Manual Targeting Failure

Zosimus · 06-20-14, 07:55 AM

Well, the way I understand it is this: If you have all the data correctly input into the computer for the range, bearing, AOB, and speed of the target as it truly is at the moment of firing then the torpedo will unerringly cross the ship at the correct point; provided, of course, that the ship does not change course or speed. Obviously you want to hit the ship at or as close as possible to broadside because it seems that the more oblique the angle of intersection is, the more likely the torpedo is to bounce off the ship without exploding.

In my experience, the TDC range does not update automatically. I have only seen the AOB update automatically and this only on change in bearing.

I know that people say that in 90º AOB shots the range doesn't matter. I have tested it by changing the range on the F6 screen and I agree that if the ship is at 0º bearing and 90º AOB then the range will not matter. However, at other angles, when dialing the range I have seen what appears to be a change in the angle of launch. Obviously it's hard to measure with a protractor on the F6 screen as the drawing tools are unavailable.

Additionally, there are other good reasons for having the range correctly entered. If you put in the wrong range you will see your stopwatch tick past the red mark with no explosion, think you've missed, and fire another eel at the ship only to find the torpedo intersecting the ship seconds later. The second shot is invariably wasted.

Additionally it may be impossible for you to fire at the perfect 000 gyroangle, especially in choppy water, as you may temporarily lose sight of the target and have to wait a second or two to reacquire it or you may have to delay precious seconds to verify the flag. Is it just me or does the smokestack often obscure the flag at the precise moment you desperately need to see it?

In my experience measuring the range down the firing line is only important when making very long shots or when the target is traveling at a high speed. Normally my crude instruments cannot tell the difference between the range at intersection or at firing as they usually read something like 0.4 rather than 0.39. They can, however, tell me the difference between 4.0 and 3.9. My scientific calculator tells me that at a 12º lead the range will be 2.185% less at the moment of impact. My precious TDC does not permit me to enter the range with that degree of precision, but I try to give it the very highest qualify information possible.

06-20-14, 07:55 AM	#16
Zosimus XO Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Chorrillos, Lima, Peru Posts: 401 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Well, the way I understand it is this: If you have all the data correctly input into the computer for the range, bearing, AOB, and speed of the target as it truly is at the moment of firing then the torpedo will unerringly cross the ship at the correct point; provided, of course, that the ship does not change course or speed. Obviously you want to hit the ship at or as close as possible to broadside because it seems that the more oblique the angle of intersection is, the more likely the torpedo is to bounce off the ship without exploding. In my experience, the TDC range does not update automatically. I have only seen the AOB update automatically and this only on change in bearing. I know that people say that in 90º AOB shots the range doesn't matter. I have tested it by changing the range on the F6 screen and I agree that if the ship is at 0º bearing and 90º AOB then the range will not matter. However, at other angles, when dialing the range I have seen what appears to be a change in the angle of launch. Obviously it's hard to measure with a protractor on the F6 screen as the drawing tools are unavailable. Additionally, there are other good reasons for having the range correctly entered. If you put in the wrong range you will see your stopwatch tick past the red mark with no explosion, think you've missed, and fire another eel at the ship only to find the torpedo intersecting the ship seconds later. The second shot is invariably wasted. Additionally it may be impossible for you to fire at the perfect 000 gyroangle, especially in choppy water, as you may temporarily lose sight of the target and have to wait a second or two to reacquire it or you may have to delay precious seconds to verify the flag. Is it just me or does the smokestack often obscure the flag at the precise moment you desperately need to see it? In my experience measuring the range down the firing line is only important when making very long shots or when the target is traveling at a high speed. Normally my crude instruments cannot tell the difference between the range at intersection or at firing as they usually read something like 0.4 rather than 0.39. They can, however, tell me the difference between 4.0 and 3.9. My scientific calculator tells me that at a 12º lead the range will be 2.185% less at the moment of impact. My precious TDC does not permit me to enter the range with that degree of precision, but I try to give it the very highest qualify information possible.