Humm yes it was, from October 1943 onwards and after Dönitz's orders, UBoats were to shoot by sound bearings using accoustic Zaunkönig, FAT and LUT torpedoes.

Though that era is not represented in SH5, so I forgive you on that one :O:

Hard to believe. I found many situation in SH where I badly needed to shot from underwater. Many occasions where I saw the ship shape but was not able to lock on target because my scope was under sea line. Also many occasions where I knew the target bearing, speed and all I need to know for a "Los!" but I was forced to get close with the scope under water because the target has to many escorts near by. So I had to abandon the attack because .. there is no option to send a torpedo without to have a visual with the target :(

Also is hard to believe that Prien was sailing in Scapa with the scope out all the time, actually I'm sure he poped out the scope just for few moment to update the data about his target then he lowered the scope. Of course, is higher chance to miss without to see the target when you shot, but there is many ocassions when you have to take that chance.

Yes, I think the OP's point is that even when the player can see the target well enough through the scope, you can't 'Lock' it because the XO (or the game logic) hasn't spotted it / considered it 'spottable' to the average person, and so does not give you the lock option.

There are ways around it with mods, but seems there's no way to get around this with stock SH5 at the moment.

Think I have the same problem.

I'm shadowing a British merchant, currently <3000m away at night. The crew can see it because they're whispering.

However I cannot see any option to lock the target. The only dialogue next to the WO is "Switch off TDC" or "Never mind." So, I cannot use Stadimeter, identification book etc either.

I know how to calculate the required data on the map, but I'm annoyed by the lack of help from my WO!

I'm using the DarkWraith mod.

I tried targeting close range ships in Kiel (yes, I know they're friendlies) but same thing - no WO input.

you can do single missions up to 1945 and most of the late war torpedoes/ASW weapons (hedgehog at least) are available as well as a VIIc/41, although as far as I know no one has done one yet.

torpedoes available:

G7a-t1
G7a-t1 LuT1
g7a-t1 FAT1
G7e-t2
G7e-t3
g7e-t3 FAT2
g7es-TIV
g7es-TV
g7es-TXI
g7ut-TVII

being able to use the TDC when you wish would be nice. I have been in situations where I can clearly see and identify the target, but it is not close enough for me to "lock".

as a stopgap, if you have a mod like Arclight's periscope mod, you can still determine range/bearing w/o the TDC and get to work early on a solution.

This thread is old news but I thought I'd reply to the following just for anyone else who reads it.


One of my favorite methods of attack is to get inside of a convoy and attack while completely submerged--18m or so.
No scope lock is required. Set the target speed in the tdc to zero. Leave the Tdc on. Shoot bearing will now be the same as the scope bearing.Gyroangle is the same. Scope pointing at 10deg, gyroangle ten deg, shoot bearing 10 deg. Point and shoot. TDW UI works very well with this method as you can easily verify that your shoot bearing and gyroangle are right by looking at the dials. Just make sure that the Target Speed is set to O, Zero, Nothing. Range doesn't matter. Set it manually to 100000, or to 300m, doesn't matter, at least when firing from under 600m. That's the other thing. Get as close as you can--so close you start to worry that your torpedoes won't have time to arm, then lead the target as much with the scope as you think necessary, I usually aim at the forward third of the target ship. As usual, it is always best to maneuver the sub so that you are shooting at a smallish gyro angle--I don't like more than 10deg, especially for targets so close, because it takes the torpedo a short run before it turns to the right bearing. Set your torpedoes to impact if you like, but magnetic works well, if you know the draft--also magnetic under-the-keel eliminates the worry of off-angle shots failing to detonate because of sharp impact angles, although I have not found the torpedoes in SH5 to be unreliable at any angle. I have had no duds out of many, many shots. Anyway, this is a good method of attack in daylight when it is otherwise difficult to approach an escorted convoy. Shooting at close range, I get a very high percentage of hits. Alerted, zig-zagging Merchants are equally vulnerable--better because zig-zagging slows them down and allows you to pursue them while submerged.

Because the whole attack is conducted submerged, except for very quick peeks with the periscope for situational awareness, the escorts nor the merchants can locate you by sight. The escorts will have to find you on sonar, giving you plenty of time to fire all of your ready torpedoes, and then dive deep to reload and re-engage, or just begin evasive maneuvers.