Noob Question

[Dave Hansen]

SH4 v1.5 w/RFB 2.0 and RSRD

Okay, I have set the torp speed and run depth for torpedo #1...hit fire button and the torp is in the water...

Now I have to click my mouse button on torp tube #2, then quickly go to the TDC to AGAIN set my torp speed and run depth...but before I can do this I have to remove the stopwatch from the upper left corner of the screen to get to the TDC and make the changes.

Is this what every captain has to do?...or am I missing something as this is my first patrol in the PTO?

I use the constant bearing approach and try to aim my torpedos to hit the target's vulnerable spots as the ship crosses the lead angle crosshair.

Do I have to set the torpedo data for each and every shot...if so I can I avoid the stopwatch appearing over the TDC?

TXS

[razark]

I use TMO myself, so I'm not absolutely certain. There should be keys set up to cycle through the tubes. When conducting an attack, I go through and open each tube, and set speed and depth. I usually do this once I've identified the target and am moving into position to fire. Once you are in position, you fire 1, cycle tubes, fire two, cycle tubes, fire 3, etc. until you've launched as many as you want.

There should also be a key to make the watch go away. I'm not sure about RFB's key mapping, though. Looking in my RFB install, there's a "RFB Key Command Changes.doc". Check in there.

Edit:
Ctrl+Enter- fire torpedo
W- cycle torpedo tube
Q- open/close tube

I know in TMO, X brings up and dismisses the watch.

[jerm138]

You can set the depth and speed on all torpedoes long before you fire them. That way, when you're attacking, you'll have less steps to do.

When you're on your torpedo depth screen, you can click the different torpedo tubes to select them and set them however you want. This is typically the first thing I do once I've identified my target and know its draft.

Also, remember to flood the tubes you intend to use before firing them. In real life, they would do this in the final minutes before firing because the longer they were flooded, the more likely the torpedoes would malfunction. I don't think that this is modeled in the game though, so just make sure you flood them before things get too hectic.

Also, you should be able to move the stopwatch to a different part of the screen once and it stays there. There's also a shortcut key to get rid of the stopwatch or make it re-appear: In TMO it's the "X" key... I'm not sure about stock.

For a constant bearing shot, once you get everything set up, it should be as simple as firing at the right time, then moving the crosshair and hitting the "Send data to TDC" button again (the red one), selecting the next tube, then firing again when the new target spot crosses the wire.

[Armistead]

If not mentioned, just move the stop watch and the other icons in the way. I put them at the bottom on the screen sort of in line with the others. I have to admit that's the dumbest place to default them, so just move them.

[Dave Hansen]

jerm 138...TXS.

For some reason I thought that once I set the torp speed and depth for one, that setting applied to all unless I went back and changed it...maybe a carryover thought from plain vanilla SH3 days?

So, it's just like having to open each particular tube door before firing...ie., select tube #1, set speed and depth...select tube #2, set speed and depth...rinse and repeat.

TXS

[jerm138]

Originally Posted by Dave Hansen

So, it's just like having to open each particular tube door before firing...ie., select tube #1, set speed and depth...select tube #2, set speed and depth...rinse and repeat.

TXS

Precisely...

I usually set all my torpedo depths to minimum as soon as I start my patrol and keep them at minimum every time I reload. That way, if I forget about it, I don't end up missing a juicy target. Also remember that they run about 10 feet too deep (early war... I'm not sure when it gets corrected) so if you target a ship with a 24 ft keel, it's safest to set the depth to about 10-14 feet.

While we're on the topic, does anyone know a way to tell if a torpedo tube door is open besides cycling the door or using external view? I'd like to have some sort of indicator... sometimes I'm a little forgetful and will run for days with an open tube.

[TH0R]

Originally Posted by razark

Edit:
Ctrl+Enter- fire torpedo
W- cycle torpedo tube
Q- open/close tube

I know in TMO, X brings up and dismisses the watch.

All those commands work in RFB as well.

[razark]

Originally Posted by TH0R

All those commands work in RFB as well.

Yeah, I figured I'd just open the file and read it, so those are the RFB commands. It's slightly different in TMO. W cycles through the forward tubes, E through the aft tubes.

Originally Posted by jerm138

That sucks.

I guess that's one more reason to learn manual targeting.

Yeah, I hated it when I did auto-targeting. You get a great target, and watch as the torpedo goes right under it...