How should I go about learning manual targetting?

[Captain Birdseye]

I've never really tried manual targeting. It seems a bit scary to me, not having a mathematical brain . I would like to try it some day. I think the maths would let me down though.

[Kasbe]

great links there! I'll have to review them all in detail.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=88961

This guide helped me a LOT, considering how simple and short it is. Then

http://www.paulwasserman.net/SHIII/

seems very interesting too, I am starting to read the manual charting while moving part right now. Im still a newbie at naval sims, but I am guessing that getting a shot at a ship in decent conditions takes way more time than I am used to (thats what you get when you play a lot of quake-style FPS), with all the data gathering, course plotting and torpedo calculations.

Anyways, I think the joy of hearing the "torpedo impact" message and watching the ship sink through the UZO/periscope is priceless when you know YOU did all the job

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by Captain Birdseye

I've never really tried manual targeting. It seems a bit scary to me, not having a mathematical brain . I would like to try it some day. I think the maths would let me down though.

There's not much math to do really. Most things are just drawing on the map. Or the OLC/ U-jagd tools does everything in the attackscope station. Unless you mean converting between time, speed and distance. Or simple arithmatic (adding/subtracting angles) But there are tools for that (nomograph, Angriffscheibe/attackdisk). If you stick to the methods and procedures everything is dead simple. It does help a bit to know what formulas are behind it, but that is just to provide insight trying to improve accuray. But if it makes you feel better it is allways possible to fire a spread for good measure.

I know it is a daunting step. So make it a small one if it is the first. Start with plotting on the map (asking range and bearing from the Watch officer, or mark the automatic update icons if that step is more your size) and track his course alone. Rely on automatic targeting or leave the firing suggestions to the weapon officer for now. Having figured out his course as a first step will give you a satisfaction that may fuel those (small!) steps towards full manual targeting. It will build your sense of situational awareness.

If you don't trust me, ask Kasbe.

@ Kasbe:

Originally Posted by Captain Birdseye

I've never really tried manual targeting. It seems a bit scary to me, not having a mathematical brain . I would like to try it some day. I think the maths would let me down though.

First of all don't rush it.
Approach to it with caution, slowly (read manuals, watch videos) and when you going to feel enough confident in it, that will mean the right time to try it on your own has come

Good luck

[Captain Birdseye]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I sadly have difficulties learning from text, as would probably happen on this forum. It has to be repeated to me in simpler ways or shown via images.

I do not understand even the basics of manual targeting, I know nothing of it. They way I hunt at the moment is by guessing the correct bearing and "chasing" the moving map icon til it is within range.

[Hitman]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I sadly have difficulties learning from text, as would probably happen on this forum. It has to be repeated to me in simpler ways or shown via images.

I do not understand even the basics of manual targeting, I know nothing of it. They way I hunt at the moment is by guessing the correct bearing and "chasing" the moving map icon til it is within range.

You are not the only one LOL ... it's normally what happens to everyone until they have a lot of experience and teh concepts already well written in their minds.

There are some very good videos for learning manual shooting in SH4 by Wernersobe, but I don't remember right now if there were any for SH3, and if they still are around somewhere

I began working on my progress in manual targeting from this video:

or more detailed and much more informative here: http://www.3rdflotilla.org/videos/ma...g_navchart.wmv

Ups the second link seems ain't working anymore..

Good Luck

[Captain Birdseye]

Hi, thank you for the video!

Sorry to hijack the thread, I didn't mean to.
I guess I could just start a new career and nosedive straight into manual targeting.

Out of interest, how long are the target ships around Germany before the war? These could be useful to practice on.

Again, sorry to the thread starter!

Originally Posted by Captain Birdseye

Hi, thank you for the video!

Sorry to hijack the thread, I didn't mean to.
I guess I could just start a new career and nosedive straight into manual targeting.

Out of interest, how long are the target ships around Germany before the war? These could be useful to practice on.

Again, sorry to the thread starter!

As I assume you're a GWX user so these target ships in the bay stays all month in August of 1939. But I recomend you to use Naval academy/ Torpedo tutorial first