Help in basics

[Krauter]

So I finally took the plunge (no pun intended :haha: ) and took the realism up a notch from just realistic sensors, no stable view to limited fuel, battery, CO2, and compressed air.
I ran with this setup for a good week and didn't find much trouble adapting. Of course this is only on Total Germany meanng operations don't take place that far from home. Now normally while cruising in friendly ports I stick to 1/3 speed to save fuel and then headup to 2/3 speed while cruising and patrolling. Once contact is made I speed up to full speed or flank of it's necessary. For underwater operations I stick to below 2/3 speed (full speed
only to evade ash cans)

Now my question is: what is an effective speed setting for cruising and underwater operations to ensure decent range and fuel consumption?

Also, I started a new career tonight with manual aiming and damn is it fun seeing your torpedoes connect and split the Tommies in half. My only
problem is when attacking convoys I find I get overwhelmed with data and cannot set up my solutions quick enough or accurately to engage multiple targets. Are there any tips or tricks to engage targets on convoys or targets in general for that matter?

Cheers and good hunting,

Kapitan sur Zee
Krauter

[kylania]

Sounds like you got the basics down pat!

For convoys, remember they are all moving in the same direction at the same speed, so you don't need to change your solution at all really (at least for the alpha strike).

Setup a 90 degree firing position (blue line in the pic below). Set your TDC for the speed of your target. Set a 90 AOB. Move the scope till you're at a 000 Gyroangle. Then just wait. Fire a torpedo as each ship passes your scope's centerline (green line in the pic below). Since speed and course are the same and you're at 90 degrees range won't matter. If you're attacking a convoy 4 ships wide, you'll hit all 4 at the same time!

Like in this image:

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/Manual%20TDC%20Range/OKanemethodanimation.gif?t=1273202199

Just use elec torps, or else some of the ships will see the torpedoes passing them and everyone freaks out! hehe

[Krauter]

Thanks for the quick reply, yes I remember reading about that technique in SHIV which worked well when I could pull t off. Mainly I'm working with map contacts off as I don't know or feel comfortable plotting units on the map yet.

Do you have any tips for speed? Or is 2/3 the general cruising speed?

[kylania]

Yeah, for surface cruising I always use Ahead Standard (speed "3"). It'll give you the best range for fuel. For traveling underwater for more than a short time Ahead Slow (speed "1") or else your batteries will drain super fast. Full or flank I only use for getting into position.

[Bilge_Rat]

on fuel/battery settings, if you hover your mouse over the speed settings in the lower left corner of the screen a tool tip will appear giving the advantages/disadvantages of each speed settings.

on the surface, I think two-thirds ahead gives you the most economical fuel usage, since this should correspond to only using one engine. However, this was generally only used when the sub had to go very long distances, like crossing the Atlantic.

underwater, the slower the better, if you want to conserve battery life. In SH4, I order the specific speed of 1 knot which uses much less battery power than one-third ahead. It should work the same in SH5, but I have not checked.

[commandosolo2009]

So I finally took the plunge (no pun intended :haha: ) and took the realism up a notch from just realistic sensors, no stable view to limited fuel, battery, CO2, and compressed air.
I ran with this setup for a good week and didn't find much trouble adapting. Of course this is only on Total Germany meanng operations don't take place that far from home. Now normally while cruising in friendly ports I stick to 1/3 speed to save fuel and then headup to 2/3 speed while cruising and patrolling. Once contact is made I speed up to full speed or flank of it's necessary. For underwater operations I stick to below 2/3 speed (full speed
only to evade ash cans)

Now my question is: what is an effective speed setting for cruising and underwater operations to ensure decent range and fuel consumption?

Also, I started a new career tonight with manual aiming and damn is it fun seeing your torpedoes connect and split the Tommies in half. My only
problem is when attacking convoys I find I get overwhelmed with data and cannot set up my solutions quick enough or accurately to engage multiple targets. Are there any tips or tricks to engage targets on convoys or targets in general for that matter?

Cheers and good hunting,

Kapitan sur Zee
Krauter

Let me answer the convoy thingy..

Why dont you use an attack plan with 45-90 AoB range?

like getting a lock and swiveling the scope ahead the convoy conveniently..

set AoB by Default to 70
all you need is each targets range @ AoB 70, speed is constant unless they spot you (dont use the Obs scope).. best bet is the use 3.3 meters for ANY target.. Mag is **** and should be hopefully patched in 1.2.

My take on torpedo launching is that iin real life, each torpedo launched gives a tonne of positive buoyancy which causes unintentional surfacing of the boat and pretty much wasted the tedious planning..
which is not depicted in game (you fire the tubes and the sub is at the same depth)
Also if attacking at broad daylight attack from shadows to silhoutte the targets.. this will also help with the stadimeter as sunlight is a contrast medium..

order of targets:

further first, nearest last

aiming with manual input: once targets enter the scope viewfinder keep your scope centered on bearing 70 or 310 (according to AoB and convoy direction), keep the mouse on the fire button and one of your fingers on the > key (switch tube)

begin firing after 2 seconds from ships bow crosses the periscope vertical
line.. dont fire on tail or bow proper (you'll get misses and less damage as its away from central island)

just 2 seconds from Bow

send em to the deep>>

hope this helped:salute: