Some slight AOB confusion.

[razark]

Welcome aboard!

Originally Posted by Tsaar

In the first situation I am inclined to put the AOB at 0 degrees. The only problem with this is my torpedoes just shoot straight ahead.

The first case illustrated is an AoB of 0 degrees, bearing 270. The second case is an AoB of 90 degrees starboard, bearing 270. You say the torpedo is going straight ahead. This makes me wonder if you are entering the bearing to the target.

Originally Posted by Tsaar

So basically I am treating it like the second situation except I put it at 90 degrees with a speed of zero (and I still usually miss).

The torpedo leaves your sub some distance away from your periscope. It then runs straight for a short time, and then turns to its final heading. Depending on the range of the target, it can take a considerably different heading than your line of sight. This is fine; if you have the range, speed, and AoB correctly entered, the TDC will put the torpedo on a course that intersects the target's course at the same time the target gets there.

Setting the speed to zero will cause this calculation to be incorrect, resulting in a miss.

Originally Posted by Tsaar

In all AOB calculations I see on the web it seems to have the sub perpendicular to the targets path. I seem to find my self running parallel with the ship quite often.

You should try to get your boat pointing away from or towards the target. The closer the torpedo's course is to your boat's course, the less room for error. You don't need to be at a 90 degree angle to the target course, and that can be bad early in the war, as the impact detonator will very often fail on a 90 degree shot. Try a 45 degree angle to the target track. Pointing your boat at the target also reduces the difference in line of sight to the target and the torpedo's actual course.

Originally Posted by Tsaar

For me I have been treating the target as a straight line with a point in the middle, and then treating myself as a point and calculating the angle. But this doesn't take into consideration the bearing of my sub (and torpedoes obviously come straight out of the front or back).

Sounds a reasonable way as any to figure AoB. As long as you get good numbers, the TDC should calculate the correct torpedo gyro angle.

Originally Posted by Tsaar

Am I doing it wrong, and need to make 100% sure I always attack from a perpendicular angle to the target's course?

Not always, but the closer you can get to firing the torpedo straight, the better it should be. Keep practicing, and I'm sure someone else will drop by to give you some more advice.