Longest shot...?

[Tom]

When we're speaking about long range shots, the larger target presented by the 90 AOB attack outweighs any advantages of magnetic pistols, in my opinion. This is especially true as magnetics are prone to prematurely detonate, and a longer run increases this risk considerably.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by desirableroasted

And the problem with 90AOB shots is, of course, that you rob yourself of the advantages of the magnetic pistol.

*chuckle*

I disagree.... but..... you know.....

When we're speaking about long range shots, the larger target presented by the 90 AOB attack outweighs any advantages of magnetic pistols, in my opinion. This is especially true as magnetics are prone to prematurely detonate, and a longer run increases this risk considerably.

Whoa now.

I believe magnetics inflict more damage than impacts due to the area the 'hit'. They rarely predetonate in calm seas, and since this is a long rage sniper thread, I highly doubt the conditions we're talking about will be that bad. A magnetic shot under these circumstances is almost a must IMO, as the margin for error is so small, that you're going to want that extra few meters of target area the magnetics provide.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

A magnetic shot under these circumstances is almost a must IMO, as the margin for error is so small, that you're going to want that extra few meters of target area the magnetics provide.

90 degree impact shots always have a larger target area to hit than magnetic shots at AOB < 60 or > 120. A 100 meter long ship appears to be only 86 meters long if AOB is 60, 70 meters long if AOB is 45 and 50 meters long if AOB is 30. At 90 AOB you have the whole 100 meters to hit.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Tom

90 degree impact shots always have a larger target area to hit than magnetic shots at AOB < 60 or > 120. A 100 meter long ship appears to be only 86 meters long if AOB is 60, 70 meters long if AOB is 45 and 50 meters long if AOB is 30. At 90 AOB you have the whole 100 meters to hit.

Were not talking about AoB here. We're talking impact pistol vs magnetic pistol in great weather with a 90 AoB.

I won't deny your math, or the fact that end on shots require magnetics, but I am in the camp that says Broadside shots can use magnetics also.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Were not talking about AoB here. We're talking impact pistol vs magnetic pistol in great weather with a 90 AoB.

Ok, I misunderstood your post then.

And I still don't understand how magnetics would have a larger target area than impact shots, given the same AoB.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Tom

Ok, I misunderstood your post then.

And I still don't understand how magnetics would have a larger target area than impact shots, given the same AoB.

They can pass a meter or so before, aft, or under a ship, giving them a slightly larger effective detonation zone.

At these ranges, I'll take anything I can get.

[desirableroasted]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

but I am in the camp that says Broadside shots can use magnetics also.

Lab work necessary!

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by Pisces

What Tom said in post 7! You don't have to be very close to get a hit, or resort to salvo, if you can rely on the AOB/target speed value. But extreme long range shots is extremely hard to get right. You'll need to know speed accurately atleast to some extra decimal figures because the target is so damn small in degrees. If you are in a sniper mood then you're better off playing Sniper Elite.

I just realised, you can't even set the target speed manually that accurate. You can do it at best in 0.25 knots intervals. Unless someone make better dials for this.

Assuming the speed is a rounded value may work, but isn't realistic to expect.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Pisces

I just realised, you can't even set the target speed manually that accurate. You can do it at best in 0.25 knots intervals.

0,25 knots is just accurate enough. Assuming a range of 6000 meters and torpedo speed of 30 knots (torpedo running time 6,5 minutes) a 0,25 knot difference in target speed means a 100 meter difference in hit location. So each 0,25 knots covers 100 meters of target at that distance. If you get the speed set to the nearest 0,25 knots and aim at the center of a 100 meter target, you should hit it.

Of course, there is still the problem of measuring the speed and AoB accurately enough from that distance. The fixed wire method will give accurate enough speed, but AoB pretty much requires plotting, unless it's a convoy. With convoys you can get accurate AoB easily by maneuvering either exactly in front or behind a column or to the side of a row, because the columns lie exactly on the convoy course and the rows are exactly perpendicular to the course.

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by Tom

0,25 knots is just accurate enough. Assuming a range of 6000 meters and torpedo speed of 30 knots (torpedo running time 6,5 minutes) a 0,25 knot difference in target speed means a 100 meter difference in hit location. So each 0,25 knots covers 100 meters of target at that distance. If you get the speed set to the nearest 0,25 knots and aim at the center of a 100 meter target, you should hit it.

Of course, there is still the problem of measuring the speed and AoB accurately enough from that distance. The fixed wire method will give accurate enough speed, but AoB pretty much requires plotting, unless it's a convoy. With convoys you can get accurate AoB easily by maneuvering either exactly in front or behind a column or to the side of a row, because the columns lie exactly on the convoy course and the rows are exactly perpendicular to the course.

6 kilometers would work, but the topicstarter asked about 14 km. I.e., a 10 knot target passing along 90 degrees would need to be measured accurately to within 0.08 knots if it is 78.5 meters long, or within 0.16 knots if it is 150 meters long.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Pisces

6 kilometers would work, but the topicstarter asked about 14 km. I.e., a 10 knot target passing along 90 degrees would need to be measured accurately to within 0.08 knots if it is 78.5 meters long, or within 0.16 knots if it is 150 meters long.

Exactly the reason why I'd never attempt a 14 km shot. 6 km is already pushing it a bit further than I'd like, even with a perfect solution.