Map contacts off

[I'm goin' down]

I have been taking a crack at the ATO forum and discovered (but not mastered) the Kriegsmarine Interface U Boat Mod by Karamozov (spell?). That got me thinking. Let's turn off map contacts on SH4 American Subs and see what happens.

In SH4, can we measure speed via a periscope view with map contacts off? We do not have the lengths of the ships, and RR claims we not know most the various ships' lengths. (I would have to relearn the method.)

We can calculate range with the stadimeter.

Other than estimating, how does one calculate course with map contacts off? With the Easy Aob, once we know the course, we are on our way.

That is why I haven't played with map contacts off. CapnScurvy's tutorial is tough to follow and there must be something better. Nisgeis 3D TDC slows the game down plus I often make a mistake following the tutorial, so I am looking for another way.

Where is niclolas of Easy Aob fame when you need him? (rhetorical question.)

[timmyg00]

i swear by Gutted's Solution Solver... I'm still using the stock stadimeter to get range, but the Solution Solver gets me speed, helps with AoB... And i have Razark's mod that hides ships on the map but shows SD contacts. I plots me own! As soon as i can get an SJ on my ship, i'll be rocking.

TG

[I'm goin' down]

two issues

1. my computer takes to long to close the game and open the Solution Solver.

2. Even if it did, with map contacts deactivated how are you determining course. By comparing the periscope view from your sub with the view in the Solution Solver?

This may be a good way to solve the questions I posed, but perhaps there is a way to do it without using gutted's classic stand alone program?

[TorpX]

@ IGD:

I don't like using any other programs with SH4 either. I've plotted on the in-game nav chart and on graph paper. Both will work; it's really a question of personal preference.

The quality of your plot will largely be dependant on range estimation, and the timing of your observations (bearing is self evident). After you have plotted serveral observations, course will be easily seen. One can estimate course from a single observation of Aob, but eyeballing Aob is tricky. I prefer to plot a good number of points, at intervals of at least 3 min. and rely on the plot, instead of trying to judge Aob.

[Armistead]

Some of the convoys and TF it's hard to get a good look even at range with binocs. Really need to see the capital ships to get course and when they have radar TMO's dd's make it hard to get in close enough to see the capital ships. As many steps as it is, if I play with contacts off, I use the radar mod, then I'm able to plot myself far ahead right in front fairly close. When I can take accurate stads, I can then get the course and fine tune it, but usually close enough anyway.

I now play mostly with cams off, contacts on, just too time consuming with both off. I had hoped someone would take on the request and do a sonar lines only mod, that would be a fair balance in my book.

[I'm goin' down]

I reviewed the tutorial for the Hydrophone Tracker stand alone program. It is "Calculating a ship’s course, speed, and position using data from the hydrophone,Tutorial" authored by jerm138. One does not need to use the stand alone program to calculate the target's course or its position on this course, as the tutorial explains how to triangulate the target's course and its position on the course using the Attack Map tools. He explains the concepts simply and concisely, and then shows how to accomplish the task with screen shots.

Once the target's course and its position on the course is determined, using the Easy Aob mod, you can input the target's course and manually input range from the Nav Map on the stadimeter at turn on the PK. Since the manuial input of range is an estimate, alternatively I think you can turn on the PK, go to the hydrophone station and send hydrophone readings to the TDC to confirm range. You can then use the Stadimeter to fix range and aspect ratio. This sounds like it will work wih map contacts off, but if any of you see problems, feel free to point them out. Jerm138' tutorial is not difficult to understand, and he does a great job explaining the concepts. In fact, it has elements of a masterpiece.

[timmyg00]

Originally Posted by I'm goin' down

two issues

1. my computer takes to long to close the game and open the Solution Solver.

2. Even if it did, with map contacts deactivated how are you determining course. By comparing the periscope view from your sub with the view in the Solution Solver?

This may be a good way to solve the questions I posed, but perhaps there is a way to do it without using gutted's classic stand alone program?

#1 I play windowed, so i can switch without alt-tabbing
#2 in part, yes... in part, just eyeballing AOB. As the target gets closer, those eyeball observations become more accurate. Doesn't always work though... sometimes the eyeball can fool ya if you don't have an accurate classification.

TG