Okay, I'm stupid and confused!!!

[robj250]

Go ahead an call me what you want, but I have tried and tried to follow the instructions that was posted in "The Hunt" I think, which was very well written. But, I cannot understand how to plot an intercept of a convoy using the map tools. I do not have RUb1.45 'cause I didn't like it. I have a lot of trouble trying to figure out how to use the map tools provided in the Nav Map to plot an intercept. What I need is a sorta "vanilla" approach to the situation, like, what do I use first, where do I place the starting tool on and what do I do with it. I'm sorry guys, but I just cannot follow those instructions in "The Hunt" or whatever it was called. I have read it over and over, but nothing is sinking in so I am at a loss as to how to use the map tools. Can someone give me a "vanilla" step-by-step on what to use and how to use it and when to use it.

I would truly like to learn how to use these tools.

Thanks to everyone who has given me help in the past. It is greatly appreciate!!

[GreyOctober]

Rob, start off easy dont make thing more complicated. Think of the tools as "helpers" nothing more. Ill give you a quick example: say you spot a ship bearing 010. Go to the map, select the line tool and draw a line from your position to the target on 010. Simple. You now have a line on the map at a given time where youve drawn it.
You figure out visually where the target is headed and change your course to intercept (no need to be accurate now (just point your subs nose well ahead of the target). After some time you measure the distance and note the bearing again. Lets say hes now bearing 340. You go to the map and draw a line again. If you connect the points which mark the contacts position with another line youll get his heading (assuming you got his range right). It should be natural to use. I like to think that there are no rules except mathematical ones. You make your own rules.

Suggestion: pick up the sigle mission "happy times" and experiment with the tools. the convoy is headed 090 and you start some 7km ahead of them a bit to their right. The third row of the convoy (3rd ship) has a passenger transport. Plot him and sink him, untill you feel comfy with the situation.

Cheers!

[Umfuld]

Not sure what if any mods you're using. So I'll just tell you what I do. It may be the same as the other post, don't know.

By 'convoy' you must mean when you get a radio report and an icon appears on the Nav Map.
Take the ruler and draw a straight line though the icon (as in, through the rear of the boat through the front and straight ahead). As far as you need to go.
Now just head to that line, ahead of the convoy at top speed.

Some quick, no calculator needed math and you should be able to tell a good spot to aim on the convoys course that you will reach first. They move slow, so it's easy.

And that's it.

What?

[robj250]

Suggestion: pick up the sigle mission "happy times" and experiment with the tools. the convoy is headed 090 and you start some 7km ahead of them a bit to their right. The third row of the convoy (3rd ship) has a passenger transport. Plot him and sink him, untill you feel comfy with the situation.

Cheers!

where do I obtain this single mission?

[squigian]

It's a single mission, included with the retail copy :P

[CybrSlydr]

I like to think that there are no rules except mathematical ones.

Hence why you'll never see me use a manual TDC. I hate math. :rock: :rock:

[robj250]

Thanks, I didn't know. I just checked my SH3 files and yeppers, it's there.
Every since I started playing SH3, which I started at the beginning in 1939, I have always done my interceptions on paper and have been pretty lucky.
In my present mission, I did the same thing and then transferred it to Photoshop and plotted in the map, what I had calculated with pencil, paper and using a 10 piece math set. Here is what I come up with for my present interception:
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6482/07interceptupload3eq.jpg
I really am not sure if this planned intercept is going to work now because on the way, I ran into two single merchants, so I had to take time out to sink them, and then I got spotted by aircraft on two separate occassions that were droppings DCs so I had to crash drive to 50 metres, so that took more time out of my planned intercept route. So, I am just sitting waiting where I think the convoy will appear. I'm not sure whether I missed them or not.
Let's hope I am still in time. I had calculated that I would intercept them at roughly 2010. It is now 1620.
Thanks. I will try a little plotting on 'Happy Times' to see how I do.

[CybrSlydr]

Well, from what little I remember of my geometry, if you were using the Pythagorean therom, one of those needs to be a right angle - most of the time it's the convoy line and the distance between you and the convoy (as it appears in your drawing).

That might be why your calculations are off.

[Heibges]

Hi Rob,

Really, because of the GPS uboat map marking, is makes it a little more realistic if you just guestimate. Realistic is probably not the word I'm looking for. Let's just say more realistic in some respects, less realistic in others.

If they are moving 6kts, and you are moving 17kts, you know that you can move about three times the distance in the same amount of time, or the same distance in 1/3 of the time.

Plan your dogleg approach course appropriately.

[CybrSlydr]

Hi Rob,

Really, because of the GPS uboat map marking, is makes it a little more realistic if you just guestimate.

I only eyeball intercepts on my map - no need to do all that fancy, time-consuming and tedious math crap. :)

Works like a charm. :rock:

[robj250]

Well, from what little I remember of my geometry, if you were using the Pythagorean therom, one of those needs to be a right angle - most of the time it's the convoy line and the distance between you and the convoy (as it appears in your drawing).

That might be why your calculations are off.

I'll have to let you know how it works out tomorrow as I am very, very tired and need some rest.

[Keelbuster]

Also - those are far distances to try to intercept from. I usually try to catch a radio report close by. Over very long distances your quarry will change course and speed and you'll lose him. I find guestimating just fine for interception. I use the hydrophone occasionally if I think i've overshot.

Kb

[Heibges]

If you followed the course you have plotted at Full Speed or Flank Speed until you intersected the convoy's course, then turned towards the convoy so in your estimation the convoy was on bearing 000°, you would intercept that convoy, provided that it did not change course.

[Dantenoc]

Try reading this post:
http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=49376

It also has links to other useful post, particularly the one about "course to intercept method revised" (3rd one in the list)should interest you.

[andy_311]

That's good but then **** happen's if the convoy changes course and speed or just doesn't spawn where it suppose to.

[robj250]

Try reading this post:
http://www.subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=49376

It also has links to other useful post, particularly the one about "course to intercept method revised" (3rd one in the list)should interest you.

Thank you for providing this link. I saved it yesterday before I had to take medication and go to bed for a rest. I just read it Friday at noon and it seems a lot simpler and I may be able to understand and follow the steps. However, since I am already waiting at my calculated intercept point in my mission, I will wait until the convoy arrives.

In my next mission, when I receive a radio message from BdU about where a convoy is for me to intercept, I will follow your steps, take the necessary 'snaps' of each step and post it using your method.

Thanks to everyone who has given me help and good recommendations. It is greatly appreciated!

[robj250]

Well, my calculated intercept was 'bang on' I sunk a Troop Transport, Small Merchant, and T2 Tanker. I don't know why, but the Troop Transport took 5 torpedoes to sink her, so that left me with very little in the way of armament. Heading to my patrol area now to complete the mission.

BTW, the readings I get on the enemy course is not GPS. I simply replaced the readings N,NW, etc, with the actual degrees.

[Dantenoc]

That's good but then poo poo happen's if the convoy changes course and speed or just doesn't spawn where it suppose to.

If it is an important contact (like a convoy), you should receive radio updates informing you of any change in course and speed, allowing you to adjust your calculations... If not, then there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry? just shrug it off :yep:

[robj250]

If it is an important contact (like a convoy), you should receive radio updates informing you of any change in course and speed, allowing you to adjust your calculations... If not, then there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry? just shrug it off :yep:
Yes, that is true and in all of my career so far (1939 to Oct 1942) I have never had a convoy change it's course. I just wanted to learn a simple method on how to use the nav map tools when I started this post.

[tbarak]

I forgot to mention this in your other post, when you were trying to calculate the estimated time of arrival to a contact point. If you click on the navigator and plot a course, you'll see two figures at the end of your plot line. The top one is obviously the distance of the leg, but there's also a bottom figure which represents the time it would take to get there - given your present speed I guess. I haven't read that anywhere but I'm pretty sure that's what the bottom number is.

Don't give up..you've come a long way Kaleun. But get ready for hell as the war gets pretty rough after mid-'43.

[robj250]

I forgot to mention this in your other post, when you were trying to calculate the estimated time of arrival to a contact point. If you click on the navigator and plot a course, you'll see two figures at the end of your plot line. The top one is obviously the distance of the leg, but there's also a bottom figure which represents the time it would take to get there - given your present speed I guess. I haven't read that anywhere but I'm pretty sure that's what the bottom number is.

Don't give up..you've come a long way Kaleun. But get ready for hell as the war gets pretty rough after mid-'43.

Thank you tbarak. I didn't know that, so I'll give it a try. :up:

[robj250]

Wow, this has certainly changed! Anyway, Dantenoc, I tried to use the plotting reversion you developed which was much easier for me to understand. However, I did have one problem, When following your directions, I could not get a compass to appear on the map while following the instructions. Here is what I got:
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/3483/intercept10kb.jpg

[robj250]

If it is an important contact (like a convoy), you should receive radio updates informing you of any change in course and speed, allowing you to adjust your calculations... If not, then there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry? just shrug it off :yep:

Hi Danenoc: I copied and printed out your post "Revised Plotting" or something like that. I followed your directions but I had a problem. In you image example for step two, three five and six: I never got a compass with degrees showing. All I got was a circle. How do I get the compass onto the Nav Map?
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1909/interceptupload1xe.jpg

[Seminole]

One thing to bear in mind when you are wondering if you missed a convoy intercept:

Unless you are playing on a Blue Gene/L computer you will most certainly know when you have intercepted a convoy (or one is within 50K of your position) by a stark and drastic drop in frame rates. :yep:

[robj250]

One thing I would like to know, if I change my realism in Single Missions to practice manual targetting, will it stay at that realism when I continue my missions?

[Sailor Steve]

Yes. One group of settings controls the entire game.

Just remember to set it back when you get done with the single missions.

[robj250]

Yes. One group of settings controls the entire game.

Just remember to set it back when you get done with the single missions.

I think I have already buggered up my realism then and I am already in a mission were I have made contact with a convoy. So, how do I set the realism back to what it was, 'cause when I load the career, I see nothing that permits me to reset my realism.

[U-Bones]

I think I have already buggered up my realism then and I am already in a mission were I have made contact with a convoy. So, how do I set the realism back to what it was, 'cause when I load the career, I see nothing that permits me to reset my realism.

Career realism is only available when leaving port, not in mid-patrol.

[Sailor Steve]

Go to Single Missions and change it. That simple.

[U-Bones]

Go to Single Missions and change it. That simple.

Nice to know :know:

[robj250]

Go to Single Missions and change it. That simple.

Thanks Steve. That's nice to know.

[Dantenoc]

Hi Danenoc: I copied and printed out your post "Revised Plotting" or something like that. I followed your directions but I had a problem. In you image example for step two, three five and six: I never got a compass with degrees showing. All I got was a circle. How do I get the compass onto the Nav Map?

Have you patched your game? I'm not talking about mods, but official patches for the game. The compass tool only makes circles. To measure angles you need a protractor, it is an entirely different tool. Also, you need to click on the ? icon to change the tools into their more usefull versions. I beleive that these features are only available in patched versions of the game, and NOT in the out-of-the-box version.

[robj250]

Have you patched your game? I'm not talking about mods, but official patches for the game. The compass tool only makes circles. To measure angles you need a protractor, it is an entirely different tool. Also, you need to click on the ? icon to change the tools into their more usefull versions. I beleive that these features are only available in patched versions of the game, and NOT in the out-of-the-box version.

Thanks. I finally figured that out.