Shout out to Rockin Robbins

[cwelt]

You sir.. do NOT get enough praise for your hard work helping all the newcomers learn the ropes in this amazing sim. I can remember two years ago (still have the PM's) all the work you did to help me understand the game and even after 1 year away, I re-opened the PM's and picked up right where I left off. And after watching your video on the Dick O'Kane method, I tried it last night on patrol for the first time and managed to hit the mark on all my torps. I can do manual but I was always intruiged by this method and finally got around to trying it and I love it. Now if only the escorts would stay away so I could set it up everytime..

Anyways, not intending to inflate your ego, but you sir have done a world of good on this forum and just wanted to give you a big hand! You have given this sim a whole new dimension to me and I am sure to many others!!

:salute:

[Captainchaos]

Have to join in here also, i`m new to this game and have no clue about subs whatsoever.
I have spend the last couple of evenings watching the tutorials you have made and i really enjoyed them.
Thankyou for your hard work :up: i feel much more confident of a hit now!

Playing 100% realistic from the off :ping:

[Radio]

May i join in? :salute:

I just managed my very first long-range hit (after several "close combat" hits) with the manual vector targeting method. It really changes the feeling of everything in the game knowing that you really worked for that hit, to know you deserve and earned that explosion and did not use any fancy arcade thingamabobs.

Thanks for all the tutorials!!!! You guys rock! :rock:

Here a quick list of lead angles for the MK14 at 46 knots. I wrote them down on a piece of paper after calculating them ingame with the NAV tools using the vector method described here :

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9123/vectoranalysistargeting.th.png (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/vectoranalysistargeting.png/)

enemy speed and the corresponding aiming bearing:

4knots 5°
5knots 6°
6knots 8°
7knots 9°
8knots 10°
9knots 11°
10knots 12°
11knots 14°
12knots 15°
13 knots 16°
14 knots 17°
15 knots 18°

[Wilcke]

I certainly also learn something new from RR, everytime he posts the latest find. He is a deep thinker this one. Truly, the more knowledge one has on the workings of this sim and then the history of the PTO the more enjoyment one gets. Really its a lot of bang for the buck and RR's consulting and video services are free!

Does not get much better than that! Go RR!

[Rockin Robbins]

Thank you folks, but I don't do it so you can tell me how great I am. I do it so YOU can brag about how good YOU are now! There's nothing I teach or do that's new. All of it comes from other people, the real submarine heroes of sixty-five years ago, gutted, aaronblood, Wazoo, (damn, I'm going to leave someone out), hitman, CapnScurvy, tale, WernerSobe, Rocks 'n Shoals, Legion, Nisgeis, countless newbies who asked the right question to send me down a road I wouldn't have traveled on my own, hey I'm out of credits but there are more.

I'm a giant RSS feed with a BIG MOUTH. The ideas come from everywhere. All I bring to the table is my big mouth and the willingness to use it.

[Sevrin]

He's also quite good at blowing up aircraft carriers... :O:

[cwelt]

Thank you folks, but I don't do it so you can tell me how great I am. I do it so YOU can brag about how good YOU are now! There's nothing I teach or do that's new. All of it comes from other people, the real submarine heroes of sixty-five years ago, gutted, aaronblood, Wazoo, (damn, I'm going to leave someone out), hitman, CapnScurvy, tale, WernerSobe, Rocks 'n Shoals, Legion, Nisgeis, countless newbies who asked the right question to send me down a road I wouldn't have traveled on my own, hey I'm out of credits but there are more.

I'm a giant RSS feed with a BIG MOUTH. The ideas come from everywhere. All I bring to the table is my big mouth and the willingness to use it.

I know all to well you don't do it for any praise, but the countless number of people who know enjoy this game so much more due to your hard work, I just figured I would give you some kudo's! I know when I first got into this game 2 years ago I couldn't hit the broad side of the ocean... and you spent the time to go over things with me and really make sure I knew what I was doing. Most people just say "go read and practice" but you really took a hands on and it helped me out tremendously!! So anyways, just thanks for all you have done, and keep up the good work! :up:

[Ducimus]

What I admire most about RR, is his penmanship. I wish my wordsmithing skills were as good as his.

[DT]

I just recently began my own SH4 obsession and I have to say, your videos/links helped me tremendously, RR. They took me from being completely hopeless and frustrated, to sneaking into the middle of convoys and sinking ships right under the escorts noses :DL

Cheers, man! You're well appreciated around here.

[Onkel Neal]

Put me on this list, too. More than once RR has supplied an answer to my questions.:salute:

[Rockin Robbins]

And don't get me wrong: I love praise as much as the next guy, but it doesn't mean a thing if you aren't a better sub skipper than when you started. THAT's the important thing and I get a much bigger charge out of reading your war stories than in getting the kudos!

The biggest reward I get is the poor guy who posts that he's about to quit playing because the learning curve leans back over his head and there's just no way to make it work. Those guys make the most demented Silent Hunter addicts when they get with the program!

[DT]

Well, if it's a war story you want...

So there was the USS Grayling on its third patrol about 100 miles off the coast of Honshu when a radio message placed a convoy near our position moving at 9 knots. A few quick calculations to set up a basic bearing and intercept point for our target and off we go! Using the data gathered with sonar, I set up between two of the merchants, one at bow, one at aft, then submerged to about 120 feet and went silent to wait until they were within range.

Torpedoes set accordingly, I let the preferred target of the two come within range of my aft and let loose with three fish. In the meantime, I switched back to the bow target, did some quick adjustments to the TDC, and fired three more torps.

BOOM!

My aft torpedoes all hit their intended target and down it goes to Davy Jones' locker. Needless to say, the escorts aren't too happy about this and are already searching for me. They're out of luck though, because they're quite a ways away and I figure I have a bit of time until they spot me, so I leave the periscope up and re-focus on my bow target.

BOOM!

Seconds later all three bow torps hit their target, but it doesn't go down. Now, I could have just sat on the bottom and waited for it to come down on its own, but what's the fun in that? More explosions = more fun! More slight TDC adjustments, and away goes another torp.... and... you guessed it! Dud. Crap. Another torp directed at its MOT then, shall we?

Do I need to say it? Alright, since you insist:

BOOM!

And down it goes. Finally, eh? That @#$% made me waste two torps! :O:

Down I go, silent and deep to escape the escorts before they even knew where I was in the first place. Mwahahaha!

Not an amazing feat all in all, but hey, not too bad for only a few days of practice! All made possible by RRs outstanding videos, and the Dick O'Kane method.

[The General]

This is why I am proud to be a part of this Community :salute:

[Kremmen]

Add me to that list.The first time I managed to hit a target in stormy seas using the sonar only technique....what a buzz,felt i was making progress as a skipper.
Hats off to RR indeed :salute:

[Rockin Robbins]

Do I need to say it? Alright, since you insist:

BOOM!
OOOOOOOO yeah!!!! THAT's the sound we've been waiting for!:D

[Radio]

Sank my first ship today with a vector analysis/hydropohone method like the one you described in your video. Awesome!

I realized that the hydrophone contacts are covering a (fixed?) +10 and -10 degree field. That means when the target bearing is e.g. 24° you can hear it anywhere between 14° and 34 ° (indicated by the green light on the hydrophone). As my aiming bearing was 14° I listened for the ship at 4° and waited for the green light on the hydrophone to go on.

Once the lamp lit up and I heard the merchant I switched to the torpedo controls and launched one torpedo "blindly" meaning without any visual contact. And it hit and sank the merchant! :rock:

However,this is harder than using an optical indicator, simply because you will lose precious seconds switching through the different menues :DL

Still, I will use it in cases where i do not dare to raise the periscope.

Thanks again!

Btw, I discovered that one can use the middle mouse button to turn the hydrophone. Not sure if that is generally known.

[donut]

Rockin Robbins :yeah::sunny:

[XLjedi]

Hmmm, what can I say about Mr. Robbins. :hmmm:

:03:
He may not always be right...
He may cut a few corners here and there...
He may be a little rough around the edges at times...
:03:

But he most certainly is willing to contribute his time and knowledge (however occasionally warped that it may be :D) to the betterment of the community.

Bottom line; RR helps newbs become succesful captains. His gift is his remarkable willingness to assist others in taking that first step into the realm of manual targetting. To that end, his contributions and work have been tremendous! I know I don't have the time or patience for what he's been willing to do for the community.

:salute: Well Done Sir! :up:


This doesn't mean you get to start slackin-off now!

I'm still keepin my eye on you... :stare:

[kylesplanet]

Just to keep balance, we could start a thread trashing RR. :D:D:D

[Sevrin]

Just to keep balance, we could start a thread trashing RR. :D:D:D

You mean the gentleman who torpedoes his own Navy? :woot::DL :rotfl2:

[Rockin Robbins]

You mean the gentleman who torpedoes his own Navy? :woot::DL :rotfl2:

Hey! it was


My damned sonar operator. He studied the sound of the USS Essex in sonar school when they used it for instructional purposes.
I was in the middle of the dag-blamed South China Sea! What hangs out there, the US Navy?
My calendar was broke. I didn't have any way to know it was March of 1945!!
My dog ate my homework!!!
If I was a U-Boat I would be a hero.
Just an accident. Why are they getting so worked up over one little mistake? ANYBODY coulda done it!
Why the heck is the USS Essex sinking from only three torpedoes? I want an inquiry into why defects in construction caused it to sink. It wasn't me!!!!!!

:har::D

[Randomizer]

I suspect that at his CM for sinking Essex they took his selfless efforts to expand the knowledge base of SH4 into account. And let us not forget his unstinting support of the American shipbuilding industry as they crank out replacements for his victims.

Seriously though, Thanks for all the help RR.

[G2B]

You mean the gentleman who torpedoes his own Navy? :woot::DL :rotfl2:


Give the man a little credit.......He did what the Japanese never did, sink a Essex Class :har: BTW are you done bustin rocks yet?

Thanks RR for making SH4 more fun for us Newbs :salute:

[Rockin Robbins]

I'd give anything for a nice hydraulic jack hammer! Or some of the scuttling charges from my old boat...

[Radio]

In a total geek mood I made the next step in vector targeting: MATHEMATICS! Seeing all the ingame methods of getting an aiming bearing I wondered if there is a more precise (but still partly manual) method of calculating the required angle and yes there is.

---

Imagine you are in a good position (+ - 90° angle to target course and in range of your weapon)

Simply take the enemy ship speed (SHIP) and the torpedo speed (TORP) in knots.

1. Add (TORP :mad: x TORP :mad:) and (SHIP :88) x SHIP :88)) together in your run-of-mill calculator. Calculate the square root of this value. Let's call the result PIRATEFACTOR.

2. Divide SHIP :88) through the PIRATEFACTOR :arrgh!:. Let's call the new result MAGIC :ping:

3. Multiply MAGIC :ping: by 180 and divide the result through the number Pi

4 Done! The result is the aiming bearing :rock:

---

Example:

Speed of a Mk14 in fast setting = 46 knots
Speed of a random merchant = 9 knots


1. Add those together.

:mad: x :mad: = 2116
:88) x :88) = 81

Result 2197.

2. Calculate the square root of that number to get the PIRATEFACTOR:

:arrgh!: = 46,87217

3. Calculate MAGIC:

:88) : :arrgh!: = :ping: = 0,19201159238

4. Change into degrees:

180 * :ping: and divide the result by Pi = 11,000145 etc.

The aiming bearing :rock: is 11°.

---

In the next step I will teach you to draw square roots by hand without a calculator. Naaaaah, just kidding!!!

---

Btw, If you are close enough (e.g. 750 yards) this way of shooting is VERY forgiving, even if your aiming bearing is one or degrees off you will still EASILY hit the target.

---

[Rockin Robbins]

How in the world do you reply to a post like that?:o

[Radio]

In Pirate speak of course: Yarrr! :arrgh!:

Oh well, I just wanted to give back something useful to the community. At least I tried to do that...:rotfl2:

[Rockin Robbins]

Arrrrrr matey! Have a pint 'o grog!:()1:

[Sevrin]

Arrrrrr matey! Have a pint 'o grog!:()1:

I think everyone's had enough already!!. :har:

[G2B]

In a total geek mood I made the next step in vector targeting: MATHEMATICS! Seeing all the ingame methods of getting an aiming bearing I wondered if there is a more precise (but still partly manual) method of calculating the required angle and yes there is.

---

Imagine you are in a good position (+ - 90° angle to target course and in range of your weapon)

Simply take the enemy ship speed (SHIP) and the torpedo speed (TORP) in knots.

1. Add (TORP :mad: x TORP :mad:) and (SHIP :88) x SHIP :88)) together in your run-of-mill calculator. Calculate the square root of this value. Let's call the result PIRATEFACTOR.

2. Divide SHIP :88) through the PIRATEFACTOR :arrgh!:. Let's call the new result MAGIC :ping:

3. Multiply MAGIC :ping: by 180 and divide the result through the number Pi

4 Done! The result is the aiming bearing :rock:

---

Example:

Speed of a Mk14 in fast setting = 46 knots
Speed of a random merchant = 9 knots


1. Add those together.

:mad: x :mad: = 2116
:88) x :88) = 81

Result 2197.

2. Calculate the square root of that number to get the PIRATEFACTOR:

:arrgh!: = 46,87217

3. Calculate MAGIC:

:88) : :arrgh!: = :ping: = 0,19201159238

4. Change into degrees:

180 * :ping: and divide the result by Pi = 11,000145 etc.

The aiming bearing :rock: is 11°.

---

In the next step I will teach you to draw square roots by hand without a calculator. Naaaaah, just kidding!!!

---

Btw, If you are close enough (e.g. 750 yards) this way of shooting is VERY forgiving, even if your aiming bearing is one or degrees off you will still EASILY hit the target.

---


Think I'd rather board the ship, plunder the cargo, set some scuttling charges, set the crew adrift. Sail away drinking Grog and eating Ice cream than do all that figuring :arrgh!:

[G2B]

Got some good news for RR there going to pardon you and give you one of these

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Midget_submarines_dry_dock_kure_f06023.jpg

[Rockin Robbins]

Wow! What's the story behind that shot?:D

[AVGWarhawk]

Got some good news for RR there going to pardon you and give you one of these

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Midget_submarines_dry_dock_kure_f06023.jpg


Sweet! Get one with the factory CD and GPS! :rock:

[LiveGoat]

RR's tutorials were my first. He has a great knack for cutting to the chase, and for a math challenged moron like myself, it's much appreciated.:salute:

Also he has a great voice for video tutorials. Ever think of getting into the voice over biz, RR? You would do well.

[Rockin Robbins]

Ever think of getting into the voice over biz, RR? You would do well.
Actually I have thought of it. My first love was radio, but getting involved in the scene in the middle to late 70s I could see that the lifestyle alone would be fatal for me, so I went other directions.

Depending on what happens in my present position of helpless pawn watching a new owner swoop in and wreck possible carnage on my present employment position, I might be in a position to pursue it. Now I have the skills to resist and the culture has changed anyway, I hope.

In the meantime, my position is so darned interesting I just stick around to see who dies!:har: I'm fortunate that I've always lived on less than I make and can afford whatever happens here, not that it won't hurt to be cast aside after 21 years of making a lot of contributions to the business and getting both kudos and stabs in the back for that. Fear is the prime motivator of management you know... especially when they have nothing to fear at all.

[Sevrin]

The Dick O'Kane video is classic. That thing has launched many folks into the world of manual targeting...

I kinda wondered myself if you ever dabbled in radio, that wouldn't have surprised me.

So inquiring minds want to know, any new tutorials in the works? :woot:

[Webster]

Depending on what happens in my present position of helpless pawn watching a new owner swoop in and wreck possible carnage on my present employment position, I might be in a position to pursue it.


wow, sorry to hear your in that position but hope things improve for the better.


if all else fails 2010 election is comming and its just about the right time to announce your running for congress :woot:

we need someone to go up there and shake things up :yep:

[G2B]

Wow! What's the story behind that shot?:D


midget submarine stuff :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midget_submarines

[G2B]

wow, sorry to hear your in that position but hope things improve for the better.


if all else fails 2010 election is comming and its just about the right time to announce your running for congress :woot:

we need someone to go up there and shake things up :yep:



Skip the Congress gig Rockin Robbins for President :()1:

Hope thinks work out for you, personally I know whats its like to see major layoffs and be one the last ones standing :nope:

[Rockin Robbins]

Hope thinks work out for you, personally I know whats its like to see major layoffs and be one the last ones standing :nope:

Yeah, makes you wonder who the lucky ones are, the ones still standing doing three times the work for less cash or the ones who were canned. Still, I'm curious about the whole thing and it's pretty entertaining that companies are acting as if the economy will never come back. Then when it does they won't have anyone who knows how to fire up the engines. It'll be "Duh, I flipped hamburgers last week. But I'm cheap! :D How bout I firewall the throttle for about an hour and see what happens?"

Companies who keep key people and don't treat them as liabilities will be the ones to eat the stupid companies' lunch in a few months. Wonder if my company will be one of the eaten or one of the diners? Oh well, can't get bored!:haha: And I have alternatives, so I won't be hurt too bad no matter what.

[Radio]

I may have mentioned it before, but it is perfectly possible to use the (passive) hydrophone instead of the periscope as a leading angle indicator when using the vector targeting method. It is so because any hydrophone contact has a certain area which it covers and that area spreads equally in both directions. The area varies but is always equally sized on the left and right

Let's say you are sitting in the right position for your shot, the leading angle you calculated is 10°, the contact in the hydrophone is detectable between e.g. 40 to 50 degrees indicated by the green lamp, meaning it is right in the middle of that< area (at 45°). Simply switch the hydrophone to 5° (original leading angle of 10 minus half of the detection area) and wait for the lamp to go on.

Press the fire button when you see the light and wait for the boom:arrgh!:

I call it the "Blind Samurai" technique:rotfl2:
It is very easy once learned and very safe as you will never use your periscope or use active sonar.

hf

[G2B]

Sweet! Get one with the factory CD and GPS! :rock:

One Radio and Compass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmLAA2r4DlA :har:

[G2B]

I may have mentioned it before, but it is perfectly possible to use the (passive) hydrophone instead of the periscope as a leading angle indicator when using the vector targeting method. It is so because any hydrophone contact has a certain area which it covers and that area spreads equally in both directions. The area varies but is always equally sized on the left and right

Let's say you are sitting in the right position for your shot, the leading angle you calculated is 10°, the contact in the hydrophone is detectable between e.g. 40 to 50 degrees indicated by the green lamp, meaning it is right in the middle of that< area (at 45°). Simply switch the hydrophone to 5° (original leading angle of 10 minus half of the detection area) and wait for the lamp to go on.

Press the fire button when you see the light and wait for the boom:arrgh!:

I call it the "Blind Samurai" technique:rotfl2:
It is very easy once learned and very safe as you will never use your periscope or use active sonar.

hf

:hmmm: this sounds interesting

[Rockin Robbins]

OOOOO yeah! I just use my sonar operator to call off the bearings, or you can use the sonar vector on the nav map. Either way sonar only Dick O'Kane or John P Cromwell is a ton of fun!

My last sonar John P Cromwell attack was a good news/bad news thing. Good news--three hits for three torpedoes! Bad news: it was the USS Essex!

Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not finish your career. Do not collect medals. Do not collect $200.

[Radio]

My last sonar John P Cromwell attack was a good news/bad news thing. Good news--three hits for three torpedoes! Bad news: it was the USS Essex!


That's the danger when doing shots without a visual ID first. :rotfl2:

What I especially like about the Blind Samurai method is the fact that you can follow your torpedoes in the hydrophone and also hear the enemy ship and the explosions and the sinking. Feels like listening to one of those old great radio shows :DL

Had a circle runner in my last mission, almost hit myself.... luckily I had ordered 1/3 back before shooting, so it passed by right in front of me. :o

[Wilcke]

The hydrophone only shots are just the best! If in enemy waters you have to take the shot.