AOB Confusion and OLC's GUI

[Pebble Monkey]

I shouldn't find this hard, I can grasp the concepts fairly easily, but for some reason I can't manage to get it right. I know this has been gone over on the forums before, but after searching I can't seem to find the answer.

Situation:

I'm stationary, tracking a target moving towards me, if I remain stationary he'll pass to my front, going from my startboard to port side. This means I'm on his port side. All good so far.

I'm using OLC's GUI btw, and really trying to get a handle on manual plotting and targetting.

In the last instance, my calculations give me an AOB of 30 degrees. Now then, I know that the AOB should be on the red side, for port, but where do I measure the 30 degrees from? I'm assuming from 0. This all seems fine until I use the attack disk to calculate his course. I've checked and rechecked that I'm doing it right (rewatching the video tutorial), but I can't seem to get anything but nonsensical course values.

Couple of other questions about OLC's GUI. SOmetimes I get really bad range errors, even when checkign from fairly close range. I've checked that I'm in the correct optics zoom, so it isn't that. Are some of the doubled mast values in the recognition manual off? Or do I just need to work harder to get it right?

Lastly, I'd like a larger pop out compass, I liked the big compass rose like the one in GWX, I find setting an accurate course much easier with it. I'd also like to have the relative bearing and heading disk added back to the ownship mark on the map. Is it possible for me to add these mods that do this without messing up the GUI? or is it something I'm just going to have to get used to?

[pickinthebanjo]

I used that GUI in the past but then I moved to the ACM Reloaded GUI (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...=155366&page=7) It succeeds OLC GUI.

-Anyway, the way I intercept enemy contacts is first by going to the bridge (or periscope if submerged) and making an observation (Range and Bearing) then marking it on my map.
-Around an hour later I take another Observation, again marking it on my map.
-Then I connect the marks, measuring the distance it traveled in that hour which I can later use to determine speed, but that line also shows you the ships bearing which you can use to intercept at a 90 degree angle.

Using that method, I can usually get within 500m of where the ship is supposed to be headed, even if it is like 8 miles away (any further and I can't really obtain viable observations.)

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by Pebble Monkey

...
Couple of other questions about OLC's GUI. SOmetimes I get really bad range errors, even when checkign from fairly close range. I've checked that I'm in the correct optics zoom, so it isn't that. Are some of the doubled mast values in the recognition manual off? Or do I just need to work harder to get it right?
...

It depends on what version you have exactly. The realy old ones required the mastheight to be doubled, initially by mental calculations, but later somebody made a tool that turned it into a mod-let. At some point in the version history OLC decided he didn't like how the views looked with high magnifications so he decided on a single magnification level. So the doubled mastheight got incorporated in the scale. There have been some ships with inaccurates mastheights. Maybe you got unlucky with the wrong ones. Damned if I know which ones. NKBL???? If I only knew which name it had.

Other than that it all begins with setting the level on the propper waterline location. That's usually why people got it wrong, and ended up with an observed half length beyond the 90 mark. Or they turned the periscope while setting the AOB (like with locked-on-target scope). Never move the scope or UZO when the TDC dial panel is open! If you can provide a screendump of a situation where you get similar failed attempt maybe we can help identify further. [EDIT] Sometimes the mast is too thin to be displayed by pixels so it get's clipped at the top. So the shown mast is alot smaller than the real mast would look. How to solve? Nothing simple I'm afraid. The higher resolution (widescreen)mods could fix it but OLC's GUIs are not designed for it so look streched out. Everyting will look squashed. Another solution would be to determine the height of the smokestack in meters, as that is wide enough not to get clipped. But there is no ingame data for it. I think Makman once made a mod correcting mastheight, to make then smokestack heights for merchants, but not sure if it is compatible with OLC's mods. The simplest solution is to measure the range closer, but that comes with added risk.

If you are still in the vicinity of home water maybe you can try out some target practise on friendly vessels. There you can safely stay surfaced and ask your watchofficer for an accurate range(and bearing as bonus ) to compare with your own stadimeter/rangefinder attempt. If you deliberately set the torpedo depth somewhat below the keel depth and fire an impact torpedo, then you can even try out shooting it. Just follow it with torpedo cam or chase it with the freecam. And pray it doesn't fall of a swell.

Lastly, I'd like a larger pop out compass, I liked the big compass rose like the one in GWX, I find setting an accurate course much easier with it. I'd also like to have the relative bearing and heading disk added back to the ownship mark on the map. Is it possible for me to add these mods that do this without messing up the GUI? or is it something I'm just going to have to get used to?

These tweaks have certainly been asked before and have been implemented by some. OLC gave aid in explaining what to change here and there. The info should be contained in his several (long) mod-threads. I suggest you use the search function.

[Pebble Monkey]

Thanks for the help guys. changed to the ACm reloaded with OLD GoldII and I seem to be more accurate At least, against the target ships in the Bay at Konigsburg.

Just want to say what a fantastic job the modders have done with this sim. The change from the vanilla game is just astounding.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Pebble Monkey

This all seems fine until I use the attack disk to calculate his course. I've checked and rechecked that I'm doing it right (rewatching the video tutorial), but I can't seem to get anything but nonsensical course values.

Without knowing all the data, I can only take a blind stab. Are you sure you are converting all bearings to True Bearing. This will not affect AoB, of course, but it will affect all other bearing observations. Just a suggestion.

And I would echo what Pisces posted. Try practicing in the harbour. Especially when you have a ship that is not moving so you can practice using the targeting disk. It is not easy, so don't feel bad. But it is worth it.