Using TDC in Convoy Attacks

Driscol · 05-08-07, 07:54 AM

How are mixed convoys (eg. troop ships, tankers, large and small freighters)attacked using manual targeting, the TDC and the recognition manual? Or do people use another method?

I find the time required to open the manual, check off a new target, reset the TDC parameters and then fire a second salvo to be way too long. More often than not I just try to bring my stern tubes to bear on something and hope for a chance hit. When I read about accounts like the Tango attack (where O'kane fired off twenty-odd torpedos) I have to believe there is a better way. Or is it just an experienced skipper and point and shoot attacking?

SteamWake · 05-08-07, 08:02 AM

Yes it can be challanging.

bobo · 05-08-07, 08:51 AM

Do you mean a second salvo from remaining forward tubes or a second salvo from stern tubes? I set everything up way in advance.

If I'm in a good position in front of the convoy I usually have plenty of time to empty all my forward tubes. The firtst thing I do is make my plots on the nav map so I can get an accurate course and speed for the convoy. I plot the course lines for each column. I choose the 2 most high profile targets (or 3 depending on size/armor) and mark a spot on their respective course lines ahead of their current position and a bit to the left or right of mine so I can get a near-90 torp hit. Of course everything is setup to fire at the furthest target first so I can get both ships at roughly the same time. With good plots, and knowing where the ships will be when I fire gives me all the data points I need for a solution. It's just a matter of plugging it in and launching fish. Doesn't take that much time to do that really.

Now if your talking about using the stern tubes as an additional salvo on the remaining shipping thats a different story. I don't use them for that purpose until I have no more forward torps. In that case I'm usually at short range where more accurate data isn't as important. My primary use for stern tubes is to mop up the wounded

mookiemookie · 05-08-07, 09:53 AM

One tidbit I'd like to add....usually the hardest part of calculating a manual solution is getting the speed information. Once you have that for one of the ships in the convoy, you have it for all of them.

It just becomes a matter of selecting and identifying your targets, then all you really need to do to jump from one to the other is to take a stadimeter reading and get an AOB. You can do both fairly quickly.

Crow · 05-08-07, 09:59 AM

yeah and it s usefull that most of the time when a ship is struck the dumbasses go to a complete stop : speed errrrr .......zero , check

Driscol · 05-08-07, 02:14 PM

It sounds like I'm doing the simlilar things to everyone else. However, if I try to set up "in advance" on diferent types of targets, the range and AOB data I've fed into the TDC seems to be lost when I switch ships in the recogiton manual. If I wait to set up the second shot, so that I don't lose the first solution, I've got to re-open the manual and flip through page after page until I find the correct one and then re-input the data.

I've been experimenting with simply seting up on the first target and then switching to point and shoot for subsequent targets. By simply using the salvo spread offset dial, in conjunction with the attack map, I can get all tubes emptied at different targets in less time than the first torpedo takes to run its course.

05-08-07, 07:54 AM	#1
Driscol Watch Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 16 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Using TDC in Convoy Attacks How are mixed convoys (eg. troop ships, tankers, large and small freighters)attacked using manual targeting, the TDC and the recognition manual? Or do people use another method? I find the time required to open the manual, check off a new target, reset the TDC parameters and then fire a second salvo to be way too long. More often than not I just try to bring my stern tubes to bear on something and hope for a chance hit. When I read about accounts like the Tango attack (where O'kane fired off twenty-odd torpedos) I have to believe there is a better way. Or is it just an experienced skipper and point and shoot attacking?

05-08-07, 08:51 AM	#3
bobo Bosun Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 64 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Do you mean a second salvo from remaining forward tubes or a second salvo from stern tubes? I set everything up way in advance. If I'm in a good position in front of the convoy I usually have plenty of time to empty all my forward tubes. The firtst thing I do is make my plots on the nav map so I can get an accurate course and speed for the convoy. I plot the course lines for each column. I choose the 2 most high profile targets (or 3 depending on size/armor) and mark a spot on their respective course lines ahead of their current position and a bit to the left or right of mine so I can get a near-90 torp hit. Of course everything is setup to fire at the furthest target first so I can get both ships at roughly the same time. With good plots, and knowing where the ships will be when I fire gives me all the data points I need for a solution. It's just a matter of plugging it in and launching fish. Doesn't take that much time to do that really. Now if your talking about using the stern tubes as an additional salvo on the remaining shipping thats a different story. I don't use them for that purpose until I have no more forward torps. In that case I'm usually at short range where more accurate data isn't as important. My primary use for stern tubes is to mop up the wounded __________________ System Specs: HP xw8400 workstation Vista Enterprise 64bit 2x 3.00GHz dual core Xeon 6GB RAM Primary drive 4x 146GB 10k SAS Raid 0 Backup drive 2x 500GB SATA Raid 1 8800GTS Superclocked 320MB SBAudigy with 5.1 speaker setup HP 24inch Widescreen LCD

05-08-07, 09:53 AM	#4
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	One tidbit I'd like to add....usually the hardest part of calculating a manual solution is getting the speed information. Once you have that for one of the ships in the convoy, you have it for all of them. It just becomes a matter of selecting and identifying your targets, then all you really need to do to jump from one to the other is to take a stadimeter reading and get an AOB. You can do both fairly quickly. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

05-08-07, 09:59 AM	#5
Crow Tonnage Leader Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 87 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	yeah and it s usefull that most of the time when a ship is struck the dumbasses go to a complete stop : speed errrrr .......zero , check __________________

05-08-07, 08:02 AM	#2
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Yes it can be challanging.

05-08-07, 02:14 PM	#6
Driscol Watch Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 16 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It sounds like I'm doing the simlilar things to everyone else. However, if I try to set up "in advance" on diferent types of targets, the range and AOB data I've fed into the TDC seems to be lost when I switch ships in the recogiton manual. If I wait to set up the second shot, so that I don't lose the first solution, I've got to re-open the manual and flip through page after page until I find the correct one and then re-input the data. I've been experimenting with simply seting up on the first target and then switching to point and shoot for subsequent targets. By simply using the salvo spread offset dial, in conjunction with the attack map, I can get all tubes emptied at different targets in less time than the first torpedo takes to run its course.