on-the-fly manual targeting questions

[Beckett]

I've recently begun using manual targeting, primarily doing manual data entry into the TDC. I've had good success if I predict a target's path using the navigation map, set an ambush point and park my sub ahead of them, and then figure out what the calculations will be when they hit a certain point on the map. Then I can take plenty of time to calculate and enter the values; I just keep the TDC set to manual and launch when the ship reaches my ambush point.

I want to learn how to do this on-the-fly, when I don't have the luxury of setting things up ahead of time. However, I feel like I'm not fast enough entering the data, and that I'll get imprecise targeting as a result.

I should be able to calculate and enter target speed at my leisure, but then it seems to me that bearing, range, and AOB all need to be determined and entered at a precise moment in time. Of course, I'm only human, so it takes time to work these out with the map tools (or with the periscope notepad, for that matter). But, how can I be precise then? I mean, if it takes me 60 seconds to gather the data, whatever I calculated first will be 60 seconds old/wrong by the time I get it all entered into the TDC. It doesn't help to enter one value at a time, because the automatic tracking is worthless until all four dials are set correctly.

Thanks for any tips or advice anyone can offer on this.

I'm also curious about the capabilities of the automatic tracking that the TDC can do. As I understand it, the TDC attempts to predict the ongoing path of the ship and adjusts the bearing, AOB, and range dials for each new predicted position. But does this take into consideration the movement of the submarine? Does this take into consideration any course changes made by the submarine?

Thanks!

[Harmsway!]

This job was never intended for one guy to do. That's why even though I like using manual targeting I still have the weapons officers help. I believe that is more realistic even though it ranks lower on the realism settings.

I still do my own calculations but check it with the weapons guy. When I get info from him I do a quick double check to see if I agree. What you need is to speed up your calculations. The most time consuming calc is the AOB. I use a handmade AOB slide rule made out of cardstock. I think one of the sticky notes tells how to make it.

SH3 Newbie Guide, Links and other helpful stuff (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96026)

[Harmsway!]

To answer the TDC question. It does take into account the speed of target and of your own ship. It does not take into account any course changes on the part of the sub or the target. That's why zig zagging ships are harder to nail.

[Harmsway!]

In the Movie In Harms Way the star, John Wayne loses his command becuase his fleet discontinued zig zag to save fuel. His ship gets torpedoed.

In the early years you will find single ships traveling straight on heading. If by chance you get discovered they start to zig zag. You don't want to lose that element of surprise. My own luck at hitting a zig zagging ship has been poor with a single fish. When going up against a zig zagging convoy use a spread.

[Deimos01]

Once you get your 1st set of figures... ie range, AOB, Speed and plug it into the system the TDC will then auto update the solutions. Then only thing you will need to manually update yourself is the range, provide you or the target did not make any course changes. This also works in a convoy setting. Get your range AOB and speed for one ship. For all other targets in convoy you only need to update Range.

As the optics move the info is automatically sent to the TDC there by constantly updating AOB and bearing to target. Speed should stay constant.

[von Zelda]

I think I've found a happy compromise to manual calculation:

When attacking on the surface, I let the weapons officer calculate the targeting information. I think this is somewhat realistic since the First Watch Officer using the UZO was responsible for all the targeting information which was relayed down into the conning tower for input into the targeting computer.

While summerged, I manually calculate the speed, aob, distance since the captain while using the attack scope was responsible for the targeting information which was feed into the TDC.

Another item which might be of interest:

As you know when you click on the weapons officer you get the three boxes representing ship ID, target solution and fire torp. But I've notice something I'd like to share. It seems to me that when using the fire torpedo box you get a few seconds delay which has caused me to miss a few targets by just a little bit. (And yes, the outer doors were already open.) Since noticing this, I've only used the red fire button which seems to fire a torp immediately and I have had perfect results. Just a comment for your information.