Manual Targeting Tutorial for a Parallel Attack

[irish1958]

Very nice:
"Keep up the good work"

[Otto Heinzmeir]

Thanks, its all updated and I hope I caught all the typos.

I'd like to point out that this method of determining AOB angle is not limited to Parallel attacks.
Parallel course and matching speed to targets are preferred but not necessary. The advantage of a parallel attack at matched speed is that the AOB angle remains fairly constant allowing you more time to enter it into the TDC. So its a good way to start learning manual firing.

If need be, I may expand this tutorial to demonstrate the same methods used above but at a different angle of approach.

[Otto Heinzmeir]

Thanks, I enjoyed doing it.

Excuse these crude diagrams, did them really fast. Just wanted to show one of the advantages of doing a near parallel attack versus a more angled approach. These diagrams are to show what the actual target size would be like for the running torpedo fired from the subs from two different approaches. Notice from the parallel attack the actual target size is nearly the entire broadside of the ship while in the 2nd attack run, the actual target size is noticeably smaller. It's not an optical allusion but could be measured.

This was a historical type attack used in real life. If you also match the speed of the target, it is a way of double checking your plotted speed as well.

[Otto Heinzmeir]

I haven't written any others but there are some good ones out there. Wazoo's manual for one and a thread titled 'The Hunt" The fast 90 is probably the best way to start to learn manual. I did this tutorial in the navy tutorial because in my mission I was constantly in 15MPS winds.

Its best to start in the navy tutorial and pick a ship that doesn't turn. The C2 or medium cargo that is just off to your left when the torpedo tutorial loads is perfect. Turn your duds off before you start and make sure your external camera is on. Then get lined up and just plot the ship for 15 minutes and practice setting the TDC manual.

Perfect TDC settings mean zilch if your off on the targets speed by 1 knot. In my example the ship was only doing 2.3 kts but if it was doing 15kts the results would be the same as long as I estimated its speed correctly. So plotting is the real key.

Check out this link, it was a big help to me.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...highlight=hunt

[Pisces]

Perfect tutorial!!! I can't think of anything to add or do different.

[Threesixtyci]

Any specific reason why you fire one torp at a time instead of switching to S mode?

[Otto Heinzmeir]

Originally Posted by Threesixtyci

Any specific reason why you fire one torp at a time instead of switching to S mode?

A couple reasons. One is it just got to be a habit with me because I first learned the fast 90 method and fired from 500m. From that range in stock SH3 there was a good chance of sinking a ship with 1 torpedo. So I got in the habit of firing just 1 torp and seeing where it hit and with what effect. Being I was so close doing a fast 90 (the torp running time was like 22 seconds) I had plenty of time to fire a second if necessary. (note I think the ships in GWX don't go down as easy) So anything over 8 tons and and just fired 2 right away but still do it seperately.

None of that would apply though in this situation, from 2000m. But I still don't like salvos because none of the torpedoes go where you aim the crosshairs. Where you point the crosshair is the center of the salvo and then each torpedo goes a certain number of degrees off that center depending on what you choose for the spread.

I always aim one torp at the stack. Actually in the example above I was a bit in front of the stack because I was pre-occupied with making screen shots. If you have enough time to do 3 to 5 plots of the target you can get enough accuracy to to aim one at the stack and one in between center and bow.

If I was firing 4 torpedoes then I probably use a salvo with a 2 degree spread from 3500m, provided I ever get weather in game where I can see that far again.