I'd like some navigation advice, I'm a newbie

DirtyACE · 07-29-07, 07:58 PM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I'm going to make it easier on myself and try some simple ways of intercepting the target, and eventually I'll work in the additional stuff that most of you veterans use.

I have managed to sink my first ship ever in career mode last night. It was a small merchant, only about 2600 tons, but a kill nevertheless. Took me a good three tries to get his course right. It also seemed like he changed course slightly eventhough I'm playing a stock SHIII. Anyway, I managed to set up perfectly, plus it was just passed 3 AM so it was dark. I put one torpedo into its starboard and then surfaced to finish him off with the deck gun, but by that time he was already going down like a sack of rotten potatoes.

I'm pretty happy. I'm continuing on my course to patrol AL16, but have just spotted another ship so we'll see if I can make it 2 in a row.

Thanks again!

Canovaro · 07-30-07, 01:48 AM

Well done! And good luck with that second target.

TarJak · 07-30-07, 02:11 AM

Keep up the good work!

07-30-07, 06:33 AM

Draw a line representing the target course.

Draw another line from the target to your u-boat's position and then a few inches further.

Draw a circle from the target position with the radius equal to the speed of the target.

At the intercept point of the circle and the target's course, draw another circle with the radius equal to the speed of your u-boat (usually full speed of 16 - 19 knots depending on the weather).

Using the angle tool, look for the intercept point of the second circle with the line from target to u-boat. Measure the angle at this point using the line from the u-boat and a line to the intercept point of first circle and target's course.

Again using the angle tool, transpose this angle at the point of the u-boat with lines from the target to u-boat and a line from the u-boat toward the target course. This line is your new and accurate intercept course.

This method takes into account your current position relative to the target, the target's course and the ratio of the speed of target and the speed of the u-boat.

Hope this is helpful. It is very had to put into words so I hope you can understand it.

Canovaro · 07-30-07, 06:44 AM

Something like this:

- Note that the contact will be reported a little later than it is spotted (click on the target symbol and look at the time).
- Remember that any contact will have a 4000-7000 radius in which it can spot you. Be there a little early.

DirtyACE · 07-30-07, 10:36 PM

Wow! Thanks guys for the detailed info. I will try this out as soon as I spot my next contact. I did manage to sink a second ship on the same patrol. It was another small merchant, apparently from Polish navy (I saw the flag). I'm about halfway to my assigned patrol area.

I have couple more questions:

1. How exactly do you guys calculate the contact's speed? Do you just assume it's 6 knots if he's slow and 9 knots if he's medium? That's what I've been doing so far.

2. I've read that many people run submerged durring bad weather. What exactly is the purpose of this? Does the crew get tired quicker if you sail while surfaced in that kind of weather?

TarJak · 07-30-07, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyACE

1. How exactly do you guys calculate the contact's speed? Do you just assume it's 6 knots if he's slow and 9 knots if he's medium? That's what I've been doing so far.

Thats all you need to do. Until you are working out your firing solution you don't need to be more accurate than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyACE

2. I've read that many people run submerged durring bad weather. What exactly is the purpose of this? Does the crew get tired quicker if you sail while surfaced in that kind of weather?

In GWX there is a fatigue penalty for having a crew on the watch tower which I believe is greater when in bad weather. Mind you if you play with no fatigue or run at TC >64x then this isn't an issue. Depending on how you play and how many crew you have running submerged can be worse because you then have to put 4 more crew into bunks. If you are not careful about which compartment they are in they may fatigue faster than if they were up top.

07-30-07, 06:33 AM	#4
von Zelda Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Intercept Course Draw a line representing the target course. Draw another line from the target to your u-boat's position and then a few inches further. Draw a circle from the target position with the radius equal to the speed of the target. At the intercept point of the circle and the target's course, draw another circle with the radius equal to the speed of your u-boat (usually full speed of 16 - 19 knots depending on the weather). Using the angle tool, look for the intercept point of the second circle with the line from target to u-boat. Measure the angle at this point using the line from the u-boat and a line to the intercept point of first circle and target's course. Again using the angle tool, transpose this angle at the point of the u-boat with lines from the target to u-boat and a line from the u-boat toward the target course. This line is your new and accurate intercept course. This method takes into account your current position relative to the target, the target's course and the ratio of the speed of target and the speed of the u-boat. Hope this is helpful. It is very had to put into words so I hope you can understand it.

07-29-07, 07:58 PM	#1
DirtyACE Engineer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 213 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I'm going to make it easier on myself and try some simple ways of intercepting the target, and eventually I'll work in the additional stuff that most of you veterans use. I have managed to sink my first ship ever in career mode last night. It was a small merchant, only about 2600 tons, but a kill nevertheless. Took me a good three tries to get his course right. It also seemed like he changed course slightly eventhough I'm playing a stock SHIII. Anyway, I managed to set up perfectly, plus it was just passed 3 AM so it was dark. I put one torpedo into its starboard and then surfaced to finish him off with the deck gun, but by that time he was already going down like a sack of rotten potatoes. I'm pretty happy. I'm continuing on my course to patrol AL16, but have just spotted another ship so we'll see if I can make it 2 in a row. Thanks again!

07-30-07, 01:48 AM	#2
Canovaro Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,062 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Well done! And good luck with that second target.

07-30-07, 02:11 AM	#3
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Keep up the good work!

07-30-07, 06:44 AM	#5
Canovaro Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,062 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Something like this: - Note that the contact will be reported a little later than it is spotted (click on the target symbol and look at the time). - Remember that any contact will have a 4000-7000 radius in which it can spot you. Be there a little early.

07-30-07, 10:36 PM	#6
DirtyACE Engineer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 213 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Wow! Thanks guys for the detailed info. I will try this out as soon as I spot my next contact. I did manage to sink a second ship on the same patrol. It was another small merchant, apparently from Polish navy (I saw the flag). I'm about halfway to my assigned patrol area. I have couple more questions: 1. How exactly do you guys calculate the contact's speed? Do you just assume it's 6 knots if he's slow and 9 knots if he's medium? That's what I've been doing so far. 2. I've read that many people run submerged durring bad weather. What exactly is the purpose of this? Does the crew get tired quicker if you sail while surfaced in that kind of weather?