TDC

[Cooter1966]

If I'm not using manual TDC(still learning) are there some things you can't do when getting a firing solution? Like split-image stadimeter, ortrying to manually adjusting for speed? I love the complexity of the game, but it is a steep learning curve. Another thing(not part of this topic) I noticed the sun rises at 10:30/11:00am and sets at 10:00/11:00pm, is this a bug, or does using time compression too much, screww it up?

[Roger Dodger]

Originally Posted by Cooter1966

Another thing(not part of this topic) I noticed the sun rises at 10:30/11:00am and sets at 10:00/11:00pm, is this a bug, or does using time compression too much, screww it up?

If you put your cursor over the little time indicator on the lower right side of the screen, you will get a more complete time indicator in the center that says something like "Time at home base."

If you travel East across four time zones (very real possibility), Sunrise/set will advance four hours. If the sun rises at 0600 and sets at 1800 (at home base), then at your patrol zone it will rise at 1000 and set at 2200.

Yeah, took me awhile to figger that one out too.

[Cooter1966]

Duh, Christ, I should have thought of that. Thanks

[Powerthighs]

One thing you can try while playing with manual targeting on is to leave the map contacts on. You should be able to get good measurements of a target's course and speed on the map if you can see him.

[Cooter1966]

I got map contacts on, I'm only playing at 52% realism, yup.. noob, but when I'm using scope theres a couple of things like split-image and speed dial thingey that won't work and I want to know if thats because it's auto-targeting(semi-auto)

[Roger Dodger]

Originally Posted by Cooter1966

I got map contacts on, I'm only playing at 52% realism, yup.. noob, but when I'm using scope theres a couple of things like split-image and speed dial thingey that won't work and I want to know if thats because it's auto-targeting(semi-auto)

Sounds like you're on Auto-TDC. The Range/Target Speed indicators should display by themselves. You do not need to adjust these (assume that you are calling out these numbers to your weapons officer). The Auto-TDC gives you an indicator arrow (red/yellow/green) when on target. Hit the 'L' key to Lock the arrow. Then you can manuever, or just wait for the target to sail into a good solution (green arrow). About the only things you can change are the depth of torpedo run (+/- 6 ft.) and Gyro Offset. Beware of the Gyro Offset - a 1 degree left/right Gyro Offset makes one hell of a difference when your target is 4000 yards away (4000 yards is over 2 MILES away).

When you are 'L'ocked on a target, the gyro offset is set for you. Take a look at the attack map; you can see the torpedo track. If you want to shoot for different places on the ship, you have to adjust the periscope sight to take this angle into account. In other words, you have to 'lead' the target (like when you're shooting flying birds or a running deer) as indicated on the attack map. If your target is at 010, and the torpedo track is 000, you have to lead the target 10 degrees.

(Hey, if I'm all wet here, someone correct me - I haven't gotten any hits yet just aiming at a target w/o taking the torpedo track into account).

FYI, I just checked the math (using AutoCAD cause I'm math inhibited). At 4000 yards, a 1 degree difference is 70 yards (210 feet). So if your target is 4000 yards away, and you set your gyro offset to 1 degree left, your torpedo will be 70 yards to the left of your aim point when it arrives. That's more than enough to miss the target.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Cooter1966

I got map contacts on, I'm only playing at 52% realism, yup.. noob, but when I'm using scope theres a couple of things like split-image and speed dial thingey that won't work and I want to know if thats because it's auto-targeting(semi-auto)

That's correct. If you're doing manual targeting, they will work.