If you are setting up a 0° Gyro shot range doesn't matter at all.
Range matters more and more the larger the Gyro angle is.

Manual targeting is no picnic. Lots of things to consider. That's why I mention you should use the Pause key to your advantage in my "High Realism Tutorial". The authentic "Fire Control Team" was made up of 12 to 15 men. Each having specific tasks to do, checking and double checking the Firing Solution. The "Submarine Torpedo Fire Control Manual" outlines the duties/ objectives of the team. In-game its just one person simulating the duties.

Use the Pause key to work out the plot on the Navigation Map (yep, the map tools will work with the game paused). Same with using the Omnimeter......pause the game as you use the slide rule, or count the Telemeter Divisions of the periscope. Since you're doing this yourself, use the tools available (like the Pause key) to help.

You shouldn't think of this as being a cheat or unrealistic......after all, since when have you ever heard of a Captain taking control of the anti aircraft gun!?! I've yet to hear someone say.... "manually firing the Deck Gun isn't realistic". It's fun.....so allow the game to be fun learning manual targeting by using the authentic tools available.

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Absolutely true.

But then again, if it were that easy, why didn't the U.S. Navy just make a single memo with that one sentence to all Captains, rather than the text book I linked above called "Submarine Torpedo Fire Control Manual"?

This is technically true, but ultimately misleading.

You will want to know what the target's speed is, and good luck estimating that without having any range data.

I concur.
I mean that, for example, with the 4 bearing method, or because you alredy have got a good speed estimation (precise radio report, past speed estimation for wich you do not need high precision range data) you can find yourself in plenty of situatiuons (IMO of course, and speaking in the context of the game) where you are ready to sink 'em without knowing their range to the yard (or meter).

And in case of small or null gyro angle with a shot aimed amidship, target speed and course estimations are far more dominant than range in the outcome... or at least this is what I experienced (in the game, of course :D)

Yes CapnScurvy, I know about the fire control manual of the USN (I have quickly skim throught it a year ago) and I agree... But I was just speaking in the context of the game, exclusevely in the context of the game.
EDIT: I've just read your tutorial, fantastic document for newcomers in SH4 and in manual targeting (and I too will be a new player of it sometime in the future so I will be able to appreciate the service of the PK... I'm currently testing my kaleun-ness with SH3). Thanks for your guide!

Hmmm, I tried it with manual targeting but map contact updates as "training wheels" but apparently that disables the recognition manual, I can't activate the omnimeter, and using Optical Targeting Correction for 1.4 and OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio (1920x1080 monitor) I have no fine scale hash marks on the scope.

As for "range doesn't matter", best I recall it was Beach who called it the "angle-off" method, where you guesstimate the speed, then lead the target by 10 to 15 degrees depending on the approximate speed. Set the fish for zero gyro angle, then set the crosshairs 10-15 degrees right or left (depending on target direction of travel) and fire when the target is in the crosshairs. If the lead angle is correct it's correct for any range, the problem is that at long range the target has more time to see the wakes and maneuver to avoid. I've used that method myself with manual targeting, but it's the same as auto targeting in that regard - closer is better, inside 1000 yards the target has less time to see and react, and the errors don't have as much distance to multiply.

There must be a Mod hiccup somewhere, I switch over to complete manual targeting not one month ago (not using the Omnimeter (sry CapnScurvy)) the rec manual and the tool both work with map contact on (used the same "training wheels" method as you).
Use the 16:9 ratio as you too.

Well, it's possible I missed something. After reading through all the included docs I understood that what I needed was;

Optical Targeting Correction for 1.4
OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio

From what I'm seeing it appears that I use either OTC_1.4_for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio OR OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio, not both? Don't care about deck guns so I didn't bother with the patch, should I also have OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes installed or is OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio a replacement for that?

The main Optical Targeting Correction for 1.4 corrects the following resolutions:

1024x768
1152x864
1280x960
1360x1024
1600x1200
1792x1344

All of these resolutions have an Aspect Ratio of 4:3. It's the different Aspect Ratios that make the difference between the various possible screen sizes that need to be corrected.

To correct a 16:9 Aspect Ratio (1920x1080 resolution), there is a specific folder called "OTC for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio". Within the folder are two separate mods. One with the regular OTC modified Telemeter Divisions (that has them broke down into fractions)......the other is the "Realistic Scopes" mod that has the Telemeter Divisions much like the authentic scope had. Only add one, or the other,......not both, to the main OTC mod.

To answer your last queston, the optional mod "OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes" is only to be added to the main OTC mod correcting the 4:3 Aspect Ratio (if the Realistic Scope is what you want). The regular OTC scope view is already included within the main OTC mod.

Like HertogJan, you don't need to count the Telemeter Divisions and use the Omnimeter at all. It's your choice. The Stadimeter will work more accurately due to the corrections in Height measurements. The Omnimeter is just a back-up (as it was in real life). Although, I've often found the Omnimeter process is more accurate than the Stadimeter.

The "OTC 1.4 Patch 1" does more than correct the Deck Gun accuracy. Do you use the Anti Aircraft gun? I put exploding shells as a selection for both deck armaments. Kind of fun to "paint the sky" with them:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps8bbd7b24.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps02bca864.jpg

Hee-hee, as a former US Navy Aviation ASW Tech I came to two conclusions:
1. An aircraft is an excellent anti submarine platform. :ping:
2. A submarine is a really lousy anti aircraft platform. :dead:

For those reasons, I figure when an aircraft is in range I belong underwater where submarines do what they do best. :up:

Anyway I'll try deactivating and reactivating and using OTC_1.4_for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio instead of OTC_1.4_Realistic Scopes for 16 to 9 Aspect Ratio.

Looking over the readme I apparently focused on "This will bring these views more in line to the real life division marks being dark in color. The scopes will retain their correct alignment of the Telemeter divisions; just darker in color." and somehow blipped right past "The Telemeter divisions will also have the fractional divisions removed". Senility. :88)

Intresting, I didn't know about this "angle-off" method by Cmdr. Bleach.
However I can tell you that I successfully scored 2 hits out of 3 torpedoes fired against 2 different merchants (do not remeber the type, one had to be some kind of tanker) about 3,4-3,2 Km afar, in nighttime with clear weather conditions with my boat at PD.
And with straight shots (aka 0° gyro) done only with target speed, target course, ownship heading and torpedo speed data. No range at all until later, when plotting with the map tools on map contacts (at the time I was playing with map contact updates on) I found out the range I was from my targets when I fired the eels.
(I didn't know the precise speed, but according to map icons they were running at medium speed and I just guesstimated the true speed, after some observations on the attack scope, to be 8 kn).
[All of that in SH3 GWX3.0]

Beach, not bleach. Author of Run Silent Run Deep among other books, fiction and non fiction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_L._Beach_Jr.

At night that usually works simply because the target maintains a steady course if he doesn't see the wakes. Or if you're using electric Mark 18s which don't leave the big steamy trail of bubbles. Simple basic geometry, when two objects are on a collision course if neither one changes course or speed then sooner or later they will collide. Whether the range is 4000 yards or 500 yards the lead angle will be exactly the same, the practical difference is that the 500 yard range reduces the possibility that the target will change course or speed before impact.

Back on topic, reactivated and restarted, figured out how to get the omnimeter - grab the top edge of the message window and pull up. I'm clicking all over the omnimeter icon and getting nothing but a clicking noise from the mouse, guess I should study all the docs again. :doh:

One problem still remaining, the only button I can find says "identify target", I click on that and the message window automatically tells me what the target is. But still no recognition manual, so no way to get the mast height or length.

Pretty sure the "N" key brings up the Recognition Manual (same as stock).

As a matter of fact, the keyboard assignments are the same as stock in all respects (print off the Keyboard Assignments found in the stock game file "SH4_Q_Ref_Card_Front.jpg"), EXCEPT for the added Shift+X keyboard assignment ....which raises/lowers the Air Radar Antenna. This allows you to stay submerged, yet pushing up the SD Antenna to allow the Air Radar to function (only when you have the SD Radar available).

As far as the Omnimeter, there are two sliders that travel left/right..... click and drag the sliders.

Yes, I know, sorry for the annoying typo. I red RSRD about 10 months ago.

But where I can find writings about that angle-off method? I don't remember to stumble upon it in RSRD...

Thanks, N key did the trick. I'm used to using the mouse to click on buttons, never played with the hot keys much. In fact this mod somehow disables the normal mouse wheel zoom, I had to stumble around for a while before I used the TAB key.

"annoying typo. I red" is that "read"? Blasted Otto Collect! :03:

I can't recall offhand where I "red" it, but RSRD actually had sequels, DUST ON THE SEA and COLD IS THE SEA, but it may have been in one of his non fiction books about his actual service. Method itself is fairly simple in game - play for a few weeks with auto targeting on, set up 1000-1500 yards off the track facing at 90 degrees, wait until the bottom TDC dial shows a zero gyro angle, and note the number of degrees the scope is offset. Depending on torpedo type / speed setting and the target speed it's going to vary, but in general merchants will have a lead angle (with the Mark 14 on high speed) of 10-12 degrees and warships 15-18 degrees, regardless of the range. Once you've made notes on the actual offset start a career with manual targeting. Set the scope straight ahead (minus key), crank the masthead height to max, hit the "Send range and bearing to TDC" for a zero gyro angle (leave AOB and speed set to zero). Move the scope the correct number of degrees right or left of center, start firing when the target enters the crosshairs.
"Kentucky windage" for snap shots, center the target in the scope and note the bearing, move the scope 10-30 degrees (depending on estimated speed and AOB) to lead the target, click the send button again and fire three or four fish on the same track spread 10 seconds apart.

I'm fiddling with this OTC mod simply to try out the scientific method, but for me the angle off / Kentucky windage method gets me a pretty high percentage of hits.