WELCOME to SubSim!!
Yes Capt. EJ, the target bearing is from the periscope position. That's why its advisable to "lock" the target within the periscope view when making the Stadimeter check, and "sending" the data to the TDC/Position Keeper. Both Stadimeter calculated
range and periscope
relative bearing (wherever the periscope is pointing) are
sent at the same time.
The game is very forgiving. Up close, manual targeting is almost a "can't miss". Further away, that's another story. Mainly because many of the Mast Height measurements are inaccurate. Their not accurate....so the Stadimeter measurements aren't accurate either. The fact that the Stadimeter also throws in an automatic error if you're making a Stadimeter reading with just
one pixel width off from where it should be also makes an inaccurate reading. Putting both of these factors together, you're just not going to get a correct range calculation. What you
will get is a hit, regardless of the range inaccuracy, if your close to the target.
How wide is one pixel width? The stock games Telemeter Divisions (the marks on the periscope lens) are two pixel widths wide. You better have a steady hand when mouse clicking the Stadimeter placement....just a slight movement will produce dozens of yards inaccuracy. Those Telemeter Divisions are no help either....their not scaled to the "world view" the stock game gives us. That's why there's little instruction in using the divisions for measuring.....the game optical world view is way off from what it should be.
For more reading on the subject, look to the thread "
Optical Targeting Correction".
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Yes, the stock game is messed up with the medals/awards too!! Here's a recent thread called "
Messed up medals".