Follow up to my main point:
Yesterday I ran across a 10,000 ton tanker that I could not possibly get within range of due to persistant air cover.
I decided to try for a 4000 foot shot using slow settings.
I did the 2 stadimeter range esitmates, asked for speed and course estimates, input them, turned on PK,adjusted AoB and fired four fish.
My jaw dropped as I watched all four slam into the tanker amidships.
I'm convinced now, beyond any doubt, that manual targeting was "fixed" in 1.5..at least the Gold Edition. Before I would never ever have attempted a shot like that..much less got it to succeed...