How to calculate ACCURATE range without having to use the stadimeter?

[Paul Riley]

As you may know,I am playing my current patrol for the first time at 100%,without the god's eye mode.In the training academy I am finding it quite difficult in getting the target courses,due to not being able to calculate range very well with the stadimeter.The stadimeter is ok for a rough range value,but in order to verify the target course you obviously need to be able to verify the precise range at each plotting mark.I need to know if there is a better,more accurate way to get range,after which I will no doubt enjoy the game more once I am proficient with map updates off.

Can you also tell me how the real captains obtained range also?,and what tools they used.I understand a lot of time it may have been guessed by visual cues only,like how big the object appears in the scope.For example,on a clear day with a distant ship just visible on the horizon you can pretty much say it is between 6-7000m.

Thanks a lot

[Platapus]

The OLC mod takes away the Stad an implements a circular slide rule device to calculate range and AoB.

I like the OLC mod a lot, but it is, in my humble opinion, a rather advanced mod. It does not make the game any easier, but much more challenging (and to some extent more realistic -- if such a term can ever be used for a game)

Check out that mod. Like any mods it adds stuff and takes stuff away from the game. A good mod is one that takes stuff you don't like and adds stuff you do like in the game.

Good luck and good hunting

[Paul Riley]

Thanks a lot for that platapus.

Can I just ask,what does OLC stand for,and do I need to meet any specific requirements in order to use the mod?.

And lastly,what method do you use for getting range,and could you explain a little how that would work?.At the moment I am just making visual estimations on range,based on how big the ship appears in the scope.

The range factor is the only thing that is stopping me from making accurate course verifications

I almost forgot,can you give me a link to that mod?

Thanks mate

[Pisces]

OLC is short for Onelifecrisis. The person that made the mod goes by that handle here on the forum.

I am not sure anymore about compatibility with different flavours/mods of Sh3. He used to have different versions for each flavour. But at some point he managed to make a version independant release. He made several mods that contain these periscope changes:

OLC Gui 1.2.7 (modified scope optics and completely overhauled interface) (uploaded on my filefront page in a subfolder)
OLC Ubermod 2.43 (Environment changes plus single-magnification attackcope in OLCGui fashion) (uploaded on my filefront page in a subfolder)
OLC Gold (OLC environment2 plus OLC Gui for GWX 3 only) (not uploaded to my filefront page)

Here is a link for the OLC Gold so you can get an idea of what it is:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147667

The rangemeasurement is still a sort of stadimeter. Except the moving line is gone and you need to asses which mark is near the mastheight. The sliding scales then calculate the actual range. Following that the same scales can be used to calculate the AOB based on the appearant width. I think pretty similar like you seem to do using the mk1 eyeball. But this is more like the actual attackscope used by the germans.

[Paul Riley]

Thanks for that pisces,yer a great help mate

One problem I,if not others,seem to be having with the stadimeter is the unstable platform,due to the rocking of the sea,which is understandable,but is this realistic?.Would the scopes in WWII have had some sort of device/mechanism for steadying the scope?

Would it be feasible then in the realism settings to check the box that deals with this unsteadiness?

I am seriously considering having map updates back on though,if I keep having problems getting accurate range data

Again,thanks

[Pisces]

Good point. OLC suggests the stabilised periscope view is a reasonable approximation of the ease real commanders had. Because they too had a split-prism mechanism in the periscope as the Americans had and is modelled in Sh4. (except that it could also rotate 90 degrees for AOB measuring) With that split-prism you have 2 identical images of the sea and ship moving up and down in the same rate. It would be alot easier for your eyes to follow it and put one mast on the waterline of the other. Than to keep the waterline leveled (by hand-eye coordination) and also measure the height of the mast. Keeping your eyes at 2 places at the same time is very difficult.