Okay, I'm starting to get a handle on this. My deep thanks goes out to all of you for helping and in such a short time too. I've got a lot of down time right now because I'm sick with a pretty bad cold so I'm pretty much just reading books and playing DW. I'd like to think I'm improving pretty dramatically.

I've reduced the number of enemy subs in my Kilo scenario to two possible Daphnes and one possible Agosta. I've also begun using a number of USET-80s/Yu-3s in conjunction with a single TEST-71 per shot which allows me to use two rack spaces for UUVs. I still end up basically out of ammo if all three subs appear in the mission, but at least I always have enough to kill them all. On the other hand, the UUV makes tracking SO much easier that it almost takes all the challenge out of things. I may go back to storing only torpedoes or switching to the Iranian Kilo just to keep myself on my toes.

Another clear indication of a closing or opening contact is how the bearing rate changes with each new line. IF the target doesn't happen to be on a collision course or moving directly away.

A closing target shows an increasing bearing rate until it is at it's closest point. This is seen in TMA as expanding bearing fans. Angle-steps getting wider upto some maximum rate.

Opening targets have passed the closest point of approach (at some time in the past) and will show a bearingrate slowing down. The new bearings as they develop in TMA will start to narrow as it moves into the distance.

It's a bit tricky to see on SC/DW TMA plots because the bearing lines start at different places. In games situations like SH3/4 where you are waiting almost motionless for the target to pass infront of you it is very clear that the rate increases. Far away the sonar crew calls out bearing changes minutes apart, yet when very close he even skips a few degrees. If both subs are moving (like often in SC/DW situations) it becomes less clear, as it depends on how the the relative motion is directed in relation to you. And a change in rate could be the result of a course and speed change by the target. But if the target is pre-occupied by evading torpedos he better not change his mind too often on which direction to evade as that would slow him down.

Pisces, yes this is the method I most often use when building my initial firing solution. Unfortunately, when the target is evading he is usually accelerating and turning at the same time which makes this trick very difficult to use. The AI in RA does some weird stuff too like decelerating during evasion or turning toward the torpedoes. Makes for a fun time though.

If a contact makes a change in turn and speed quickly within 2 minutes (time between 2 bearings) then it is indeed difficult to estimate which way he is going to move. But if he's making a large turn also means he is sort of staying in one spot until he straightens his rudder. Meaning range doesn't change much in that interval.

When I notice a speed change in demon I estimate it's average speed during the last 2 minute interval and set that speed in the TMA panel. While keeping the last-but-one timemark of the ruler located on it's place on the bearing line (where it was projected to be by the TMA computer one time interval back) I adjust target course for the sollution until it fits with the newest bearing line. It's not as easy as it sounds, because the ruler rotates around the current solution location. So you have to move the older mark back a bit. That way my solution stays pretty solid and most of the times it results in a hit or kil. (but that is usually against AI, in MP it may not be so effective)

p.s. Never played RA yet.

Pisces, that advice was EXCELLENT! I've started watching the DEMON pretty much exclusively during the torpedo's run and it gives me quite a bit of information about what he's doing. Averaging the speed was a great idea as he does tend to accelerate and decelerate pretty erratically during his initial evasion. I'm combining this with what Molon Labe said about always assuming his is running perpendicular and I've been having tremendous success.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY! I'm sorry I ever thought this forum was dead.