Algebraic Firing Solution

[TorpX]

Originally Posted by Dorjun Driver

TorpX,
It’s not clear to me why your application doesn’t generate at least a partial firing solution for Case 3, i.e. the lead angle, which is all one really needs.

Well, it won't provide a solution by itself. If you extrapolate the plot and feed in the data corresponding to a point in time when the sub has crossed the Target Track, it will provide a solution.

Maybe I should have put this capability into the program, but I didn't think the situation would occur often enough to justify the effort. To get the numbers to work right, some account has to be made for the sub speed sign, because the sub is initially closing the Target Track , then moving away. Also, the angles change. The program rejects these cases. If I hadn't put code in to do it that way, you would get incorrect numbers which would be very confusing. If there is a big demand for this, I might revise it, but judging by the limited number of responses, not many people are going to use this.

...the lead angle, which is all one really needs.

I disagree that the Lead angle is all you need. I consider the other elements, Track Range, Run Time, and Time to Position to be of almost equal importance.

I did see your posting on zero-gyro shooting. Did you see the formulas in the OP? The first one in particular will give you equivalent results.

[I restored the images in the OP. I had reorganized them at Photobucket and broke the links. Sorry!]

Doesn't the TDC do this for you?

In terms of the "lead angle", yes. It doesn't give the track range, run time, or others. In any case, S-class boats didn't have them.

If you really mean to ask "Why bother with all this?", I'm not sure I can give you a easy answer. If you never depart from using the game TDC, you may very well sink a goodly number of ships, but it is unlikely you will ever develop a real understanding of the finer points of Fire Control. I guess someone who always plays in auto-targeting mode could ask why anyone bothers with manual targeting. To me, the game would not be half as enjoyable without these detailed elements.