Newbie here

DeepFried · 12-05-10, 11:24 AM

Hi! I just started playing SHIII yesterday and to be frank i'm struggling with some of the elements of torpedo targeting... now I know there are guides around here and i've read a couple but there are still some things that confuse me no end, hope someone can help.

First i'm playing the vanilla patch 4 (i think) game on steam, I have checked all the realism boxes except map updates (when i'm less confused i'll probably turn this off too).

These are some of the issues that are confusing me:

1) AoB - I understand what it is and what it does but what I don't understand is how the notepad AoB setting interacts with the TDC nor how (or why) the periscope bearing has anything to do with it.
This lack of understanding is probably the reason that the last aft torpedo I fired went at a 90 degree tangent to the solution I thought I'd plotted

2) Where should I start with this game? Do I just jump straight into a career? Ideally I'd like some practice intercepting lone cargo ships and practice with firing solutions, I've just been practising in the academy torpedo training up to now.

3) What is the best angle to attack a ship from if you're following behind? I can nail them ok if I get ahead and lie in wait at a 90 degree tangent to their track (which takes ages to setup) but whenever I fire at them from alongside or behind my torpedoes either miss or seem to just bounce off!

4) Sonar, what are the basic rules for picking up and tracking ships by sonar? I often seem to find my sonar officer picking up ships miles away but refusing to detect a ship right in front of us.

5) And finally what mods do I want? I don't want to mod too heavily and I normally play games vanilla tbh but I want to enhance realism (and possibly graphics). I have an ATI card, a powerful computer and a widescreen monitor (is there anyway to get the game to go widescreen or change the resolution?)

Sorry for all the questions but any help appreciated!

Edit: I should probably say i've not played a sub or naval sim before so its all a bit new.

desirableroasted · 12-05-10, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepFried

Hi! I just started playing SHIII yesterday and to be frank i'm struggling with some of the elements of torpedo targeting... now I know there are guides around here and i've read a couple but there are still some things that confuse me no end, hope someone can help.

First i'm playing the vanilla patch 4 (i think) game on steam, I have checked all the realism boxes except map updates (when i'm less confused i'll probably turn this off too).

These are some of the issues that are confusing me:

1) AoB - I understand what it is and what it does but what I don't understand is how the notepad AoB setting interacts with the TDC nor how (or why) the periscope bearing has anything to do with it.
This lack of understanding is probably the reason that the last aft torpedo I fired went at a 90 degree tangent to the solution I thought I'd plotted

2) Where should I start with this game? Do I just jump straight into a career? Ideally I'd like some practice intercepting lone cargo ships and practice with firing solutions, I've just been practising in the academy torpedo training up to now.

3) What is the best angle to attack a ship from if you're following behind? I can nail them ok if I get ahead and lie in wait at a 90 degree tangent to their track (which takes ages to setup) but whenever I fire at them from alongside or behind my torpedoes either miss or seem to just bounce off!

4) Sonar, what are the basic rules for picking up and tracking ships by sonar? I often seem to find my sonar officer picking up ships miles away but refusing to detect a ship right in front of us.

5) And finally what mods do I want? I don't want to mod too heavily and I normally play games vanilla tbh but I want to enhance realism (and possibly graphics). I have an ATI card, a powerful computer and a widescreen monitor (is there anyway to get the game to go widescreen or change the resolution?)

Sorry for all the questions but any help appreciated!

Edit: I should probably say i've not played a sub or naval sim before so its all a bit new.

You are going to get a ton of useful advice here (this is one of the most helpful forums I have ever seen). Our advice won't agree (it's a tough game), but I'll go first...

5) Learn the game first without modding up. The exception would be SH3 Commander, which mods on with no ill affects, and lets you manage your crew better and keep a record of your patrols.

4) Your hydrophone equipment detects best from the sides. Immediately in front or behind.. rarely.

3) From behind (or in front), I would use a magnetic pistol and set the torpedo for about a meter under. You will get some failures. And some wonderful kerplosians.

2) Jump into a career and play, Die. Rinse again.

1) Until you learn the game thoroughly, manual targeting may be a stretch.

Good luck and hunting!

Mittelwaechter · 12-05-10, 02:05 PM

To your 'sonar' problems:

the hydrophone is a passive device to pick up audible contacts. The active sonar will be availible later in war. Depending on your speed, the weather conditions and the contact speed the range of your hydrophone version differs. Your hydrophone operator becomes better with experience, rank and higher decoration.

The basic hydrophone has quite big deaf spots in front and behind the U-Boot. The hydrophone upgrades minimize them.

As long as your periscope is up and/or you can see your next contact your hydrophone operator will refuse to report that contact. You have to lower it completely to make him call out the contact again.

If you ask for constant tracking of the contact, he'll continue to report even if you rise your periscope.

Jimbuna · 12-05-10, 03:05 PM

Play the game stock/vanilla for a while until you become more proficient, then get a supermod, my choice would obviously be GWX.

TarJak · 12-05-10, 04:04 PM

If you want a bit of practise do the training missions first before jumping into career. That's what they are for. You can revisit them as much as you like to let you try different things.

Don't go the whole hog with manual targetting until you've practised a bit with assistance on. Once you feel confident and getting a hit is easy with the helpers, then disable them one at a time and allow yourself time to practise until you are proficient with each one turned off.

Read up on the manuals a

If your goal is full realism with manual targetting, then GWX with MaGui is the way to go mod wise.

Wilkommen zu Subsim und Gute Jagd!

Sailor Steve · 12-05-10, 04:07 PM

WELCOME ABOARD!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarJak

If you want a bit of practise do the training missions first before jumping into career. That's what they are for. You can revisit them as much as you like to let you try different things.

The Torpedo Training mission sets you up with five targets, and you can practice submerged and surface attacks until you feel comfortable with it.

12-05-10, 11:24 AM	#1
DeepFried Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 12 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Newbie here Hi! I just started playing SHIII yesterday and to be frank i'm struggling with some of the elements of torpedo targeting... now I know there are guides around here and i've read a couple but there are still some things that confuse me no end, hope someone can help. First i'm playing the vanilla patch 4 (i think) game on steam, I have checked all the realism boxes except map updates (when i'm less confused i'll probably turn this off too). These are some of the issues that are confusing me: 1) AoB - I understand what it is and what it does but what I don't understand is how the notepad AoB setting interacts with the TDC nor how (or why) the periscope bearing has anything to do with it. This lack of understanding is probably the reason that the last aft torpedo I fired went at a 90 degree tangent to the solution I thought I'd plotted 2) Where should I start with this game? Do I just jump straight into a career? Ideally I'd like some practice intercepting lone cargo ships and practice with firing solutions, I've just been practising in the academy torpedo training up to now. 3) What is the best angle to attack a ship from if you're following behind? I can nail them ok if I get ahead and lie in wait at a 90 degree tangent to their track (which takes ages to setup) but whenever I fire at them from alongside or behind my torpedoes either miss or seem to just bounce off! 4) Sonar, what are the basic rules for picking up and tracking ships by sonar? I often seem to find my sonar officer picking up ships miles away but refusing to detect a ship right in front of us. 5) And finally what mods do I want? I don't want to mod too heavily and I normally play games vanilla tbh but I want to enhance realism (and possibly graphics). I have an ATI card, a powerful computer and a widescreen monitor (is there anyway to get the game to go widescreen or change the resolution?) Sorry for all the questions but any help appreciated! Edit: I should probably say i've not played a sub or naval sim before so its all a bit new.

12-05-10, 02:05 PM	#3
Mittelwaechter The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,304 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	To your 'sonar' problems: the hydrophone is a passive device to pick up audible contacts. The active sonar will be availible later in war. Depending on your speed, the weather conditions and the contact speed the range of your hydrophone version differs. Your hydrophone operator becomes better with experience, rank and higher decoration. The basic hydrophone has quite big deaf spots in front and behind the U-Boot. The hydrophone upgrades minimize them. As long as your periscope is up and/or you can see your next contact your hydrophone operator will refuse to report that contact. You have to lower it completely to make him call out the contact again. If you ask for constant tracking of the contact, he'll continue to report even if you rise your periscope. __________________ 10 happy wolves rear 90 blinded, ensnared sheep. 90 happy sheep banish the wolves. Arrest the 1% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6hg1oNeGE

12-05-10, 03:05 PM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Play the game stock/vanilla for a while until you become more proficient, then get a supermod, my choice would obviously be GWX. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

12-05-10, 04:04 PM	#5
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	If you want a bit of practise do the training missions first before jumping into career. That's what they are for. You can revisit them as much as you like to let you try different things. Don't go the whole hog with manual targetting until you've practised a bit with assistance on. Once you feel confident and getting a hit is easy with the helpers, then disable them one at a time and allow yourself time to practise until you are proficient with each one turned off. Read up on the manuals a If your goal is full realism with manual targetting, then GWX with MaGui is the way to go mod wise. Wilkommen zu Subsim und Gute Jagd!