Calculating target speed

jdkbph · 04-14-07, 02:43 PM

Forgive me if this is just a misunderstanding on my part... I just got the game and haven't progressed too deeply... but I'm confused by all the discussion about target speed calculation and stop watches and slide rules and all. Unless I've missed something critical in the various discussion threads (there are many and widely dispersed - hence the new topic) there's something very wrong here.

Assuming we're working with a fairly accurate representation of a WWII era USN TDC (eg, Mk4), why are we trying to calculate target speed at all? Target speed is a TDC ouput, not an input.

For instance, a typical approach phase observation might look like this:

Assumption: the classification phase is completed, with the target ID'ed, the initial range and relative bearing fed into the TDC, and an eyeball speed guesstimate used to start the plot.

Observation 1 - relative bearing, range, AoB.

several minutes pass...

Observation 2 - relative bearing, range, AoB.

I should note that periscope exposure on each of these observations was kept to a minimum... in practice less than 20 seconds per. Somewhat at odds with my understanding of the use and function of the SH4 chronometer...?

Anyway... this info is fed into the TDC and plotted on the manoeuvring board after each observation. Given the initial parameters, and the results of the two subsequent observations, target speed is now known (ie, calculated by the TDC) to a reasonable level of accuracy, and will be continually refined with each additional observation.

The only time Speed, as an observed data element, is ever actually used as a TDC input is during the classification phase.

Is this not the case with SH4? Having waited since 1985 (MPS' Silent Service, and everything in between) for a real WWII USN fleet boat sim, it would be quite disappointing to find that they haven't managed to get this right.

JD

04-14-07, 02:43 PM	#1
jdkbph Captain Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 508 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 0	Calculating target speed Forgive me if this is just a misunderstanding on my part... I just got the game and haven't progressed too deeply... but I'm confused by all the discussion about target speed calculation and stop watches and slide rules and all. Unless I've missed something critical in the various discussion threads (there are many and widely dispersed - hence the new topic) there's something very wrong here. Assuming we're working with a fairly accurate representation of a WWII era USN TDC (eg, Mk4), why are we trying to calculate target speed at all? Target speed is a TDC ouput, not an input. For instance, a typical approach phase observation might look like this: Assumption: the classification phase is completed, with the target ID'ed, the initial range and relative bearing fed into the TDC, and an eyeball speed guesstimate used to start the plot. Observation 1 - relative bearing, range, AoB. several minutes pass... Observation 2 - relative bearing, range, AoB. I should note that periscope exposure on each of these observations was kept to a minimum... in practice less than 20 seconds per. Somewhat at odds with my understanding of the use and function of the SH4 chronometer...? Anyway... this info is fed into the TDC and plotted on the manoeuvring board after each observation. Given the initial parameters, and the results of the two subsequent observations, target speed is now known (ie, calculated by the TDC) to a reasonable level of accuracy, and will be continually refined with each additional observation. The only time Speed, as an observed data element, is ever actually used as a TDC input is during the classification phase. Is this not the case with SH4? Having waited since 1985 (MPS' Silent Service, and everything in between) for a real WWII USN fleet boat sim, it would be quite disappointing to find that they haven't managed to get this right. JD