This game has a steep learning curve. I'd advise "cheating", to learn each aspect of the game. If you go 100% realism at first, you will get frustrated and quit. There aren't "cheats", per se, but you can tick off/on different game parameters to suit your needs.
Manual plotting/targeting in this game is not a skill you will learn overnight, it takes practice and work to figure it out.
We're here to help with any part!
and Welcome!