I undertook a simple experiment to determine whether the range was important. This was the procedure I followed:
First, I set my TDC speed to zero and turned the bearing until the gyroangle read 000. This is the "true zero" bearing, which on my screen is a hair to the right of the 0º on the slightly-raised observation scope.
Next I set the range for 300 (the minimum), speed 10 knots, AOB 90º Port (I'm currently following a ship and 90º port will be the final AOB at the moment of impact [fingers crossed]). At that point I set the TDC, returned to the observation scope, and turned the scope until the gyroangle read zero.
Next I returned to the TDC, and changed the range to 50,000m. I reset the TDC and returned to the observation scope. The gyroangle now reads 359.
Accordingly I conclude, as a practical matter independent of math concerns, that range can matter in the game I am playing but that such variance will be slight and will not matter for most shots.
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