AoB mod by Nicolas and ddrgn. Enables manual adjustment of the TGT dials to solve AoB, range and aspect ratio inputs to the TDC. See mod forum/Neal Stevens sticky re mods to download.
6. John Cromwell attack. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread/RR's & Nisgeis' tutorial re 35 degree AoB attack, long and short range.
7. Sonar only attack - See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread/RR and Werner Sobe's tutorials re sonar only attacks. (i.e. How to attack when submerged or you are otherwise unable see the target when you launch torpedoes.)
8.a. RocknShoals constant bearing attack. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread.
8.b. Solution Solver - program to run on desk top developed by gutted. Provides real time view of the battlefield via periscope view. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread, as well as thread in main SH4 forum
9. Attack multiple ships on an Attack run. See Tale's video tutorials re convoy attacks. See Skipper's Bag of Tricks sticky thread.
10. Attack with aft tubes using manual targeting. (This could be inserted as no. 5.a.)