Newbie questions

[esperdiv]

I've been lurking here for a while (since the SH3 days). Got myself SH4 but since I am a complete newbie , I'd like to ask the more experienced skippers a few questions.

1) How can I access the observation periscope? I seem to have commands to raise/lower it but I cannot find where to access it. The manual shows an Icon under the periscope section which I cannot see in the game's UI.
2) How do you guys estimate ship speed? A quick way to do it (in under 30 seconds would be great).
3) I don't really understand how to properly use the recognition manual. Since the checkmark is "ticked" by default, does that mean that I just have to find the right page, or should I still "check" it?

Thanks a lot.