Actually it can be seen as a generalized version of the Dick O'Kane method as described by RR. Neither a 90º angle between the course of the target and your submarine heading nor a 0° gyro angle is required, and the TDC does all the calculations for you.

This has been one of my pet peaves since day one. There should be a manual way to enter range or at least the capabilty to use the stadmeter without locking onto a boat. I know this has been said, but,,,:damn:

Well....after that last post and thinkning about it, I remembered a thread some time back that explained how to edit a file allowing manual input of range....It took some time, but I found it, tried it, and man, am I a happy dude :lol: ... It's very easy and quick. I would suggest a backup of the file first, because I screwed up the first time, but it wasn't hard to put back (luckily). Also, after getting the first one worked out, I wasn't really happy with the result and read some more of the thread. Bottom line, scroll down and read "Munchausens" post and follow his lead. It works absolutely fabulous. I can now input any range I desire. I highly recommend it. :rock: BTW, yes it works with 1.5. Here's the link to the thread http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=111371

Btw, the stadimeter does work without locking the target. I use it that way all the time (manually inputting range only when the target is too far away to get an accurate stadimeter reading).

The trick is that you still need to have some part of your target in the crosshairs. Normally, I'll take a final range and bearing, using the stadimeter, just as the target's bow is crossing the lubber line (PK off) then fire torps as the juicy parts sail across.

A brilliant point, munchausen. Take a bow! If everyone did that just before they shot they'd be twice as accurate.

;) Thanks, RR.

:hmm: I suppose you could also input manual range for when you use the O'Kane method ... else your stopwatch won't give you an accurate torpedo travel time. Normally, though, I'm within 500 yards of the target and, consequently, seldom have time to even look at the stopwatch.

Yes, I was aware you did not have to actually lock, but it's still a bit of a gripe of mine that you even have to point the crosshairs anywhere to use the Stadmeter. In real life, the stadmeter had no way of knowing if there was a boat in the crosshairs or not. Here's what used to pee me off..As an example, the weather is so bad you can't even see the boat. You know it is there because of the radar, you know the range because the radar tells you, but you can't enter it!:damn:

Of course, I don't have that problem now, thanks to you Munchausen. Thanks again. AAHHRRR MATE!:arrgh!:

;) No problem. Now if only the mod in Nisgeis' following thread could be displayed in yards:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=142884

Oh Yea, that would be sweet ! Until then we'll just have to measure the old fashioned way.

conceptual issue
 

Please refer to the first post.

I have a conceptual problem. I usderstand entry of speed, AoB, and distance. I assume that the 293 degrees in the tutorial is the intended true course of the torpedoes. Is that courrect? Is that where you poitnt the periscope? I am not sure how that fits into the scheme of the constant bearing meithod. I need an explanation to help me figure this out.

When im doing constant bearing attacks with 0 gyro angles.. i never use the TDC dials.

I have a precomputed table i made with lead angles.

If it's a 90AOB shot, just look up the target speed and match it to the torpedo speed, move the scope from your nose towards the ship the number of specified degrees and shoot as he crosses.

If it's not 90AOB you need to get his relative speed across your nose as if it WERE a 90AOB shot. Easily done with a quick vector calculation with the drawing tools. I keep saying im going to precompute these for all AOB's as well, but haven't had the time lately. Too busy playing.

most of the time if your within +-30 degress and the range isn't that far, you can just assume a 90AOB shot.

i dunno, playing witht he dials if you dont intend to move just seems pointless to me. All you really need to know is how fast he's moving across your nose and lead it. Probably because im a duck hunter in real life :P

lately though, i've been using the PK alot for manuevering in and keeping tabs on where he is without needing to actually put the scope up and look at him, and then just turning it off just prior to shooting and using a constant bearing attack. Basically i track him with the PK to a good firing point, and when im about ready to fire i take that last range reading, shut of the PK, move the scope to the ships nose, and put in the new bearing with the same range (shouldn't change much to matter), and fire as the ship crosses the line.

i do this because i hate having to manually adjust the spread angle wheel for each torpedo.

Arrrrr!:arrgh!: Exactly the same technique the real Dick O'Kane used to refine his target parameters before unleashing HIS constant bearing attacks.

Rockin Robbins
 

See post #30 please. I need some help. Where do you input 293 degrees or how do you use it?

i dont really subscribe to any pre-difned methods. Just like aerial combat.. if you go in with your mind made up, your SOL when the situation changes.

every situation has its own solution.

i dont always do it with a constant bearing either. for a really long target or very slower mover i wont sit there and wait for him to travel all the way through. in that case when i shut it off the PK, i'll aim at the rear.. mark it fire.. aim at the center.. mark.. fire.. aim at the front.. mark.. fire.\

i go back to front in this case, becaue when i unlock the target and shut off the Pk, the sight is usually already at the rear.

i only use my lookup table for when i dont have the time for a more accurate shot. just put yourself on a rough 90 degree course and fire at the specified lead angle. though if you take the time to setup for a perfect 90AOB shot, its impossible to miss. lately though, i've grown tired of doing that much plotting and figuring, and instead plot just enough to get me in visual range, and just work it with the PK till the fire point. i rarely look at the map anymore after i get visual.

i also dont play with map contacts enabled.. because it makes the perfect 90AOB zero gryo shot just way too easy.

...,

gutted
 

Captain, I assume you were addressing my post in this thread. I respond. Your disertation may be welcome and appreciated by others, as you are obviously an enlightened captain. My question was specific. You did not address it.

Maybe you assumed that I did not know how to use manual targeting (per Hitman's tutorial), the Dick O'Kane or Cromwell methods, Tale's techniques on attacking mutiple ships in convoys on the same or parallel courses, using sonar only, or was unaware of how to apply the Easy AoB mod (which I was instrumental in having promoted to a sticky thread)?

Mine was a simple straightforward post. I did not understand one aspect of the tutorial on the point and shoot method. Period.:salute:

i was going to reply to you, but having not read through the entire first post in detail (i skimmed over it, saw someone moving dials for a constant bearing attack and decided to post), and just assumed that 293 was for one thing, but after a closer look i decided to delete my post because i could have been wrong and didn't want to give you any wrong info.

ok i read the intial post alittle more carefully this time.

293 is the "TRUE BEARING" equivalent of the relative bearing he needs to be looking at when he fires.

since he's using the stock bearing lines (top of his scope) that don't have any intermidiate marks.. he has a really hard time telling exactly where 293 is.

so he keeps issusing the "set course to where im looking" command until the crew says "set course bearing 293". since he's not moving he wont actually turn the ship.

atleast thats the gist of what i got from it. his explination is alittle convoluted.

I am making some progress
 

I finally hit the target in a practice mission. My problems are these. Once I get the true bearing of my boat, how to I get the radar man to announce its true course. I play TMO and there is no button to match heading to view. Since I am not moving, nothing happens when I hit the only button that appears relevant, which is the command to return to course. It is not operating because my ship is not moving, as I am in position to fire. Without a command to match heading to view, I have know way of knowing if my boat's heading matches the course (in the tutorial, it is the 293 degree angle). I think I have the rest pretty well in hand, but I have spent a lot of time to narrow it down to this question.

Also, I click the TDC button to send speed, range, and distance. Do I click that button when I set the periscope at the firing angle?

Once I have this thing down, it will be easier for me to conceptualize it.

I agree, the tutorial is not a model of clarity on a few points, but the concept is very interesting. Thanks for weighing in on this. It took me a while to be able to articulate these issues, as I haven't hit the target in multiple attempts until a few minutes ago. It appears you can either hit is with fast or slow torpedoes but not both fired in a single salvo. Whew, I am exhausted.

i might have solved one of the issues
 

the key command for heading to view is the "=" sign.