It's too late for me to completely picture what you did there. But I can explain the range factor. Range is needed as a hidden input to the speed measurement with the notepad procedure at the attackscope. If that is wrong speed is also wrong by the same proportion. But if you measure speed by some other means (like that fixed wire method) range is only a factor as an aiming correction when the torpedo has to turn. When firing straight out of the tube the torpedo doesn't turn and range is no factor at all. (hmm, maybe the torpedo run time on the stopwatch is wrong, but all other things being correct it should still hit where intended.) If the torpedo has to turn (because you want to hit something more to the side of your uboat) it first moves a certain distance straight ahead before it moves in a circle-arc. This straight and circle move causes a slight parallax angle to the direction of the periscope. The torpedo needs to turn a bit further. This parallax angle becomes bigger with bearings away from bow and stern upto a maximum at 90/270. And is also larger at a close range, but then the target looks bigger, so it may not matter.
But here's a question that often puzzles me. If you (manual targeting players in general) want to train or test yourself in hitting something accurately from a distance, why do you fire with a shotgun (salvo angle)? It covers up any mistakes made as you are more likely to hit anyway. Ask yourself questions like; if it passed infront or aft of the intended location (speed or AOB wrong). Did it hit too early or too late (range wrong)?
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