Just getting back into SH4, some things have changed...

[Lawndart]

I hope you guys aren't sick to death of the old questions but I'm encountering a few differences from my memory...

1) My torpedoes are blowing up shortly after leaving the boat... this didn't happen very often before but now it's happening 50% of the time... Is this because of duds or are my torpedoes running to shallow?

2) Ok I promise I'll learn radars and sonar’s as well as manual targeting but until I get reacquainted I can't seem to get a hit with all the firing aids... I lock up a ship, open the tubes, fire, and they are WAY off... I hit the "set" button on the left pull out window, it automatically gives me the ship name, speed, and bearing... but my fish go much further in front of my target... is this because an update compensated for opening the tube? Does the lock no longer automatically incorporate the values in the TDC?

That's it for now... It's nice to be back... Things seem a lot more polished in the stock game... Something very therapeutic about Silent Hunter...

[Arclight]

1. You would do well to disable the magnetic trigger (it causes the torpedo to detonate prematurely). At least they won't go dud untill they hit something.

2. Don't know about auto-target, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly who does.

[SteamWake]

1.) Try using the slow speed setting espically in rough seas. Use contact fuses and set them shallow.

2.) If your using auto targeting keep your fingers off the pk

[Fishie]

Are you using any mods at all? If so, please list them.

1) set for contact only. Regarding depth- they should be set for -5 under sea state or 1/2 the draw, whichever is shallower.

2) basic rules for a torpedo solution in auto mode- Open your doors and have your torps set BEFORE you target the bad guy. DO NOT touch the PK button no matter WHAT the hell you do. After you've locked onto the target, fire. The longer you let it sit, the worse your solution is going to be- I never ever let it sit for longer then it took me to unleash all of my torpedoes.

Also, limit your periscope exposure. If you're sitting there waiting for the torps to go off, someone's gonna see you, and then your solution will be turned to hell VERY quickly.

Finally- go manual. C'mon, man. It's what being a sub captain is all about!

I just nailed three tankers in HORRIBLE conditions, and I threw my arms up in victory!

My wife, however just

It was worth it. 3 Tankers, 6 fish later I'm sittin pretty and I just found a lone Medium tanker out by Luzon. He's gonna cross my stern at 900m. He has NO idea what he's in for. Poor bastard

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Fishie

Finally- go manual. C'mon, man. It's what being a sub captain is all about!

Actually thats what being a weapons specalist and tactician is all about. Captains had bigger things to worry about than AOB

But thats another debate and manual targeting is fun.

[Lawndart]

Thanks for the info, it does appear diffrent... I remember the lock constantly accounting for the changing calculations. That seems to have changed... and not touch the PK, check!

That makes a lot of sence about locking and firing right away... It's not like my fish werent going the general direction, just way off.

It kind of stinks that the magnetic detonator is on by default but these issues did happen in rough seas...

I also noticed that I have to hit the PK for an accurate display of distance, maybe this is happening automaticly and I'm just not being patiant enough... I know, go manual and I don't have to worry about learning the gimp way... I'll look into it after I get my feet a little more wet.

I DO miss the U boats abulity (SH3) not sure about uboat missions...) to change the hight of the periscope, I now have to adjust the whole boat... and I also REALLY miss the salvoes too... Not to mention I miss my proper WO... I liked working with someone to get my readings/solutions...

Oh, and no mods yet... but Real enviornments I installed last night but I haven't loaded it up yet. I've also identified many videos online that I need to watch, I'll do that this evening.

Thanks again guys, really appriciate the re-education.

[Arclight]

You can adjust the periscope in height without maneuvering the whole boat, exactly the same way as in SH3. And a salvo is still possible, it's just not automated anymore.

[Lawndart]

Doh! I'm going to have to RTFM...

[Fishie]

Let us know how ya turn out, Lawndart!

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Actually thats what being a weapons specalist and tactician is all about. Captains had bigger things to worry about than AOB

But thats another debate and manual targeting is fun.

As I understood it, didn't the Captain man the 'scope and call out the information for the WO manning the TDC?

From what I've read the captain would give a range and bearing, lower the scope, then go for a 2nd observation, and from that point (provided the target wasn't zigging), the plotting crew could plot and calculate AOB/speed right there using the is/was and a protractor.

Then, the shooting observation, doors open, everything confirmed as checked with a quick bearing based on what the PK said it would be.

If everything matched, the shoot would happen per normal, if not, the Captain was responsible for correcting the information "Scratch it, AOB use 60 degrees, speed same, bearing mark! Range mark! Bearing mark!", lower the scope, and initiate firing sequence as ordered.

....but I could be wrong

[Lawndart]

AAR... So I managed to sink 4-5 merchants last night but all with the deck gun... My patrol has me in some zero visibility weather... I've been hanging out for days waiting for merchants so I can complete this patrol... so far I've been dodging aircraft and avoiding the 2 task forces (destroyer and subhunter) they seem to have sent after me... they know I'm there, but they can't find me... Amazing what a small amount of imagination adds to this game...

I installed Real environments and was blown away, so real... After playing I feel like I need a shower to get all the salt water off...

What happened to the little action movies that used to pop up when a plane was attacking or a fish was close to a ship? I rather enjoyed those...

Does Uboat add back SH3 functionality or is it exactly like Wolves of the Pacific but with a German vinear?

[Vandrith]

Originally Posted by Lawndart

AAR... So I managed to sink 4-5 merchants last night but all with the deck gun... My patrol has me in some zero visibility weather... I've been hanging out for days waiting for merchants so I can complete this patrol... so far I've been dodging aircraft and avoiding the 2 task forces (destroyer and subhunter) they seem to have sent after me... they know I'm there, but they can't find me... Amazing what a small amount of imagination adds to this game...

I installed Real environments and was blown away, so real... After playing I feel like I need a shower to get all the salt water off...

What happened to the little action movies that used to pop up when a plane was attacking or a fish was close to a ship? I rather enjoyed those...

Does Uboat add back SH3 functionality or is it exactly like Wolves of the Pacific but with a German vinear?

I know right? Imagination is everything.

Those are action movies or something like that, they can be enabled under the realism settings.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Actually thats what being a weapons specalist and tactician is all about. Captains had bigger things to worry about than AOB

But thats another debate and manual targeting is fun.

I agree the skipper was in chargee of the boat not the TDC. Granted he would know how to do it but there where other junior officers doing this job not the skipper.Nothing wrong with playing with auto-target on or off just depends on what you like to me i dont care what setting someone plays at and i dont find having contacts on as cheating either there where guys plotting this data in real life and in the game some like myself the TMO style plotting helps me visualize better.But like the others said dont touch the pk only set the torps speed and deapth.

[Ssgt_Wolverine]

Originally Posted by Lawndart

Thanks for the info, it does appear diffrent... I remember the lock constantly accounting for the changing calculations. That seems to have changed... and not touch the PK, check!

That makes a lot of sence about locking and firing right away... It's not like my fish werent going the general direction, just way off.

It kind of stinks that the magnetic detonator is on by default but these issues did happen in rough seas...

I also noticed that I have to hit the PK for an accurate display of distance, maybe this is happening automaticly and I'm just not being patiant enough... I know, go manual and I don't have to worry about learning the gimp way... I'll look into it after I get my feet a little more wet.

I DO miss the U boats abulity (SH3) not sure about uboat missions...) to change the hight of the periscope, I now have to adjust the whole boat... and I also REALLY miss the salvoes too... Not to mention I miss my proper WO... I liked working with someone to get my readings/solutions...

Oh, and no mods yet... but Real enviornments I installed last night but I haven't loaded it up yet. I've also identified many videos online that I need to watch, I'll do that this evening.

Thanks again guys, really appriciate the re-education.

Can someone tell me what in the HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL is the PK? ok ok ok am cool, ok am cool.

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Ssgt_Wolverine

Can someone tell me what in the HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL is the PK? ok ok ok am cool, ok am cool.

PK=Position Keeper

[Ssgt_Wolverine]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

PK=Position Keeper

Thank you and where is that PK please location in the sub, sorry am a noob. Also where can I get the manual that will teach me manual targeting please?