Target practice

[jason210]

I've set up a mission to include some easy-to-hit moving targets. I used freighters from my own side. The purpose is test my manual solutions. However, the targets seem to spot my torpedo wakes and slow down, which messes everything up.

How can I ensure that the my targets stick to the speed I specified and ignore my incomings?

[magic452]

Two ways to handle this. One real one not.
Real
I'll put one torpedo at or in front of the bow, the target will react to that torpedo and will hold speed or slow, get her to commit to a course of action. Adjust the other torpedoes to account for the action, shoot towards the stern.
Your other fish will do the killing. You waste one but most likely get a kill.
Not so real.
Change your mission to night, little or no moon.
Won't see them coming.


Magic

[jason210]

Originally Posted by magic452

Two ways to handle this. One real one not.
Real
I'll put one torpedo at or in front of the bow, the target will react to that torpedo and will hold speed or slow, get her to commit to a course of action. Adjust the other torpedoes to account for the action, shoot towards the stern.
Your other fish will do the killing. You waste one but most likely get a kill.
Not so real.
Change your mission to night, little or no moon.
Won't see them coming.

Magic

It would have to be option 2, since my objective is not to destroy the ship, but to test out my solutions.

[jerm138]

This is just a guess...

But it might help if you change the targets crew rating to 'poor' in the properties. Maybe add a little fog too, to reduce their visibility.

Also, I've noticed that carriers don't change speed nearly as quickly as smaller ships.

Of course, setting it up at night is probably the easiest solution.

[Admiral8Q]

Use the Mark 18 torpedoes. They don't leave a wake.

[jason210]

Originally Posted by jerm138

This is just a guess...

But it might help if you change the targets crew rating to 'poor' in the properties. Maybe add a little fog too, to reduce their visibility.

Also, I've noticed that carriers don't change speed nearly as quickly as smaller ships.

Of course, setting it up at night is probably the easiest solution.

Thanks, already tried it Poor setting

Originally Posted by Admiral8Q

Use the Mark 18 torpedoes. They don't leave a wake.

Good one. I never thought of that.

[dougdrvr]

Slighty OT, but does the low speed setting on MK14s leave a less visable wake?

[jason210]

Crew of target vessel, set to poor. Night, overcast, no moon.

Type 14 torpedo, high speed. Ship spots it and slows slows down...

So it looks like it's not possible with this torpedo at least.

[Admiral8Q]

Originally Posted by dougdrvr

Slighty OT, but does the low speed setting on MK14s leave a less visable wake?

No.

It's steam propelled no matter what speed it's set at. Realistically there would probably be more of a wake at the slow speed setting.

[jason210]

I fixed the problem now. I had not set any waypoints to the target, so although it started off at the initial correct speed, it was slowing down all the time. By adding a waypoint with a speed, the target behaves as expected. Now I am having 100% hit rate with my whizz wheel.

The only problem now is that I am unable to use the whizz wheel with none zero gyro angles. I guess this is because the gyro angle doesn't kick in until after a few hundred yards, and therefore the actual angle to the target from the periscope is slightly different to the gryo angle.

Does anyone know what the exact distance is the torpedo travels before the gyro angle preset kicks in?

[Admiral8Q]

Mark 10 Torpedo

• Date In Service: About 1918
• Weight: 2,215 lbs. (1,005 kg)
• Length: 15 ft 3 in (4.953 m)
• Warhead: 497 lbs. (225 kg) TNT
• Range / Speed: 3,500 yards (3,200 m) / 36 knots
• Propulsion: Steam

Mark 14 Torpedo

• Date In Service: 1931
• Weight: 3,280 lbs. (1,488 kg)
• Length: 20 ft 6 in (6.248 m)
• Warhead: 643 lbs. (292 kg) Torpex
• Range / Speed: 4,500 yards (4,100 m) / 46 knots; 9,000 yards (8,200 m) / 31 knots
• Propulsion: Steam

Mark 18 Torpedo

• Date In Service: 1944
• Weight: 3,154 lbs. (1,431 kg)
• Length: 20 ft 5 in (6.223 m)
• Warhead: 575 lbs. (261 kg) Torpex
• Range / Speed: 4,000 yards (3,650 m) / 29 knots
• Propulsion: Electric-Battery

[Admiral8Q]

Originally Posted by jason210

Does anyone know what the exact distance is the torpedo travels before the gyro angle preset kicks in?

Sorry, I misread that. The Gyro kicks in at about 200-300 yards.

[jason210]

Don't apologise - that was a handy summary. Thanks!

[Admiral8Q]

Originally Posted by jason210

Don't apologise - that was a handy summary. Thanks!

Yes Sir!!!