Attacking two targets simutaneously?
 

Earlier on patrol, I came across 2 targets in line astern formation. It was dark and visibility was low so I couldn't identify the second target. I wanted to attack them both so that the torpedoes arrived at relatively the same time.

Can anyone tell me if there is a simple way to do this?

First off,once you have the target speed and range figured out,you will want to shoot at the further target first,since those fish have further to travel,then set up on the closer target,and shoot that one.

You may not get a simultaneous impact,but it will be close enough. That's how I do it.:arrgh!:

Attack the furthest target first. If you look at your attack map, you can see the time run for the torps. I've played with math formulas, ect.., how fast does it take a torp to run a certain distance, but it takes some time.
It's something you can play with. Set up some shots at distances like a 1000 yards and look at the time and you can start coming up with some formulas that you can break down.

If the targets are fairly close together you should be fine. Sometimes I'll shoot torps on slow speed at the nearest target, then fast speed at further targets.

to get the best guesstimate on timing the spacing of your shots is to take the difference in distances and use your torpedo known speed to calculate when to fire.

in my case im too lazy to do the math so i just go with a close enough setting of 30 seconds between shots at 1000 range difference. its not perfect timing but will be close enough so the other ship cant change course before being hit. this time assumes torpedo doors are already open, if not use 25 seconds.

There are two tutorial videos about Multi-Targeting by Tale in the Bag of Tricks post http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=146795

One of the tricks I've tried before is, simply keep aiming at the target that you've identified, and then record the angle difference between the center of that target and the second one. When you fire your fish, spread half of them so that they go for your second target.

Or, if you can't get both at the same time, take out one, make a retreating run, wait until they're a safe distance away, then surface and do an end-around, get ahead of them again, and pick off the second one.

Thanks for all the help guys. :salute:

:up: Yes indeed! I used to apply this technique often. It does however, take careful and very accurate planning to pull it off correctly and requires proper use of the PK, but is a very satisfiying kill if pulled off successfully. Fire one to the left, one to the right and repeat! Often times the ships are too far apart to allow this tecnique even at maximum spread angles. Also, it usually requires shots from long range due to the spread angle limitations, which makes it very difficult, but fun. :know:

Tale is the man with his multi-targeting videos in the Bag of Tricks thread!:yeah: