The Hunt: An illustrated example of how to sink a ship

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

It's because this method solves for an intercept point using plots based on the same 'distance per kt of speed'. In essance you're solving:

"What course do I need to set so that the target and I arrive at the SAME POINT at the SAME TIME?"

Without going into the underlying trig, your intercept course will get you at YOUR speed to the same point the target will get at ITS speed in an identical amount of time - hence you will get there together. Plotted/calculated perfectly, you would actually collide.....:rotfl:

That's why the 'intercept speed x initial proportionality measure' circle is centred on the initial plot line for the target:
i.e. 1km per kt of speed of target = 6km line based on target's speed of 6kts
Hence, at an intercept speed of 12kts the 'proportionate circle' is a radius of 12 x 1 = 12kms, and this is centred on the point along the target plot 6km from initial plot point.

Hope that answered your question without making it more confusing!

Great info. thanks ! Looks like I was making it harder than it actually is

So basically, since you always want to get to the intercept point before the target, you must always travel to that point at a greater speed than what you used as a reference when plotting the intercept point, correct ?