Is there such a thing as too much information?

Jack Cutter · 11-17-10, 05:04 PM

Hey guys. I'm new to this forum, but not necessarily the game. I've been playing Silent Hunter 4 for awhile, but I still have lots of trouble with certain aspects of the game, mainly the ones involving heavy mathemactics....so basically 90% of the game eludes me.

Because of this; and I'm ashamed to admit it, I do not use manual targeting for the TDC.

I have come to terms with it. I just pretend someone else on my crew is much more competent with it than I am. (Imagine a Captain who couldn't aim? It's disgusting huh?)

But there is something I do need to learn, critically...that is, how to plot intercept courses. Now, I know there are hundreds of topics on this, and I've visited thread after thread in looking for this, but There is Actually TOO Much To Dig Through To Find What I Need. Now, I'm not complaining, it's great knowing that this place boasts such a wealth of knowledge on techniques that are, sadly, become extinct rapidly.

So, I guess my question is this: Where can I find an intercept course plotting tutorial, without having to dig through 800+ pages?

Thanks in advance guys!

Ducimus · 11-17-10, 05:16 PM

Someone wrote a tutorial here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=118988

Personally, i prefer to use a speed/range chart. Much easier.

Jack Cutter · 11-17-10, 05:50 PM

Thank you so very much! I also just managed to find a program someone made (completely seperate from Silent Hunter 4) that allows you to import images of the map and then make vector lines on the map to plot intercept courses. I assume some alt-tabbing would be involved...

Anyone used this? It's called MoBo.

I'll definitely ingest the contents of that thread link you posted. Thanks again for the stunningly fast reply!

I'm goin' down · 11-18-10, 03:05 AM

read Hitman's tutorial on manual targeting at 100 percent realism. When you figure it out, download the Easy Aob mod to plot the target's true course and you are on your way.

Fish40 · 11-18-10, 01:35 PM

Everyone has given some great advice, and I basicly follow all of the above. If you have radar, your job is much easier. I use the map contact "on" option. There is some debate on the realism of this, but if you notice, there is no realism hit weather you check this option or not. I used to do all the legwork myself, but that's not realistic either. The captain would not be manning the radar/sonar stations doing the target tracking. That's what the crew are for, and that's why there is no realism penalty.I won't go into the actual plotting procedure, because the posted tutorials say it all.

If radar is not installed on your boat, you have to do alot more searching. Be sure to situate yourself along major shipping routes, especially if you're useing the RSRD mod. This mod specializes in historic shipping traffic, and routes. Every couple of hours, if not every hour, do a sound search. I've cought many a target by picking up their noise from a long distance. If you do pick up a target, track the sound to give you a general idea of it's direction in relation to your boat. When you have a general direction, surface and "lead" the target at full speed, so as to cut it off. Run on the surface for a good half hour, and if contact is not made, dive and do another sound check. Determine if the sound is getting louder or not, and check direction again. Surface again, and continue the hunt. Once visual contact is made, hopefully at a safe distance, things get interesting. I use a downloadable, printable AOB/Course Finder made by Captn. Scurvey. I believe the thread is stickied above, so you could see what I'm talking about. This device is a great help in visualy determining a vessel's course, and AOB. The AOB mod by Nicolas, mentioned above, is basicly the same thing, but it uses the TDC dial. I use both.

Next, you need to determine the target's speed. If map contacts are on, mark the target's position on the map. Wait three minutes, and mark his position again. Draw a line and connect the marks, and that's the general course. Measure the distance between the marks, and that's a good value of the speed. IE:, 700yds traveled=7kts. This is all in the tutorials. Now you need to outflank your target, by heading on his course out of visual range, and get ahead of him. Once you are a good deal ahead, steer a course 90 degrees to his, to cut him off at a right angle. Submerge, reduce speed, and let him come to you. Keep updating the range and AOB until he is within fireing range (for me, 2000yds max!) and fire away! Make sure to set up the torpedoes beforehand, and open the outer doors before you fire.If you did it all correctly, you should hear some pretty loud booms in the end, unless of course the torpedoes were duds! But that's another story. Well, that's how I basicly track and intercept targets. Hope this as well as the tutorials give you some idea on how it's done. Practice makes perfect! Good luck, and good hunting!

Jack Cutter · 11-19-10, 09:21 PM

Thank you guys so much for the wealth of information!!! I really appreciate everything! You guys are great. I'll be absorbing these tutorials and all the given information for awhile.

11-17-10, 05:04 PM	#1
Jack Cutter Bosun Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 67 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	Is there such a thing as too much information? Hey guys. I'm new to this forum, but not necessarily the game. I've been playing Silent Hunter 4 for awhile, but I still have lots of trouble with certain aspects of the game, mainly the ones involving heavy mathemactics....so basically 90% of the game eludes me. Because of this; and I'm ashamed to admit it, I do not use manual targeting for the TDC. I have come to terms with it. I just pretend someone else on my crew is much more competent with it than I am. (Imagine a Captain who couldn't aim? It's disgusting huh?) But there is something I do need to learn, critically...that is, how to plot intercept courses. Now, I know there are hundreds of topics on this, and I've visited thread after thread in looking for this, but There is Actually TOO Much To Dig Through To Find What I Need. Now, I'm not complaining, it's great knowing that this place boasts such a wealth of knowledge on techniques that are, sadly, become extinct rapidly. So, I guess my question is this: Where can I find an intercept course plotting tutorial, without having to dig through 800+ pages? Thanks in advance guys!

11-18-10, 03:05 AM	#4
I'm goin' down Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Notify command we have entered the Grass Sea Posts: 2,822 Downloads: 813 Uploads: 0	manual targeting read Hitman's tutorial on manual targeting at 100 percent realism. When you figure it out, download the Easy Aob mod to plot the target's true course and you are on your way.

11-17-10, 05:16 PM	#2
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Someone wrote a tutorial here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=118988 Personally, i prefer to use a speed/range chart. Much easier.

11-17-10, 05:50 PM	#3
Jack Cutter Bosun Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 67 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	Thank you so very much! I also just managed to find a program someone made (completely seperate from Silent Hunter 4) that allows you to import images of the map and then make vector lines on the map to plot intercept courses. I assume some alt-tabbing would be involved... Anyone used this? It's called MoBo. I'll definitely ingest the contents of that thread link you posted. Thanks again for the stunningly fast reply!

11-18-10, 01:35 PM	#5
Fish40 The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yonkers, NY U.S.A. Posts: 1,507 Downloads: 154 Uploads: 0	Everyone has given some great advice, and I basicly follow all of the above. If you have radar, your job is much easier. I use the map contact "on" option. There is some debate on the realism of this, but if you notice, there is no realism hit weather you check this option or not. I used to do all the legwork myself, but that's not realistic either. The captain would not be manning the radar/sonar stations doing the target tracking. That's what the crew are for, and that's why there is no realism penalty.I won't go into the actual plotting procedure, because the posted tutorials say it all. If radar is not installed on your boat, you have to do alot more searching. Be sure to situate yourself along major shipping routes, especially if you're useing the RSRD mod. This mod specializes in historic shipping traffic, and routes. Every couple of hours, if not every hour, do a sound search. I've cought many a target by picking up their noise from a long distance. If you do pick up a target, track the sound to give you a general idea of it's direction in relation to your boat. When you have a general direction, surface and "lead" the target at full speed, so as to cut it off. Run on the surface for a good half hour, and if contact is not made, dive and do another sound check. Determine if the sound is getting louder or not, and check direction again. Surface again, and continue the hunt. Once visual contact is made, hopefully at a safe distance, things get interesting. I use a downloadable, printable AOB/Course Finder made by Captn. Scurvey. I believe the thread is stickied above, so you could see what I'm talking about. This device is a great help in visualy determining a vessel's course, and AOB. The AOB mod by Nicolas, mentioned above, is basicly the same thing, but it uses the TDC dial. I use both. Next, you need to determine the target's speed. If map contacts are on, mark the target's position on the map. Wait three minutes, and mark his position again. Draw a line and connect the marks, and that's the general course. Measure the distance between the marks, and that's a good value of the speed. IE:, 700yds traveled=7kts. This is all in the tutorials. Now you need to outflank your target, by heading on his course out of visual range, and get ahead of him. Once you are a good deal ahead, steer a course 90 degrees to his, to cut him off at a right angle. Submerge, reduce speed, and let him come to you. Keep updating the range and AOB until he is within fireing range (for me, 2000yds max!) and fire away! Make sure to set up the torpedoes beforehand, and open the outer doors before you fire.If you did it all correctly, you should hear some pretty loud booms in the end, unless of course the torpedoes were duds! But that's another story. Well, that's how I basicly track and intercept targets. Hope this as well as the tutorials give you some idea on how it's done. Practice makes perfect! Good luck, and good hunting!

11-19-10, 09:21 PM	#6
Jack Cutter Bosun Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 67 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	Thank you guys so much for the wealth of information!!! I really appreciate everything! You guys are great. I'll be absorbing these tutorials and all the given information for awhile.