Realism questions

[B.N.R.T.]

Thanks for all the answers thus far!

I finished my first patrol (July 1940) with about 20000 GRT, no crew lost and some damage to the bow tubes. For the second patrol I loaded Hitman's optics and everything seems to be working well. I am 'currently' on my way to intercept an unescorted convoy, while transferring to Lorient, so that will bring in some nice tonnage.

I have also implemented regular dive tests and torpedo maintainance. Diving for the latter when weather dictates. I also make a mental note to "tell my crew to make the tubes ready to fire" and too note which eels have which pistols. All in the name of realism!

One more question has propped up, though. I understand that they used to estimate distances when surfaced by seaman's eye and by the amount the ship filled the UZO or binocular field of view. As Hitman's Optics mod does not have mils in the UZO or binoculars, can you estimate distances based on length of ship and % of view covered? With some thinking I can probably work it out myself, using maths, but if anyone has a nice chart ready to use, it would be much appreciated. In any case, the UZO magnification is 7x, while the binoculars magnification is 10x, right?

Again, thank you very much for your replies!

ETA: I probably also need field of view numbers for both UZO and binoculars.

[Arnold]

Originally Posted by B.N.R.T.

One more question has propped up, though. I understand that they used to estimate distances when surfaced by seaman's eye and by the amount the ship filled the UZO or binocular field of view. As Hitman's Optics mod does not have mils in the UZO or binoculars, can you estimate distances based on length of ship and % of view covered? With some thinking I can probably work it out myself, using maths, but if anyone has a nice chart ready to use, it would be much appreciated. In any case, the UZO magnification is 7x, while the binoculars magnification is 10x, right?

Again, thank you very much for your replies!

ETA: I probably also need field of view numbers for both UZO and binoculars.

^
I read another thread where you could estimate the distance while in 6X for a 150 meter long ship.
- If the ship covers the whole lens, the ship is 1,100 meters distant.
- If half of the lens (from the crosshair to the edge of the lens)
is covered, the ship is 2,200 meters distant.
- If 1/4 of the lens is covered, the ship is at 4,400 meters distant.

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by Arnold

^
I read another thread where you could estimate the distance while in 6X for a 150 meter long ship.
- If the ship covers the whole lens, the ship is 1,100 meters distant.
- If half of the lens (from the crosshair to the edge of the lens)
is covered, the ship is 2,200 meters distant.
- If 1/4 of the lens is covered, the ship is at 4,400 meters distant.

If you watch in Das Boot you'll notice that anytime the KapLt. or 1WO is aiming through the periscope or UZO they were able to estimate the range without trigonometry. The relative size of the ship when measured against the hash marks in the scope gave them plenty of information for getting good distance estimates. This thread has some excellent examples of the tools they used to measure the distances, and how they were able to figure them out quickly in their heads.

Unless you're aiming a very long shot that is close to or would be the max range of the torpedo you are firing getting precise distances isn't much of an issue.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Tessa

Unless you're aiming a very long shot that is close to or would be the max range of the torpedo you are firing getting precise distances isn't much of an issue.

And the only reason I can think of doing that would be as a desperation shot, as the range to the target is not the same as the run distance for the torp. I've had shots that were in range, but they ran out of range as the target ran away from me. LIke when your trying to hit a high speed warship.

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

And the only reason I can think of doing that would be as a desperation shot, as the range to the target is not the same as the run distance for the torp. I've had shots that were in range, but they ran out of range as the target ran away from me. LIke when your trying to hit a high speed warship.

Fast moving single ships can be just as difficult, having to run at flank for a prolonged period to catch up in order to get a decent shot lined up wasn't unheard of. Extreme range shots were a hail Mary, most missed but there were a few that managed to hit and bag an extra 8000 tons or so with their last torpedo. Better to try and fail, than not try at all when you're on the way home or its your last eel.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Tessa

Fast moving single ships can be just as difficult, having to run at flank for a prolonged period to catch up in order to get a decent shot lined up wasn't unheard of. Extreme range shots were a hail Mary, most missed but there were a few that managed to hit and bag an extra 8000 tons or so with their last torpedo. Better to try and fail, than not try at all when you're on the way home or its your last eel.

Hear Hear! Not saying you shouldnt take those shots, just that if the opportunity to wait and take a better shot exists, then do that.

[B.N.R.T.]

Knowing the distance can also be useful to time attacks on different targets. Say you see two steamers in different rows of a convoy; if you know the distance between the two, you can calculate (I have a pre-made table listing all distances and torpedo run times) the difference in time you need to fire them. (If that makes sense.)

BUT! I got an idea yesterday. If you know the length of a ship and you know or can find out the number of degrees it spans in you UZO/periscope, the distance is a relatively simple calculation. I could make a table using different lengths and number of degrees. Question is: would this work? It would be less accurate at AoB other than 90* and at high speeds of the target, but it would give a good estimate.

And yes, I realise I could/should ask the 1WO the range to target, but as Kaleun, I should be able to handle every job myself.