Hardcore TDC

[Gorshkov]

Supposedly TDC on-board American subs works now as it did in reality. So I am looking for some tutorial describing TDC work at the highest level of realism. I am especially interested in feature enabling check if my firing solution entered previously into TDC is still valid.

[Hitman]

Actually the current in game version is a just pale resemblance of the amazing piece of machinery that the real one was

There are many differences, but to list the more important ones:

- In game you have way less flexibility in the input of data
- In game many parts & dials are not displayed or functional
- In game there is no fast forward feature to check the predicted position of submarine and target in the future

I don't remember right now that anyone made an indepth tutorial of the TDC in a document, but IIRC there are some videos about advanced use of it in the Sub skipper bag of tricks thread, stickied somewhere in the main SH4 forum. In any case, be sure to get the fantastic 3D TDC and radar mod by Nisgeis; there is a thread about it in this forum.

Good hunting

[Gorshkov]

Well, I did not find good TDC description in the suggested thread but this new "3D TDC & Radar Ranging" mod looks awesome! What a hell machine have you created? Does this stuff really work as real targeting system?

[Jan Kyster]

Not sure if this one is any good? Manual TDC... http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=116987

Warning! Swearing and bad language occurs...

[Gorshkov]

I am afraid thread linked above is a bit outdated because later patches modified TDC/periscope aiming a lot. Now in stock SH5 version 1.5 this works as follows:

1. Lock target with periscope.
2. Identify target and send this information into TDC.
3. Measure range to target using stadimeter and send this data along with actual target's bearing into TDC.
4. Wait awhile and then repeat step 3.
5. Obtain target's speed (it is measured automatically after patch 1.3 or 1.4) and enter it into TDC. In this moment Navigator will give you precise target's course estimation.
6. Use this information to adjust AOB and send it into TDC, too.
7. Enable Position Keeper.

Now your firing solution is complete!

Of course you can also obtain course and speed yourselves by plotting tactical situation on Navigation Map, using three minutes rule, nomograph, sonar or radar data. Yet method presented above is now a basic periscope/TDC targeting technique in SH4.

[Nisgeis]

Be careful using the estimate speed button, as if you click it a few times, you will get different answers, a degree either side of the course which isn't so bad, but you'll get a speed a knot either side. Why the estimate should change based on the same two observations is beyond me.

Also be wary of sending last minute updates to the bearing, as it will reset the range to the last measurement and it will also screw up the target course, as it doesn't update the AoB. A real TDC would update both the range and the AoB on bearing change.

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by Gorshkov

I am afraid thread linked above is a bit outdated because later patches modified TDC/periscope aiming a lot. Now in stock SH5 version 1.5 this works as follows:

1. Lock target with periscope.
2. Identify target and send this information into TDC.
3. Measure range to target using stadimeter and send this data along with actual target's bearing into TDC.
4. Wait awhile and then repeat step 3.
5. Obtain target's speed (it is measured automatically after patch 1.3 or 1.4) and enter it into TDC. In this moment Navigator will give you precise target's course estimation.
6. Use this information to adjust AOB and send it into TDC, too.
7. Enable Position Keeper.

Now your firing solution is complete!

Your firing solution is complete and you will miss astern.

You executed your steps in the wrong order.