Quote:
Originally Posted by 0rpheus
More prep is exactly it. There will be some weather situations, especially when using supermods like TMO, that you just can't get a visual on the target. Heavy fog, rain and moonless nights can all ruin a potential attack, forcing you to rely on sonar/radar ranging (a whole different kettle of fish entirely). I've turned off quite a few convoys after tracking them through days of 200m visibility weather - leaves a sour taste in the mouth! 
CapnScurvy's Optical Targeting Correction mod greatly improves the manual targeting experience too - well worth a look 
EDIT: just remembered: even with manual targeting, you can ID the target by locking them in the periscope ('L' key) and clicking the ID Target button. It might take a few goes to work, but it will get it eventually. 'Course you need a visual on the target to do this, but it can save you a few seconds if you're in a hurry. |
The ID target button? Where is that?
I believe I solved the original problem in another way (i.e., shooting at unknown targets whose speed and course is known). Reached a similar firing position on my current patrol. Escorted target, large but unidentified (turned out to be an old passenger carrier). The seas were so high that if was difficult to keep the periscope locked; yet, I knew the target's speed and course.
I simply drew a triangle: 36-unit leg on the vertical axis, representing torpedo speed; 7-unit leg on the horizontal axis, representing target speed. The two legs must meet, no? The handy protractor tool gave an 11-degree separation from the bottom of the vertical leg to the outward point on the horizontal leg.
I maneuvered the boat to a perfect 90-degree angle, zeroed out the TDC, and determined to fire torpedoes when the target reached a bearing of 11 degrees. (It would have been a bearing of 349 degrees had the target approached from the left).
After a minute, I realized that I didn't even need the periscope. The sonar was tracking the target --- so I dived to 90 feet, fired two fish when target bearing reached 11 degrees. Two torpedo impacts, target destroyed.
Actually, as the target was approaching the firing reticle, the bearing changed so quickly that the sonar operator was calling out two-degree intervals. I fired the first torpedo when the target reached a bearing of 12 degrees, trusting to luck and my close firing range.
Surely some others have hit upon this method also...
I will definitely grab CapnScurvy's optical targeting mod!