Hardcore TDC

[Rockin Robbins]

There are two problems with your setup. It's all explained in the Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread in detail.

First of all, you need to turn on the PK before you get a range/bearing input. Second the target speed and AoB have to be in before you input the range/bearing. I always turn on the PK first if I'm going to use it. That way I don't forget it.

But for the PK to do you any good at all, it has to move its phantom target aiming point right along with the real target. For instance, if you do it your way and get range/bearing first, sure the TDC knows where the target was. But the aiming point just sits there while the real target steams off. You're already behind the 8-ball.

Then you figure out the speed and enter it. There's no effect. The TDC continues to project the target at the exact spot where you took that range/bearing reading. The speed is in the TDC, but the TDC isn't using it to move the aiming point, so your real target is STILL steaming away from your aim point at full speed.

Now you're going to figure out the AoB and enter it. Well, that took a bit of time and the aiming point is STILL stationary while the real target is even further from that aiming point.

So NOW you're finally going to hit the PK button? Fine, you've got an aiming point that is trailing the real target by 100 yards times the number of minutes you took to do all that in the wrong order. If you did it all in one minute, you're off by 100 yards, enough to barely hit a large target on the stern, if he's close in. If you're shooting at a target 2000 yards away, just forget it.

1. Turn on PK
2. Calculate speed and enter it. Why? It takes the longest.
3. Enter the AoB. Why? You found the target course when you calculated the speed. It's available with no delay.
4. Take range/bearing. Your aiming point is already traveling at the same course and speed as your target. All you need to do to put it dead center is that range/bearing position. INSTANTLY when that point is plotted it begins moving at the speed and on the course you've told it to go. It stays exactly on the target.

Now you have an aiming point exactly centered on your target and if you entered all info correctly, you'll hit whenever you want to fire. If you think about the way I've explained it you'll have to agree that it is correct.