Manual Plotting of Target

[asadmk]

Hi guys, sorry if this topic is posted before.I m new to SH4.How do we plot a target's course manually when we r on surface.In SH3 there was an option of asking ur watch officer for Nearest Visual Contact.He would tell u the range n bearing.It was lot easier to plot in SH3.But it seems like there is no officers panel in SH4.And how to access ur Watch Officer in SH4.Please any help will b greatly appreciated.

[BillBam]

Depends on what mods you have and also what game settings you have (such as map contacts on or off?)

[asadmk]

I m playing Stock updated to 1.4 version.No i m playing at 86% realism with map contacts off.

[CapnScurvy]

First off, Welcome asadmk to the forum!!

I'm going to assume a couple of things, that you're playing with the option of manual targeting "Enabled", and you have a basic idea of manual targeting through the SHIII game. I'm wondering if you ever ran across an SHIII modder named "Wazoo" who had a very good tutorial for manual targeting by using the navigation map to plot a target with the contacts off? This was back in 2005.

When the SH4 game came out in 2007 I made a tutorial that followed his ideas, focused on the SH4 game changes, and explained the different tools involved in making a map plot for use in determining a firing solution. Take a look at this tutorial named "High Realism Tutorial" found HERE.

If you play the German side there are some distinct disadvantages to overcome compared to the American side. The American "Position Keeper" keeps track of the relative and true north bearings by input through the Attack Data Tool. If you know what you're looking at, the dials on the PK can help in a plot calculation. No such device exists for the German side, so a calculator I made (again following the Wazoo tutorial but with a couple of new features) helps in putting bearings into perspective and allows the navigation map to become your plotting board for an eventual firing solution. The "AoB Calculator" is not necessary for the American side since the Position Keeper dials do a good job of giving you the information you'll need to make a plot, the German side benefits the most with the calculator. A better looking calculator than the one I originally made (but follows the same design principles) can be found HERE. You will need to print the calculator parts and cut them out for assembly (use hard stock paper).

Whether you play the German or American side, the "High Realism Tutorial" will give you a good explanation of the tools involved and procedures necessary to make a navigation map plot of known targets. Good luck with manual targeting. It's the only way I play, and always rewarding when you take the raw information you glean and turn them into a successful firing solution outcome.

[asadmk]

Thanks for the help Cap.It looks complex but with some practice i will b able to plot manually now.But to be frank manual plotting in SH III was very easy.But it will do.Are there other ways of plotting?Can u guide me plz.Thank u 1nce again.

[CapnScurvy]

I'll help you, but you will need to read the tutorial to get a grasp of what is needed to do a successful manual plot. I don't want to rehash what's already been covered in the tutorial.

Here's a question for you, which side are you playing? German or American? That will narrow down the possibilities.

I'll agree "it's complicated". No doubt, there's a learning curve to manual targeting. After all, you're going to preform the duties of several men (captain, navigator, weapons officer, helmsman, sonar man, chief cook and bottle washer). You won't have time to do everything without getting a bit unrealistic by pausing the game from time to time to do all the duties necessary. I point that out in the tutorial. After a while, you'll be able to make a smooth transition from one job to the next, creating a more realistic "feel" to doing several tasks at once. Again, the first step for you is to read the tutorial to understand what you really don't understand.

[Fish40]

[quote] "I m playing Stock updated to 1.4 version.No i m playing at 86% realism with map contacts off. "


I guess that means he's playing the American side.