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Originally Posted by PortsmouthProwler
OK, here's my two cents on targeting:
* I've read a **lot** about WW2 Pacific Ops. Also, I worked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, right on the boats.
* Historical reality: Correct, you want to minimize scope exposure. US doctrine pre-war was submerged sonar attacks - but as soon as the shooting began, they rapidly ashcanned it, 'cuz it didn't work - trying to sink things from 75 feet dowm by sound wasn't a good technique.
* So skippers and officers learned by OJT. Just like the Kriegsmarine found out, the most effective attacks were night surface (see Red Rampage). Also, yes, it's desirable to use the equipment, however, as Dick O'Kane figured out, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
* With experience, a knowledgeable officer can eyeball range and speed. AOB can be within 15 degrees, really; it's the least important element. Remember, they had a good idea of LOA and LWL for most vessels. Hmmm, it just took 5 seconds for a vessel to pass through the hair from stem to stern and she's about 300' LOA - do the arithmetic. In SH 1, I got pretty good at eyeballing range, speed, and AOB. Never bothered with SH2 and got fairly good with SH3, tho' it's harder with water on your scope, etc. Good realism.
* But the single most important consideration is your approach. No quarter, mates, this is all about sneakiness and skullduggery. Find the baseline course for that convoy and 'end-around' it, ambush the bastards every time, if you can. Sneak past those escorts and get to less than 1,000 yards, preferably 750. Errors in your estimates matter little at point-blank range.
* Then get the hell out of there. Destroyers aren't really prizes, what you want is the merchants, and capital ships when you encounter a naval task force.
* And for real historicity, you should be very frustrated and/or dead until the early fall of '43, when the the torpedo problems were finally and truly solved. Until then, you should be gnashing your teeth and cursing BuOrd.
Happy Hunting!
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