Help w/ manual targeting

[dmlavan]

I've just "rediscovered" SH3 w/ the awesome GWX mod, and have started using manual targeting for more realism. I've read Wahoo's great tutorial - it's taught me almost everything I know about it. However, I've noticed my solutions are much more successfull at 400-500m than 1000m, and am beginning to think I'm doing something wrong and getting lucky at close range because the error is not compounded as much. 99% of the time I'm using what Wahoo called the "Fast 90" targeting method.
1. Prior to "locking in" the firing solution, I understand you should center the periscope/UZO on 000/180 then set the gyro angle (dial on the left of the TDC) to 000/180 also.
2. What if I want to "lead" the target, i.e. shoot before he's perpendicular so the torpedoes arrive when he is perpendicular? Do I set the scope/UZO to the desired bearing and then set the gyro angle to that same angle (as well as adjust the AOB to whatever AOB the target would be when I fire)? For example, if the target is passing left to right, I would set the scope to 350 and the gyro angle to 350, then fire when the desired part of the target passes through the center of the scope.
Hope that all made sense, and thanks in advance for any help.

[Hitman]

However, I've noticed my solutions are much more successfull at 400-500m than 1000m, and am beginning to think I'm doing something wrong and getting lucky at close range because the error is not compounded as much.

No that's perfectly correct and it is what happened in real life. Shooting closer is the best way of minimizing any errors, and german Kaleuns mostly fired under 1000 metres if possible. Some very skilled ones like Gunter Hessler however became famous for being able to shoot at very long ranges (Up to 2000 metres) and with deadly accurancy, but those were exceptions.

1. Prior to "locking in" the firing solution, I understand you should center the periscope/UZO on 000/180 then set the gyro angle (dial on the left of the TDC) to 000/180 also.

You set the AOB, not the gyro angle. The TDC was specifically created in real life exactly for making an automated calculation or the gyro angle.
The bearing dial will always move the AOB together with it, but the AOB dial will not move the bearing dial. Thus you must ensure that at 0 bearing the AOB of the enemy is 90 degrees in the dial, and then you can move the bearing left or right to seek the target -it will update the AOB as already mentioned-. Of course this works only if your course and the target's course are exactly perpendicular (90º).

2. What if I want to "lead" the target, i.e. shoot before he's perpendicular so the torpedoes arrive when he is perpendicular? Do I set the scope/UZO to the desired bearing and then set the gyro angle to that same angle (as well as adjust the AOB to whatever AOB the target would be when I fire)? For example, if the target is passing left to right, I would set the scope to 350 and the gyro angle to 350, then fire when the desired part of the target passes through the center of the scope.

Asuming you are on a course 90º to the target's course, you set up the TDC as follows:

1.- Bearing dial to zero
2.- AOB dial to 90º port or starbord, depending on which side of the target you are
3.- Target Speed

Then you just go to the scope or UZO and move it until you find your target. The AOB will be automatically updated, no need to do anything else than choose the bearing at which you want to fire and wait until the target passes thorugh your crosshair. HINT: If you have a good firing solution (Speed mostly) you can wait until the desired part of the ship goes through the crosshair (F.e. engines under the stack) to fire, so the torpedo will hit there.

Hope that helps

[dmlavan]

Hitman,
That makes perfect sense. Appreciate the explanation... time to go hunting. Thanks!

[CanuckBoat]

Hitman is 100% correct. I wanted to add a few things that would further clarify things (which I found out after some meditative thinking after playing SHIII):

a) The TDC's role is to provide a firing solution given the inputs of target AOB, bearing, speed and range (though range seems to play less on an impact). THe additional input required is the torpedo SPEED.

b) The firing solution provided by the TDC comes in the form of a single number: GYRO ANGLE. The GYRO ANGLE is the angle on which the torpedo has to turn after you fire at this very second in order to impact an object at the specified bearing if the assumption that AOB, speed and range of the target does NOT change between the time you enter those inputs and the impact point. In essence, the TDC almost always (see point f) below for the exception) calculates the "LEAD" that you require to hit every target.

c) In order to make sure that assumption in b) holds true, we must not do things that will alert the target so that he/she will change any of those inputs (speed, course (which changes AOB)). Things like moving forward very fast towards the enemy after firing, using steam torpedoes in the daytime (which alerts the enemy of the attack and they will alter course to dodge), etc. all help to violate the assumption in b) which leads to a miss. The CLOSER you are to your target when you fire, it is more difficult for the target to change course enough to violate assumption b) which means you can still hit the target.

d) The "update" feature in the TDC was a source of confusion for me earlier. I finally figured it out. What you enter into the TDC if you use the notepad or if you switch the update feature to "0" is the CURRENT AOB of the target at that bearing. When you turn on the update feature (switch it to "1"), the TDC will recalculate the AOB based on the bearing from the periscope or UZO. For example if you look at at ship at bearing 0 from you and you determine that the AOB is 90 degrees to its starboard. You enter this into the TDC using the notepad or with update feature to "0". Then you turn on the update feature. When the target gets to bearing 45 degrees, the AOB should be 135 degrees to its starboard. Turn your periscope to bearing 45 and you will see that AOB on the TDC will be 135 degrees to its starboard REGARDLESS whether or not the target is there. This update of the AOB by the TDC is based on the assumption that the target does not change its course (the target can change its speed, in this case and the AOB calulated by the TDC in this case is still correct).

e) The higher the Gyro angle when you fire, the more likely you will miss. This is because the torpedo has to execute a turn and you are introducing another variable that could go wrong into the whole situation. To circumvent this, I use whatever method is appropriate for me to get the inputs into the TDC (AOB, speed, range). I then specify the type of torpedo setting (speed, pistol, spread if applicable). Then I turn on update feature on the TDC (turn the dial towards "1", insteadof "0"). I turn my periscope or UZO until the gyro angle reads 0. I confirm that the enemy is actually heading towards my crosshairs. I open my torpedo tubes. I take a quick stadimeter reading or update the range from the watch officer. I update the range in the TDC. When the juicy part of the ship touches my crosshair, CTRL-ENTER = LOS=FIRE!. The next part depends if there are warships present and if I am feeling lucky / daring. If there are no warships present or if I am feeling lucky, I will rotate my periscope/UZO towards bearing 0. Why 0? that's because at gyro angle 0, the torpedo is leaving the tube and travelling straight. I look at the stopwatch. If all my estimates are correct, the spot on the ship that I want to hit will touch my crosshairs at bearing 0 when the stopwatch hits the red part. Enjoy the fireworks.
What I just described for GYRO ANGLE 0 is ALWAYS what you should strive for. If you miss, it is with errors with speed and most likely AOB as well.

f) you can turn your torpedoes into point and shoot devices. To do this, just enter a speed of 0 knots into the TDC. This means that whatever bearing you point at, the TDC will give you the SAME GYRO ANGLE. This setting of point and shoot is useful in situations where you can eyeball a shot and/or do not have time to estimate all the parameters (AOB, speed, range) needed by the TDC. It is also useful in a common tactical situation of you being BEHIND/INFRONT of the target and the target is moving directly AWAY/TOWARDS you. Fire a torpedo with magnetic setting and you should be able to hit the target.