Not quite getting this....using the PK

[Rockin Robbins]

I wonder if having different reference points for different targets isn't more confusing than just using mastheads all the time?

The real guys had heights of different parts of the target in the recognition manual, so they could choose whether to use stack height, cabin height, deck or masthead. Then they manually dialed that height into the stadimeter before they took the sighting.

Would that be cool or what? Unfortunately, the game is just a bit different, making necessary choices like Capn Scurvy made for SCAF.

Then there's the other reality angle, that we have great success in properly identifying our targets because we have only a few dozen and we know them all. The real captains misidentified more targets than they identified. That means that the stadimeter heights were set wrong to begin with and they had to know this and hit their targets anyway.

Their trump card was direct input of radar range into the TDC, which we do not have. As long as their radar was working range wasn't a problem for the real subs. Unfortunately the radar wasn't always working (another flaw in our game, which has a perfect radar). I read in one sub's log (O'Kanes?) that his radar quit working and he was going to have to spend twice as many torpedoes to get any hits from then on. Half the torps wasted because of radar malfunction! That's how important it was, and how unreliable stadimeter range was.

Oh, a possibility on your missing astern. There is one thing that will have you missing astern all the time. No, I just thought of another one! The most common reason is not opening the torpedo tube doors before you shoot. It takes 10 seconds or so for them to open, so it's best to open them before you start entering TDC data.

The second thing, and one that Werner doesn't cover at all is that the order you enter data into the TDC is vitally important. If you think about what is happening, you are constructing a virtual target in your computer, the TDC is the torpedo data computer, and making it move in the same place, speed and course as the real target. Let's enter the info in the wrong order and see what happens. First, flip on the PK and figure out the speed. It's 5 knots. Enter that into the TDC and the virtual target at whatever range the TDC already has (has nothing to do with your target!) starts moving on whatever course is already there at 5 knots! Then we'll measure the range with stadimeter. Now for a brief instant, the target is positioned on top of the real one, but it moves at the wrong course at 5 knots away from the real target. It will continue to run away until you input an AoB, which tells the TDC what the target course is. Finally you measure the AoB, the TDC position has now run away from the real position quite a distance and is moving the same course and speed. If you shoot, you'll miss. Understand?

Now let's do it right. First, enter speed and course to tell the target position which direction and how fast to move. ALWAYS LAST, do the stadimeter measurement to tell the TDC where he is. Then the TDC will plot the position and IMMEDIATELY begin to move it at the same course and speed as the target. It will remain right on top of the target so long as your measurements are right. You can check this on your attack map before you shoot. Provided your torpedo tube doors are open you will hit where you aim now.

Many problems with manual targeting accuracy come down to something as simple as what order you enter the data. Nobody covers this and I don't really know why. It's vital if you want to sink your enemy.