Using Auto Targeting

[fright52]

Pretty new to SH4, straight from box, with no "mods". I've watched RockinRobbins tutorial on using auto assist torpedo firing but I'm missing something. I believe he states that you only need to set torpedo speed to high, open tube doors, aim and shoot. I keep trying this approach on the Sub School Convoy and I'm lucky if one torp finds it's mark. Most of them go every way but near a boat. Could someone explain to me what am I doing wrong?
Do I have to 1) Identify ship 2) use the stadimeter to mark distance 3) determine speed and set AOB? Isn't this only done with manual targeting?
Also, somehow I get the periscope to "lock" on to one ship. Up until now, I can only "down scope" then "upscope" so I can turn to new target. I can finally get to the targets but, can't get the job done! Hope you can set this "Sod Pounder" straight. Thanks:gulp:

[TorpX]

Could someone explain to me what am I doing wrong?
Do I have to 1) Identify ship 2) use the stadimeter to mark distance 3) determine speed and set AOB? Isn't this only done with manual targeting?
Also, somehow I get the periscope to "lock" on to one ship. Up until now, I can only "down scope" then "upscope" so I can turn to new target. I can finally get to the targets but, can't get the job done! Hope you can set this "Sod Pounder" straight. Thanks:gulp:

I haven't really done any auto targeting with SH 4, but you should not have to ID the target or estimate range, aob and such. Are you sure you have auto-targeting enabled?
These are only guesses as to reasons for your difficulties:

Not observing target long enough. Try making longer observations, or multiple observations of target. Make sure periscope/TBT is locked on.


Try getting closer. Auto targeting does not guarantee hits. It is supposed to *roughly* simulate what firing data a crew could obtain from your situation. If you are too far away, or the set-up is poor, you can still easily miss.

Someone more familiar with auto-targeting will most likely be able to offer better advice.

[magic452]

When you say straight from the box, which box?
Are you playing Silent Hunter 4 V1.0 or are you playing Silent Hunter 4 Gold Edition, this has the U Boat mission addition as well as patch V1.5

If you're playing just SH4 V1.0 you MUST patch it to V 1.4, can do this at the UBI website. It's a free download.

Auto targeting is just that. As Torpx said just lock the target, open the doors and pull the trigger when you get a green arrow in the scope.

The L key should lock and unlock a target also the red button on the torpedo selection panel should do the same.

From what you are describing it sounds like you're not patch to at least V1.4 and all kinds of strange things can happen.

Magic

[fright52]

Thanks for the tips. Hitting "L" again disabled the scope from target. I will keep at it. I'm playing SH4 1.0 version. Are "downloads" and "mods" safe to use? I'm not to savvy on undoing any damage I cause on my computer.
I just purchased Sid Meier's Pirate's through this website with Amazon, hoping to help generate some revenue for Subsim, and what a nightmare that game is. My wife and I have spent 2 days trying to get it to work. Even the download to "repair" the flaws in game come up with an error message.
Thanks again for your help and I'll look into the V 1.4 download. What does this do to the game?:hmmm: After reading your post, Magic452, I just purchased SH4 Gold Edition. Maybe this version will will have a better "feel" for playing this game. I'm hooked!

[WernherVonTrapp]

After reading your post, Magic452, I just purchased SH4 Gold Edition. Maybe this version will will have a better "feel" for playing this game. I'm hooked!Yes, take Magic's advice and get the Gold Edion (AKA with U-Boat Expansion Pack). You'll save yourself a lot of headaches (and heartache) and you'll be able to run all the major mods.:up:

[magic452]

When you get the gold edition there are some things you must do to avoid problems.

First uninstall the game you have now, all of it. There is a SH4 folder in your "My documents" folder, be sure to delete it.

Second DO NOT put the game in the default "Programs Files" folder.
Make a new folder and give it a name like "Games" or "Silent Hunter" and install the game there. Install the game right off the disc and when it ask you where to install the game use the "Browse" option and make the new folder where you want it. Ex. C/Silent Hunter. You should be good to go, the game will run pretty good as stock. It is V1.5 and that is the last patch.

Game patches are a must, mods are optional. The big supermods we have here are very stable and will run good if installed properly. There are plenty of guys here to help with any problems you have with most anything. Well except you house payment, we gotta draw the line somewhere.

Program files folder may be why you are having trouble with your other game. I'd try a different folder for that one also.

Magic

[fright52]

:salute::salute::salute::rock: there's always one in the bunch. Hats off to you three.

[Rockin Robbins]

Now auto targeting doesn't mean you'll always hit the target. As a matter of fact I seem to collect more goose eggs with auto targeting than I do with manual targeting.

In general, you'll have better luck with


slower targets, high speed makes little errors into big ones
keep your course as close to right angles to the target course as possible
targets that have not detected you. Maneuvers after you shoot mean misses

Now with auto targeting you don't have to identify, you don't have to send the bearing, you don't have to figure their speed, lock the target or anything. Just point the periscope so that part of the target is in the crosshairs and you're supposed to be good to go. Fire!

[fright52]

Many thanks for your directions on uninstall and new install for SH4 Gold Edition. Everything works well. Getting better with the auto Targeting on this one. Still puzzled why some torps go way off to sides or almost u-turns back at me?
Scenario: Using sub school training, I get myself in a
1) 90 angle to enemy's course.
2) I get approx. 800 yrds from approaching target.
3) I have opened tubes(Q) and set torps for fast/contact and set for 4'
4) Fire! But sometimes I look at attack map and my torpedos are making a radical turn or angle. Sometimes they are almost coming right back at me.

I'm not using the identify book, AOB, speed etc. Just aiming and shoot. Could you possibly give me any pointers on what I'm doing incorectly?

My last game on SH4 1.0 version, I was right in the middle of Japanese convoy, pretty much 90 angle, and only one of all torpedos hit a mark.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Many thanks for your directions on uninstall and new install for SH4 Gold Edition. Everything works well. Getting better with the auto Targeting on this one. Still puzzled why some torps go way off to sides or almost u-turns back at me?

There's a history behind that:
http://www.historynet.com/us-torpedo-troubles-during-world-war-ii.htm

Do you have the option "Dud Torpedoes" checked or unchecked?

[magic452]

Fright52 I can't understand why the torpedoes don't go where they are supposed to unless you are moving the scope off the target.
You must have the scope aimed at the target for each torpedo you fire.
Make sure you're not firing stern torpedoes for a bow target, that will give you a big U turn.

Try this get the target in the scope and lock the scope with the L key.
This locks the firing solution and the scope, to the middle of the target (mot) and it will stay there. Don't shoot until you get a little green triangle in the scope. There are three triangles you can see, red (no firing solution), yellow (a not very good solution) and green, good firing solution.
Fire all your bow torpedoes and they all should hit in the very same place.
You unlock the scope by hitting the L key again.

Next try this again from the attack map, you can shoot from there, lock the scope to the target go to the attack map, and you will see a white X and it should be right on the target icon and stay there. There is also a green line from your boat to the target, that is the torpedo track angle, it will be just ahead of the target when you shoot (lead angle). Fire when the target looks like it's almost straight in front of your boat. Again all the torpedoes should hit the same place.

Magic

[fright52]

I bet that's what I probably did. I may have used aft torp and also being very close to a stationary ship. the torpedo may have been to deep and went under the hull and followed magnetic contact. I was trying both settings for torpedos. thanks!

Definate improvement between 1.0vand Gold Edition. I like how the cruiser can suddenly "see" a torpedo coming and up and hall a** to avoid it. I guess there's some truth to always invest in Gold!:salute:

[twm47099]

I have found that sometimes when switching targets I have to click the red button/light on the position keeper off then on (or just click on it and it may blink once and stay on).

Tom

[HW3]

I have found that sometimes when switching targets I have to click the red button/light on the position keeper off then on (or just click on it and it may blink once and stay on).

Tom

Yes you have to do that when switching between targets, otherwise the TDC/torpedo will be working off of the solution for the previous target. This is because the TDC has not been updated with the new target information yet.

:salute:

[barkmann44]

What difficulty level are you using?At certain levels manual targeting is automatically enabled.

[Daniel Prates]

What difficulty level are you using?At certain levels manual targeting is automatically enabled.

This "level" is just a percentage of how many individual settings you turned off or on. When you set level genericly, to "easy", or "realistic", all it does is to select by itself what items will be cheked in (in realisitic, all of them).

You can set directly to realistic, then un-check some itens at your leisure.

[barkmann44]

Correct I was only postulating that the op's problem might be he was trying to auto-aim with manual targeting inadvertently turned on.
Would result in wild shots.