Range determination

[Klaus_Doldinger]

Originally Posted by joegrundman

Fourthly, focus on closing the gap until the range is close enough that errors become less signiricant, fro example by holding the target on a normal approach course of 90/270 degrees.

Fifthly, if the weather is very rough it can be easier to just count the marks on the periscope and do the maths yourself to find an approximate range (also to be done if you have to use your obs scope for targeting)

With all these methods working together, poor weather is just a little challenge. If you are playing GWX you find the disadvantage of rough weather is much more than compensated for by the bad effect it has on your enemies sonar

So, if I´ve understood it correctly, the TDC is not useless, simply you must use it at a distance in which the errors will be irrelevant.

I´ll tell my own experience today. For hours I have been shadowing a convoy at 9.000 meters. From radio reports I knew that his estimated speed was 7 knots. At night I closed to the convoy. The calm with light fog had turned to 13mps winds with fog also. I submerged as the convoy made a course change and a escort closed to less than 4.000 meters, I didn´t wanted last minute surprises. I identified several ships and fixed a C3 at 1.500 meters, at 90º AOB more or less. The TDC gave me 7 knots. I fired without doubt and he received the two torpedoes, sinking ten minutes later. Without time to see the effect of the two first fishes I fixed a C2 at more or less 1.700 metres; the first calculation gave me 5 knots; I forgot it as in a convoy all vessels must have same speed and made a second calculation, 1.500 meters (rough seas made it difficult to keep the mouse to calculate height and I was very excited to calculate speed with the periscope crosshairs). The speed was 7 knots, AOB more or less 75º. I fired two torpedoes and BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!! (I only heard it as I ordered dive launching a decoy at the same time).

So... must I think that TDC really can work at close distance??

P.S.: I played GWX 1.03, 100%, no map contacts update.

I´d like to hear about your opinions. Thanks in advance.