This assumes you have map updates ON.

Then just plot speed and bearing on the Nav map. TM introduced zig zags so if a ship zigs before my intercept I'll work on the premise he'll zag after an hour. Guess where I'll be waiting?

BTW the name is Edward Elizabeth Hitler. Can I come to the christening?

Do you guesstimate AOB?

Yep. I'm getting pretty good at it too.:up:

I recheck my TDC data every 3 min and the solution gets more accurate the closer the target gets to the firing point.

Ahhhhh. I've just started playing without map/contact updates. Trying to get decent radar range/bearings is frustrating to say the least. Thanks, anyway.

Nice. You must have had fun at school...:D

IMHO, if you're playing auto-targeting, just go ahead and download the SUPER CREW mods... you'll be a lot happier in the long run.

you'll kill planes instantly as a bonus.

p.s.
It's how I introduce my younger (xbox generation) relatives to the game.

Does manual targeting really involve as much math as I fear it does? I'm hopeless with numbers (my brain deal in words, not digits) and I've never used manual targeting because of my math deficiency. I can remember historical names and places at the drop of a hat, but formulae just don't lodge themselves in my grey matter.

Assuming 'Map Updates on'

Try this:-

Radar contact (probably about 15nm away): The map will position the target for you. Use the pencil and make a mark on the map at the position of the ship. Start the stopwatch.

After 3 min (assuming imperial) make another mark. Use the ruler to measure between the two marks. If the distance is 500 yds then the speed is 5 knots. If the distance is 1200 yards then the speed is 12 knots. No maths needed, right?

Keep the stopwatch running.

Now use the ruler again. Click about half way on the line you just drew. Extend the ruler along the line and through the 'contact'. This will give you a bearing (make sure you have the tool helper enabled). Now zoom out and plot this line for about 30nm and click again. You now have a course for your target.

After 6 min double check the target speed and course. If everything is the same you're good to go.

Plot a course that will take you to to 90 degrees of the target course we drew above. Depending on whether the target is moving towwards or away from us we may want to adjust our speed. Finish the course about 1nm away from the target course.

Click the 'time to course end button' In this example we'll say 0.7 of an hour (give or take 45 min)

Measure form the the contact to our intercept point. Lets assume speed is 7 knots and distance is 1400 yards. Now using the nomograph we can see that at 7 knots it will take the target 2 hours to travel 1400 yards (Again see earlier post for easy nomograph use). This means we'll be there a looong time before our target.:up:

Once in visual range, order periscope depth and battlestations.

This is our basic intercept done. No Maths needed.

Onto the solution.

Periscope up. Lock target. First we need to ID the target. I use the auto button with TM. We know the speed from earlier so set that in the TDC.

We can also have a guess at the AOB. If we can only see the bow of the target the AOB is 0. If we can see the entire length the AOB is 90. So we need to guess where the target is in relation to the graphic on the TDC. ( It doesn't matter if we're wrong ATM)

Lastly, take a range by aligning the 'ghost image' with the top most mast of the 'real image on the stadimeter (again I recommend the SCAF mod which uses the funnels for reference points).

Turn the PK on.

Using the attack map we can verify the solution. We know the speed is right. The map will give a visual repretensation of our solution against the the actual ship course and range. By fine tuning the inputs into the TDC you'l be able to align the PK (white X and line against the actual target course in red). Once they converge you've got the perfect solution:up:

Once you've got this down it is actually TOO easy so I now only check my solution every 3 min with a quick re-entering of the data. I'm hoping to progress to 'No map update' so I'll probably be posting for help soon myself!

Whilst I can see how it may be daunting it really is quite simple and requires no mathmatical expertise.

Hope this helps and Good Hunting.

First attack
 

Finnaly found a target southof Guam a few minuites ago. Playin with T.M.+RSRDp.III+SCAF. Came across 2 Large old passenger carriers and had a perfect set up, I sat still for around an hour waitin for em to come right to me. I had the lead targets speed down to 12 kts. for sure. Once within visual distance I took several range estimations spaced apart. everything was looking preety good but i was constantly second guessing myself with AOB. Just prior to my firring the attack map showed the white x about 100 yds further fromactual target, (like i misjudged range) but the white was equal to about the middle of the target, and the white line was pointing pretty close to their course. Fired a 3 shot spread 5 degrees apart and all 3 missed going across the bow between 25 and 75 yards. on a side note my second and third fish didnt have as much angle on them when watching through the camera. the first fish was obviously the clossest

Deffinatly not gonna give up though. The game is obviously ment to be played on manual TDC and if I can just stop second guessing myself i think with time ill get it. I saved my game just before they came within visual distance. Must've smoked 4 or five cigs durring that settup and attack. Wonder if the real skippers were doing the same.

After 3 attempts on the target i have still missed every time. Thougfh my TDC skills are improving a bit. I notice i keep my scope up may to long. My main problems are AOB, and not knowing exactly when to fire. ANY ideas??

Have you tried the sub school mission vs the Mogami? Speed is 10 and Aob is about 85 when you start so this means you only have to really practice the stadimeter.

As with anything practice is the key!

Once you have manual down, you wonder how you'd play without it.