I've actually done all the trigonometry for shooting without range to target. Its pretty simple.
You want you firing tubes perpendicular with target course.
Example: Target is on course 180 degrees. You want to be on a heading of 090 or 270. (you actually have some lee way here...but that is another topic). Get in a spot about 1000 yards from the predicted track of the target perpendicular to him and wait.
Plot his speed as best you can because his speed is the one important factor.
Most importantly, DO NOT put anything into the TDC. You want the torpedo to fire at zero gyro angle (where you are pointing)
Calculate firing angle by taking his speed and add 30%
Example: Target speed is 10 knots. 30 percent of 10 is 3. Firing angle is 13 degrees before Zero bearing. Put you periscope (or watch sound bearings on attack map) on 13 degrees or 347 (depending on which side the target is approaching from). Fire when the part of the ship you want to hit crosses the periscope center wire.
IT IS CRITICAL that the torpedo doors are open with this method. Doors closed means you have to consider the 3 - 5 second door opening time which makes the math more complex.
I've done spreadsheets for firing using this method with doors open and doors closed. Doors Closed requires a range to target however.
Works like a charm. I've got a tutorial written up including training missions I made and firing angle charts that I've let a couple folks use but I've never put them up for public consumption.
If anyone is interested drop me a PM and I'll send it off to you.
I use it and it works and is much easier than using the TDC.
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