Stopwatch querie

[washishu]

A while ago I had the pleasure of sinking my first ship with the manual input only option ON! I have tried it before but although I understand the basics (maybe not some of the complexities just yet) I've never been quick enough to get it all done—and then, usually, work out what I did wrong and correct it when it isn't behaving as it should.

So, some degree of success BUT, and here's my question please folks—

The stop-watch in the Speed area of the notepad? It's sort of a short cut right? But what about the little diagram thing at the top: that clearly indicates using the ship length technique but does it input the data automatically or what?

I've looked at video tutorials and read and studied other tutorials but I don't recall anyone mentioning this part of the notepad (I've even looked in the basic manual!)—or maybe I just misunderstood and missed it, which is a possibility. Which reminds me; I'm not really a blogging/youtube-ing/whatever-else-ing sort of person so this may be a dumb question, but if you don't ask. . . . as my Mum always said.

There's a lot of posts with links to the communitymanuals.com. Whenever I go there all I get is a big bunch of ads wanting to sell me stuff I'm not interested in. No matter which link I try (Most Common Searches etc) I just get more ads. Bummer.

I'm still on the box-set, no mods, by the way.

If you've already entered the Ship Class, Range, AOB, upon stopping the watch the speed should be entered automaticaly for you.

If I remember right, if a prior step is incomplete, a speed will NOT be entered.
(I fair better using my own guesstimations, and manualy setting the torpedos).

[sublynx]

I guess the little diagram you ask about is indicating that SH3 uses a fixed wire method of measuring ship lenght. However IMO it is doing it very poorly and unreliably.

I estimate speeds using Hitman's excellent attack disk:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...=126824&page=5

Making an attack disk and learning to use it takes some effort, but it is definetely worth the trouble.

An easier way to do it would be to use the 3:15 rule or a nomogram. Look for Wazoo's targeting tutorial.

A third way of making an estimation would be counting the screws of the ships engine. Look for Raduz's hydrophone tutorial.

As for not having enough time to make the calculations, you can plan the shot beforehand, even set everything right manually in TDC screen (F6) and just wait for the right moment. While learning I would recommend you pausing the game when you feel like it. As a submarine commander you would not necessarily be calculating yourself, instead you could be giving bearings and watch stop times to the crew, who would do the dirty work. That said, a submarine commander would understand the calculations necessary, so it would be wise (and fun, IMO) to learn the skills eventually so well, that you won't need to pause the game.