A goal of mine has been to accurately preform manual targeting duties using instruments like the Omnimeter. I made the "Angle on Bow Calculator" to do just that when this game was released. It helps in finding target bearings and headings when certain known factors are used. In my opinion, the Omnimeter can help in several ways to find range to target and AoB by just using the scope's Telemeter markings and calculating the relationship between what you see and the true measurement of the targets height and length. To this end I wrote Gino to help in what he had regarding the Omnimeter.
As this post leads off, his assistance of the images of the U.S.S. Cod's Omnimeter was greatly appreciated. The referenced use of the Omnimeter can be found
HERE in the United States official document called "Submarine Torpedo Fire Control Manual", dated May, 1950. The document has been invaluable in determining what the real life scopes "field of view" and "magnification" should be to accurately give figures for the Omnimeter to use. Scroll down to Chapter 5 to find how the "range omnimeter" is used (by the way, the "Approach Officer" is you, the Captain). I do admit, some of the figures the manual uses are inaccurate when you do the math!! Who the heck were the proof readers for these kinds of manuals!?! I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but it's safe to say the games optics are
not correct and will not produce a correct figure for an authentic tool as the Omnimeter to use. This isn't surprising considering the mast head heights used in the game are off target as well (that was why I created SCAF, to correct height figures at key reference points).
Anyway, my first task is to create a working Omnimeter in-game then calculate the correct "field of view", magnification, then find the correct ship length similar to finding the correct height and adding it to the Recognition Manual. I'll combine the SCAF height figures to allow the player to use a set of Length and Height figures for each ship to accurately use the Telemeter scope marking and Onmimeter to figure Range and AoB.
This first task is complete. The following images show a circular Omnimeter which can be pulled out/in with the "Attack Data Tool". The two working dials (both having the lighter grey color) can be manipulated separately with little interference from other dials. The outer A.O.B. dial is moved with the use of the Attack Data Tool AoB dial. Just mouse drag the AoB dial. The inner Telemeter High/Low Power scale dial can be moved by mousing the Height / Length area of the dial.
This is an image of the game at the standard 1024x768 resolution:
This is with a resolution of 1280x1024:
I think the size I'm using is the best compromise for the game resolutions we're given. Needless to say, there's still work to be done. Going over all ships to find correct length will take some time but the placement of an Omnimeter in-game is the biggest part now out of the way.
I'm planning on calling the modification "Manual Targeting Assist". I'll be putting a WIP thread together soon to go over what I'm doing.
Best regards.