Quote:
Originally Posted by USS CUTTHROAT SS-365
Bubblehead1980,
Thank you so much for your Reply, and the thorough explanations!
After sleeping on it for a night, I came to the conclusion that my issues come strictly from trying (or wanting) to get too ahead of myself. I'm wanting to get into the hunt and I'm trying to fire torpedoes without knowing or understanding the underlying theories behind making a successful MANUAL Firing Solution.
It's a simple case of putting the cart before the horse, and the end result is that I have a lot, lot more to learn before I even attempt to think about Manual Targeting! That's why Submarine School is part of the Sim...
Read the Manual, read the Manual, read the Manual. I have to learn how to crawl before learning to walk. Nothing is truer than your statement. 
Thanks again!
Alan  |
You're welcome, I figured it would be like that, it happens often. Honestly, I was guilty of it back in 2008/2009 when started with SH 4. I quickly realized had to crawl before could walk but thanks to a excellent community here, I caught on pretty quick.
Aside from the manual, especially, the part of operating the TDC/PK, targeting/firing torpedoes. Supplement your basic knowledge with reading
"CLEAR THE BRIDGE!" and WAHOO! by Rear Admiral Richard O Kane. O Kane was CO of USS Tang and XO on the USS Wahoo under "Mush" Morton during the war and considered top US Submarine CO of the war.
O Kanes memoirs actually explain firing procedures and have great diagrams in there.
THUNDER BELOW by Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, CO of USS Barb, another top skipper.
Silent Victory by Clay Blair
Published first in 1975 but I believe has been updated.
In depth review of submarine war in the paciifc.
Torpedoman by Ron Smith, gives the enlisted perspective in this memoir.
Smith was on the USS Seal SS-183, one of the older boats.
Submarine Operations in WW II by Theodore Roscoe. Published long ago so its dated in some ways, such as some subs missing then have since located on ocean floor etc but still great piece of work.
The memoirs give great first hand accounts and include important information as mentioned and are quite enjoyable.
Also, you can rad the actual war patrol reports filed by CO's after patrol at:
https://www.hnsa.org/manuals-documen...atrol-reports/
Also, you can learn from other skippers in SH 4 by reading patrol reports and experiences at the link below. In real life, the patrol reports were kept available for sub captains and officers, circulated so they could learn from one another.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=107786
All serve to give a great base of knowledge, much of which can be applied to this sim, especially in the mods. I know in TMO Update I worked to make as much of real world tactics applicable, more than already were to the sim.
Finally,
Don't give up because even after years, frustration is still part of the SH 4 experience lol .This held true for actual submariners as well. Nothing like having the perfect shot at a rare target like a carrier and torpedoed malfunctioning, or locating perfect target, but not in deal position, and due to limitations of submarine, cant get into position or other numerous factors conspiring to prevent your glory lol. Then, you have those "I love it when a plan comes together" moments and things work out. Patrolling for days on end with no contacts, then boom comes a convoy end up in a 48-72 hour running battle with, expending all torpedoes, sinking some ships. Really is a lot of fun, worth learning the sim so can get to that point.