I've heard lots of rumblings about the radar being broken. I've been in a "Sugar" boat from day one, so I didn't pay much attention to the squal breeze.
Today I was assigned to a Sargo class and finally got the opportunity to try out the radar on a target about 555 nm east of Honshu (Just in A/C range).
The PPI picked up a single contact off our port bow, so I order CC and came to new heading 272T.
Here's what the PPI picked up:
First thing I noticed was the "happy face"...no big deal; but, more importantly, no compass bearings or range increments....still, no big deal.
I happen to have one of, Kim Ronhoff's Rapid Plotters from my SH1 days, so I plucked it out of the desk drawer and laid it on the face of my paused radar screen to obtain Br 011 Relative.
It's seen some action over the years and has been 'round the horn, as they say.
Warning: math.
Next thing I noticed was the face of the PPI measured 5 cm diameter on my computer flatscreen display. All I'm interested in was the radius of 2.5 cm.
Next I took a pair of dividers and spanned from the center of target blip to the center of the "O" scope. (Yes, I was careful with the points of the dividers) It measured 1.4 cm.
Ratio and proportion to determine range. 2.5 : 40,000 : : 1.4 :
22,400.
Since the, Ronhoff, Mk 8 Plotter is calibrated in 1, 2, 5, & 10 min. tracks, I timed the plot for 5 min. and replotted, see below. The Plotter is D/L able from the Pacific Thunder Campaign, I highly recommend it.
I then switch over to the A-scope radar and confirmed my ranges.