Dick O'Kane lead angle question

[I'm goin' down]

you may be using the constant bearing method. See Rock n Shoals thread in the Skippers Bag of Tricks thread. Unless the target is going 0 kts. the TDC will compute a lead angle, even if the PK is not activated. In the constant bearing attack, you point the periscope at the bearing you will fire (i.e. 5, 25, or 60 degrees bearing.) Set Aob per the tutorial instructions. Input target speed and range. When the target crosses the wire, fire. The TDC will automatically input the lead angle. It is like O'Kane, but you can use it an any angle. Other than that, I am not sure what you are doing. In the constant bearing attack, Rock n Shoals indicates his boat is stationary. Of course, the target is moving.

[General Tso]

I'll explain in more detail. Assume that the target is a large freighter and it has already been ID'd using the book. First I get the target's speed and AOB using the navigation map (I can explain this part in more detail if needed). I enter the speed into the TDC and click on the red send to TDC button. I then enter the AOB into the TDC and click on the red send to TDC button. Then I use the stadimeter to get the range and click on the red send to TDC button to send range and bearing. I then start the PK. I update the above data as necessary as the target gets closer. I believe the description above is standard manual targeting as I'm goin' down explained in the post above. The part that was new to me is the individual targeting of parts of the ship as follows. I leave the PK on so that the TDC continues to track the target. The TDC is in the set range and bearing mode. I then move the scope's wire to the forward goal post of the freighter and click on the red send to TDC button without using the stadimeter . This sends the bearing of the front goal post to the TDC without changes the distance. I then fire a torpedo. I repeat the above with one torpedo to the stack and another to the rear goal post. The system seems to work perfectly and there isn't any extra complications. Plus I believe it was the actual method used by O'Kane (but I'm not absolutely certain of that). As mentioned above if this is a system that a lot of people are already using then I apologize for wasting everybody's time, but it's new to me and I didn't see it mentioned anywhere.

[I'm goin' down]

Originally Posted by General Tso

I'll explain in more detail. Assume that the target is a large freighter and it has already been ID'd using the book. First I get the target's speed and AOB using the navigation map (I can explain this part in more detail if needed). I enter the speed into the TDC and click on the red send to TDC button. I then enter the AOB into the TDC and click on the red send to TDC button. Then I use the stadimeter to get the range and click on the red send to TDC button to send range and bearing. I then start the PK. I update the above data as necessary as the target gets closer. I believe the description above is standard manual targeting as I'm goin' down explained in the post above. The part that was new to me is the individual targeting of parts of the ship as follows. I leave the PK on so that the TDC continues to track the target. The TDC is in the set range and bearing mode. I then move the scope's wire to the forward goal post of the freighter and click on the red send to TDC button without using the stadimeter . This sends the bearing of the front goal post to the TDC without changes the distance. I then fire a torpedo. I repeat the above with one torpedo to the stack and another to the rear goal post. The system seems to work perfectly and there isn't any extra complications. Plus I believe it was the actual method used by O'Kane (but I'm not absolutely certain of that). As mentioned above if this is a system that a lot of people are already using then I apologize for wasting everybody's time, but it's new to me and I didn't see it mentioned anywhere.

First, let's get the terminology straight so I know what you are trying to say.

The Stadimeter is on the upper right side of the screen and contains the three Attack Dials.

The PK is on the upper left side of the screen. You hit the PK button on the left side of the screen and it turns red, indicating that the PK is activated.

There are two dials on the TDC (upper left side of the screen). One is the ships' dials screen, and the other deals with torpedo speed settings/torpedo depth settings. We are discussing the ships' dials screen and not the torpedo speed settings/torpedo depth settings screen.

You are saying, I think, that you enter speed, aob and range via the appropriate Attack Dials. Next, activate the PK. As the target closes you check your Attack Dial settings for accuracy and refine them as necessary. This classic manual targeting. Here is your twist. Before you fire, you move your scope to the particular part of the target you wish to blow up, reset range on the Attack Dial without turning off the PK, and fire. According to your post, you hit the part of the target that you are aiming for, such as its stack by way of example. I have not done this, but I assume when you point the scope at the stack and click the range button on the Attack Dial (upper right side of screen, it adjusts the torpedo angle appropriately. You can see the adjustment, if there is one, on the ships' dials screen on the TDC (upper left screen) at the moment you click on the range button to send range (Attack Dial on the upper right.) to the TDC. All you are doing, I believe, is refining (adjusting) the lead angle based upon a new firing bearing.

I usually don't do this, but maybe it is a final adjustment to the firing solution that increases the odds of a successful impact. If I have restated your post accurately, let me know the range you are firing at and having success.

[General Tso]

Originally Posted by I'm goin' down

First, let's get the terminology straight so I know what you are trying to say.

The Stadimeter is on the upper right side of the screen and contains the three Attack Dials.

The PK is on the upper left side of the screen. You hit the PK button on the left side of the screen and it turns red, indicating that the PK is activated.

There are two dials on the TDC (upper left side of the screen). One is the ships' dials screen, and the other deals with torpedo speed settings/torpedo depth settings. We are discussing the ships' dials screen and not the torpedo speed settings/torpedo depth settings screen.

You are saying, I think, that you enter speed, aob and range via the appropriate Attack Dials. Next, activate the PK. As the target closes you check your Attack Dial settings for accuracy and refine them as necessary. This classic manual targeting. Here is your twist. Before you fire, you move your scope to the particular part of the target you wish to blow up, reset range on the Attack Dial without turning off the PK, and fire. According to your post, you hit the part of the target that you are aiming for, such as its stack by way of example. I have not done this, but I assume when you point the scope at the stack and click the range button on the Attack Dial (upper right side of screen, it adjusts the torpedo angle appropriately. You can see the adjustment, if there is one, on the ships' dials screen on the TDC (upper left screen) at the moment you click on the range button to send range (Attack Dial on the upper right.) to the TDC. All you are doing, I believe, is refining (adjusting) the lead angle based upon a new firing bearing.

I usually don't do this, but maybe it is a final adjustment to the firing solution that increases the odds of a successful impact. If I have restated your post accurately, let me know the range you are firing at and having success.

Your description is correct with a couple of exceptions.

First the TDC data entry tool is in the upper right corner of the screen. This tool is used for entering target speed, AOB, range, and bearing. The stadimeter is used to find the range to target. when you click on the proper button a second image of the ship appears and you line it up at the proper spot to find the range. On a real submarine I belive the stadimeter was a prisim located in the periscope housing.

Second when I am ready to fire I DO NOT set the range I just set the bearing. If my target is set up properly in the TDC then the PK is keeping the proper range for the center of the ship which is close enough.

So far this method has worked for me out to about 2400 yards with a AOB between 45 and 135 degrees. I haven't had a chance to try any longer shot and most of my shots have been from 1000 - 1200 yards with the AOB closer to 90 degrees.

If this is a new method and people are interested in it maybe I should start a new thread and go over it step by step.