Manual TDC-how do you save an attack that goes wrong?

supposedtobeworking · 09-07-08, 02:44 PM

I am a manual TDC guy and I recently started playing SH3 again and last night encountered a convoy. I have been at this a while and made usual preparations to calculate an intercept position and 90AOB perpendicular shot. There was a battleship in the middle of the convoy which I had wounded from an earlier attack and that was my target and goal...I had all calculations...calculated...and they were correct. I was about 900m away from the BB undetected still, when I think at that point either became detected, or the convoy changed course. So now my target data deteriorated fast and the BB was on a new course heading away from me, but was still not too far away at around 1000m.

so my question is what do you guys do when this happens and your perfect solution becomes null, but you are in the middle of the frickin convoy?? Is this situation salvagable and if so, how do you save it? What methods can be used to calculate a quick solution when the target turns away, eliminating a 90AOB shot, from you but is still close enough to fire a torpedo with a good chance of hitting? This has to happen to alot of people and as the saying goes, the perfect plan is the flexible plan (I may have made that up...) Basically I just want to know what everyone does when this happens and how each person tries to save what was and still could be a successful hunt.

Drakken · 09-07-08, 05:22 PM

1000m is still good for a magnetic shot as it will go under the BB's keel. If you set the speed at Fast you can still get a hit, as a BB is rather cumbersome to veer away.

Aim in the middle, decrease the speed on the TD a bit, change the AoB, and fire ahead. Or you could fire at salvo.

supposedtobeworking · 09-07-08, 06:06 PM

ok thanks...what about if the target is zig zagging...any rule of thumb on how to judge AOB, speed etc?

kylania · 09-07-08, 06:32 PM

Spam torpedos everywhere, dive and hope for the best!

Pisces · 09-07-08, 06:34 PM

If you are on his side (in 90 degrees position) his zig-zagging isn't going to help him much. A radical course change (90 degrees), or bigger weaving (60+ degrees) would be better. His average speed will reduce only some because most of the speed is still directed along his course. If this weaving starts when he's close to crossing your bow (likelly he detected your torps) there is not enough time for the BB to slow down (average speed) and avoid it's bow to get hit. And his length is still going to present a huge angle in which your torps may still be able to hit. I.e. Nelson is 216 meters long. At 1000m range it presents an angle of 12 degrees. Don't count on a hit at a specific location though. But I hate wasting torpedo's or not get them where I want them so I'll probably give up the attack and go back to tracking mode.

joegrundman · 09-07-08, 07:46 PM

If it's zig-zagging (although the whole zig-zag thing is a little unrealistic) just remember that the base course is unchanged, so you can keep your original solution and do the following check

a) if at close range (up tp 1500 yards) just wait until the target is coming on to present somthing like the expected AOB for the position...and fire
b) if at longer range you have to take into account that the net speed of the target will be a little slower - in this case move the target speed down one knot and fire a spread

nirwana · 09-07-08, 08:15 PM

It really depends if its a scheduled course change or just a standard evading measure. If its evading use ure calculated AOB and add the same value as the target change course away from u to the bearing (not to the AOB). Works also in case it changes course towards u. In that case substract it.

If u wanna be on the safe side fire extra eals with same setting every 5s without updating the bearing to the target.

But if ure that close at 90 degree the standard setting zero bearing, AOB 45 with correct speed set u cant really miss.

If its a drastic scheduled course change i have no choice then to prepare a time consuming new approach.

09-07-08, 02:44 PM	#1
supposedtobeworking XO Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 436 Downloads: 59 Uploads: 0	Manual TDC-how do you save an attack that goes wrong? I am a manual TDC guy and I recently started playing SH3 again and last night encountered a convoy. I have been at this a while and made usual preparations to calculate an intercept position and 90AOB perpendicular shot. There was a battleship in the middle of the convoy which I had wounded from an earlier attack and that was my target and goal...I had all calculations...calculated...and they were correct. I was about 900m away from the BB undetected still, when I think at that point either became detected, or the convoy changed course. So now my target data deteriorated fast and the BB was on a new course heading away from me, but was still not too far away at around 1000m. so my question is what do you guys do when this happens and your perfect solution becomes null, but you are in the middle of the frickin convoy?? Is this situation salvagable and if so, how do you save it? What methods can be used to calculate a quick solution when the target turns away, eliminating a 90AOB shot, from you but is still close enough to fire a torpedo with a good chance of hitting? This has to happen to alot of people and as the saying goes, the perfect plan is the flexible plan (I may have made that up...) Basically I just want to know what everyone does when this happens and how each person tries to save what was and still could be a successful hunt.

09-07-08, 06:32 PM	#4
kylania Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,528 Downloads: 118 Uploads: 0	Spam torpedos everywhere, dive and hope for the best! __________________

09-07-08, 07:46 PM	#6
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	If it's zig-zagging (although the whole zig-zag thing is a little unrealistic) just remember that the base course is unchanged, so you can keep your original solution and do the following check a) if at close range (up tp 1500 yards) just wait until the target is coming on to present somthing like the expected AOB for the position...and fire b) if at longer range you have to take into account that the net speed of the target will be a little slower - in this case move the target speed down one knot and fire a spread __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

09-07-08, 05:22 PM	#2
Drakken Planesman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 194 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 0	1000m is still good for a magnetic shot as it will go under the BB's keel. If you set the speed at Fast you can still get a hit, as a BB is rather cumbersome to veer away. Aim in the middle, decrease the speed on the TD a bit, change the AoB, and fire ahead. Or you could fire at salvo.

09-07-08, 06:06 PM	#3
supposedtobeworking XO Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 436 Downloads: 59 Uploads: 0	ok thanks...what about if the target is zig zagging...any rule of thumb on how to judge AOB, speed etc?

09-07-08, 06:34 PM	#5
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	If you are on his side (in 90 degrees position) his zig-zagging isn't going to help him much. A radical course change (90 degrees), or bigger weaving (60+ degrees) would be better. His average speed will reduce only some because most of the speed is still directed along his course. If this weaving starts when he's close to crossing your bow (likelly he detected your torps) there is not enough time for the BB to slow down (average speed) and avoid it's bow to get hit. And his length is still going to present a huge angle in which your torps may still be able to hit. I.e. Nelson is 216 meters long. At 1000m range it presents an angle of 12 degrees. Don't count on a hit at a specific location though. But I hate wasting torpedo's or not get them where I want them so I'll probably give up the attack and go back to tracking mode.

09-07-08, 08:15 PM	#7
nirwana Sonar Guy Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 380 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	It really depends if its a scheduled course change or just a standard evading measure. If its evading use ure calculated AOB and add the same value as the target change course away from u to the bearing (not to the AOB). Works also in case it changes course towards u. In that case substract it. If u wanna be on the safe side fire extra eals with same setting every 5s without updating the bearing to the target. But if ure that close at 90 degree the standard setting zero bearing, AOB 45 with correct speed set u cant really miss. If its a drastic scheduled course change i have no choice then to prepare a time consuming new approach.