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Originally Posted by John Pancoast
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Originally Posted by Steeltrap
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Originally Posted by John Pancoast
Thanks for the great aid.........but question. You stated you noticed you and the target would arrive at the intercept point at the same time.
How do you know what time the target will get there ? His est speed/distance to point ?
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It's because this method solves for an intercept point using plots based on the same 'distance per kt of speed'. In essance you're solving:
"What course do I need to set so that the target and I arrive at the SAME POINT at the SAME TIME?"
Without going into the underlying trig, your intercept course will get you at YOUR speed to the same point the target will get at ITS speed in an identical amount of time - hence you will get there together. Plotted/calculated perfectly, you would actually collide.....:rotfl:
That's why the 'intercept speed x initial proportionality measure' circle is centred on the initial plot line for the target:
i.e. 1km per kt of speed of target = 6km line based on target's speed of 6kts
Hence, at an intercept speed of 12kts the 'proportionate circle' is a radius of 12 x 1 = 12kms, and this is centred on the point along the target plot 6km from initial plot point.
Hope that answered your question without making it more confusing! |
Great info. thanks ! Looks like I was making it harder than it actually is 
So basically, since you always want to get to the intercept point before the target, you must always travel to that point at a greater speed than what you used as a reference when plotting the intercept point, correct ? |
Theoretically, with all measurements perfect and plotting perfect, your intercept will result in you colliding (as I mentioned).
This won't really happen as the measurements/plotting won't be that exact. The real point is that you will know that,
worst case, you'll be getting there when the target does. That means you just adjust things based on weather conditions (for example, if the weather is poor you'll want to be able to submerge so you can hear the contact approaching). For better weather, especially with the 16km visibility enhancement, you'll see the target in plenty of time.
Another thing you can do is see how much time you've got to get to your target point based on your planned speed, then increase speed for the last few hours. This should have you sitting around the area a few hours in advance. If I do that, I then plot a course back toward the target's known location then proceed at slow speed at 25m depth - you'll hear it on your hydrophone out to 20km easily.