I dunno. I think he took the shots as the situation dictated and wrested the odds as best he could. It's not like you look at an unfavorable position and say, "Nope. I don't like that angle."
Statistical analysis shows that a torpedo track angle of roughly 110º (varies with speed) is the most tolerant with regard to errors in calculating target speed. Reverse analysis of their mumbo-jumbo showed that firing at AoB 90 or slightly afterward was best for that.
As far as maneuvering out of the way of the torpedo, a torpedo track angle of 90º would be the best because the target has to turn just as far in both directions to avoid.
Let's reason this out. You're firing a John P Cromwell attack from 45º ahead. That ends up giving you an AoB of about 35º starboard or port depending on which direction he's coming from. The sharpest he has to turn to get his bow toward the torpedo and then be able to turn left or right to avoid is.....45º, right?
OK, let's take the O'Kane situation. The torpedo approaches from 30º or more aft of the target beam (torpedo track angle of 120º or slightly more). We'll assume the target is moving left to right. Since the torpedo is approaching from aft, the speed of the target makes the approach speed of the torpedo slower, giving the target more time to react. Then the target needs only to turn 60º to port, hit the throttle and maneuver left or right to let the torpedo, now on a parallel course, pass starboard or port.
I don't understand O'Kane's reasoning there. I'd rather be firing from ahead of the target if I can't pick the 90º attack, so that I have lots of wiggle room in my calculations and can absorb maximum error. Failing that I want the target to have minimum time to react if he sees the torpedo.
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