Manual targetting question.

[Harald_Lange]

I'm playing manual TDC, and I can pretty much hit stuff more often than not, but I must admit to not being 100% confident with the methods.

I usually plot the ships track, and then park myself 90 degrees perpendicular to it, ( at periscope depth as I always seem to get spotted making surface attacks. I think I have a double agent on my watch crew who must be flashing a torch at them every so often)

At periscope depth I'll usually be pretty close, say 6-800m, and this is what I do.

1. Centre my attack scope at 0degrees, and open up the TDC controls.
2. Calculate the speed using the 3m15s technique, set the AOB to be 90degrees, (in the relevant direction)
3. Input the ships speed and range, set the shot angle at 0 degrees (if necessary)
4. Set my fish trigger and depth, and then, this is the part I'm not confident with:
5. I set the TDC and then turn my attack scope slightly towards the target so my bearing angle (or whatever its called) reads 000. I then open the tubes & sit there until the ship comes in front of the cross hairs.

All of this works well, I'm just not sure about any other methods. Does the fact that I move my crosshairs so that my angle reads 000, mean that I'm predicting the position that the torpedo will hit when the ship is dead ahead of me, at ninety degrees? So for example, if the AOB was say, 70degrees, and i input the data, I would then turn my crosshairs so that it still read 000? and then that would be the predicted position the fish would hit when the ship arrives at a 70degree angle?

Pardon me if I'm not making myself clear, but of all the tuts I've watched, none really explain the 'why', at least not well enough for me to grasp it :P

I'd appreciate it if someone could explain the methods used.

[sublynx]

Originally Posted by Harald_Lange

( at periscope depth as I always seem to get spotted making surface attacks. I think I have a double agent on my watch crew who must be flashing a torch at them every so often)

i think attacking surfaced is very difficult. You could try shooting from a range of 2000 - 4000 meters and keeping your boat at a depth of 6 or 7 meters, deck awash.

Originally Posted by Harald_Lange

Does the fact that I move my crosshairs so that my angle reads 000, mean that I'm predicting the position that the torpedo will hit when the ship is dead ahead of me, at ninety degrees?

I think yes and no.

No in the sense that gyro angle tells you the angle of the torpedo after it leaves the tube. 0 angle means the eel moves straight, 1 degree angle means the eel will make a 1 degree turn after launching, 90 degree angle means the eel will make a perpendicular 90 degree turn after launching.

Yes in the sense that the method you described tries to make sure that the torpedo will hit the target perfectly at a 90 degree angle minimizing dud risk and minimizing the effect of any errors in the shooting calculations.

Originally Posted by Harald_Lange

if the AOB was say, 70degrees, and i input the data, I would then turn my crosshairs so that it still read 000? and then that would be the predicted position the fish would hit when the ship arrives at a 70degree angle?

I don't usually set up for angled shots, so maybe someone else will be able to help you here.

I think you can make two kinds of shots when you at an angle towards the enemy:
1. A straight torpedo run despite the U-boat and the ship being at an angle: you shoot with a gyro angle of 0 and minimize the calculation risk, but then your eel will hit the target at an angle, risking a dud shot.
2. A curved torpedo run: you shoot with a gyro angle that makes your eel turn enough to hit the target at a 90 degree angle minimizing the risk of a dud but then the torpedo is turning and that makes the risk of a miss bigger.

[Harald_Lange]

Thanks very much for taking the time sublynx, much appreciated!

[benitorios]

Originally Posted by sublynx

I think you can make two kinds of shots when you at an angle towards the enemy:
1. A straight torpedo run despite the U-boat and the ship being at an angle: you shoot with a gyro angle of 0 and minimize the calculation risk, but then your eel will hit the target at an angle, risking a dud shot.
2. A curved torpedo run: you shoot with a gyro angle that makes your eel turn enough to hit the target at a 90 degree angle minimizing the risk of a dud but then the torpedo is turning and that makes the risk of a miss bigger.

Good advice . I'd add that 70 degrees is probably as high as you'd want to go. Any higher than that and the risk is high the torp will not detonate if its pistol is set on impact. On the other hand, this kind of angle is better when using magnetics, since the torpedo will travel a slightly longer distance under the target's keel.
I would usually favour option 1.

[Obltn Strand]

Originally Posted by Harald_Lange

I'm playing manual TDC, and I can pretty much hit stuff more often than not, but I must admit to not being 100% confident with the methods.

I usually plot the ships track, and then park myself 90 degrees perpendicular to it, ( at periscope depth as I always seem to get spotted making surface attacks. I think I have a double agent on my watch crew who must be flashing a torch at them every so often)

At periscope depth I'll usually be pretty close, say 6-800m, and this is what I do.

1. Centre my attack scope at 0degrees, and open up the TDC controls.
2. Calculate the speed using the 3m15s technique, set the AOB to be 90degrees, (in the relevant direction)
3. Input the ships speed and range, set the shot angle at 0 degrees (if necessary)
4. Set my fish trigger and depth, and then, this is the part I'm not confident with:
5. I set the TDC and then turn my attack scope slightly towards the target so my bearing angle (or whatever its called) reads 000. I then open the tubes & sit there until the ship comes in front of the cross hairs.

All of this works well, I'm just not sure about any other methods. Does the fact that I move my crosshairs so that my angle reads 000, mean that I'm predicting the position that the torpedo will hit when the ship is dead ahead of me, at ninety degrees? So for example, if the AOB was say, 70degrees, and i input the data, I would then turn my crosshairs so that it still read 000? and then that would be the predicted position the fish would hit when the ship arrives at a 70degree angle?

Pardon me if I'm not making myself clear, but of all the tuts I've watched, none really explain the 'why', at least not well enough for me to grasp it :P

I'd appreciate it if someone could explain the methods used.

That's pretty much how I do it. Except...

Originally Posted by sublynx

i think attacking surfaced is very difficult. You could try shooting from a range of 2000 - 4000 meters and keeping your boat at a depth of 6 or 7 meters, deck awash.

Night attack is actually relatively easy and one clear advantage versus periscope attack is better maneuverability. I attack lone merchants at 1000m or less and convoys 1500-2000m. It's a rare occasion when merchant spots me, can't say same about escorts though

[Harald_Lange]

Cool stuff, guess I'll try a night attack this evening if I strike lucky

[Obltn Strand]

Originally Posted by Harald_Lange

Cool stuff, guess I'll try a night attack this evening if I strike lucky

That's how I do it:

- Plot target's speed and course at a distance of ~5km.
- Approach target hull down (depth 6-7m) keeping your profile as small as possible.
- Lie in wait and attack from preplanned position.

Fair warning! When attacking armed ship, it's wise to launch more than one torp or hunter can become prey.

[sharkbit]

Originally Posted by Harald_Lange

Cool stuff, guess I'll try a night attack this evening if I strike lucky

Well worth trying, especially early war. Mid 1942 on and it gets very, very difficult while tackling a convoy. Singles are still pretty easy but beware the guns. They can ruin your day...I mean night.

Pulling off a sucessful night surface attack against a convoy and escaping on the surface while watching the escorts shoot strshells off in the wrong direction because the escorts have no idea where I am has probably been THE most satisfying experience in SH3 for me as well as one of the most nerve wracking.

I've only managed to really do it a few times. Most of the time, the escorts pick me up after the torpedoes hit or I push just a little toooo close and get spotted and have to run.

When you get late war, making surface attacks against convoys with radar equipped escorts becomes almost impossible. I find myself making submerged attacks at dawn/dusk/daylight more and more. By mid to late 1943, even that borders on suicide. Why pick on convoys anyway?