Who actually uses the PK?

[Buffalo_Pat]

After a few hours of research I saw first hand the effectiveness of the Dick O'Kane method for accurately hitting your target. This is especially true if you are attacking a convoy from long-ish range to increase your chances of evading escorts. The PK seems flawed and and has much less margin of error. Convoys don't appear much more difficult as AoB and speed won't change between targets, only range, but Dick O'Kane method takes range out of the equation. The only time I can see using the PK is if you are really in a hurry (ie DD is bearing down on you and you send a fish his way to slow him down). Am I wrong in my thinking or am I missing something about effectively using.the PK?

[msumpsi]

Originally Posted by Buffalo_Pat

After a few hours of research I saw first hand the effectiveness of the Dick O'Kane method for accurately hitting your target. This is especially true if you are attacking a convoy from long-ish range to increase your chances of evading escorts. The PK seems flawed and and has much less margin of error. Convoys don't appear much more difficult as AoB and speed won't change between targets, only range, but Dick O'Kane method takes range out of the equation. The only time I can see using the PK is if you are really in a hurry (ie DD is bearing down on you and you send a fish his way to slow him down). Am I wrong in my thinking or am I missing something about effectively using.the PK?

Hi,

you cam use the method you described because your are playing Iwith map contacts update, and you just obtain the course and the speed from the navigation map. Try to use Okane method wiith map update off, i doubt it works since you have no means of getting the speed accuratly, which is the data the method is base on. So you have to use the optics ship identifycation and make measurements of range and bearing with TDC the, and then KP is usefull. I use it. Maybe you can use D Okanes method with map contacts update, but it will not me easy to manouver to get in a 90 egree angle of the target cause you will not know his course with much accuracy untill he is close to you to measure with the optics. Maybe the error coul be such that attemting to shoot at about 1000 yadrs you will fin yourself in the midel of his path, and even that he is crossing you on tha stern an not at 90 degress, and the you have to rely on the TDC and the KP. If you learn how to use it properly is pretty good device, but most people do not know how to use it properly, either because is ifficult or because is pretty ba explain on any manual.

[razark]

The PK is useful, because I can input the target's course, bearing, range, and speed and not have to worry about keeping track of him. I can go under, maneuver, keep the scope down, etc. With a quick glance at the PK, I know where he is and if I have a good shot. With DOK, I would need to be in a specific location relative to the enemy. It's a useful tool, but it doesn't cover every situation. The more tools you have (and know how to use), the more likely you are to turn Imperial shipping into artificial reefs.

Originally Posted by msumpsi

Try to use Okane method wiith map update off, i doubt it works since you have no means of getting the speed accuratly, which is the data the method is base on.

Two bearing/range fixes can give you his speed and course, as accurately as your readings. Visually, radar, sonar, or by map contacts. As long as you have two plotted positions, you can figure it out. You don't even need to ever see the target to hit it.

[msumpsi]

Originally Posted by razark

The PK is useful, because I can input the target's course, bearing, range, and speed and not have to worry about keeping track of him. I can go under, maneuver, keep the scope down, etc. With a quick glance at the PK, I know where he is and if I have a good shot. With DOK, I would need to be in a specific location relative to the enemy. It's a useful tool, but it doesn't cover every situation. The more tools you have (and know how to use), the more likely you are to turn Imperial shipping into artificial reefs.


Two bearing/range fixes can give you his speed and course, as accurately as your readings. Visually, radar, sonar, or by map contacts. As long as you have two plotted positions, you can figure it out. You don't even need to ever see the target to hit it.

If you play an S boat you do not have rador for vry long time, and the accuracy of the actve sonar is hilarious.

[razark]

Originally Posted by msumpsi

If you play an S boat you do not have rador for vry long time, and the accuracy of the actve sonar is hilarious.

For realism, you shouldn't be using the TDC in an S-boat anyway. Slide rule and stopwatch, paper and pen, ruler and protractor.

Playing an S-boat can be a completely different game.

[msumpsi]

Originally Posted by razark

The PK is useful, because I can input the target's course, bearing, range, and speed and not have to worry about keeping track of him. I can go under, maneuver, keep the scope down, etc. With a quick glance at the PK, I know where he is and if I have a good shot. With DOK, I would need to be in a specific location relative to the enemy. It's a useful tool, but it doesn't cover every situation. The more tools you have (and know how to use), the more likely you are to turn Imperial shipping into artificial reefs.


Two bearing/range fixes can give you his speed and course, as accurately as your readings. Visually, radar, sonar, or by map contacts. As long as you have two plotted positions, you can figure it out. You don't even need to ever see the target to hit it.

Originally Posted by razark

For realism, you shouldn't be using the TDC in an S-boat anyway. Slide rule and stopwatch, paper and pen, ruler and protractor.

Playing an S-boat can be a completely different game.

Well, I play RFB which does not allow SCAF or OTC and so the marks of my optics are anything but real, so i have to use the TDC.

[Fish40]

I'm also a RFB user, and also use the TDC with great success I may add. With RFB, you need to take range measurements from specific parts of the different classes of ships. Merchantmen= Highest Mast, Warships= Top of Funnel, Carriers= Top of Flight Deck. In reality, the highest point on any ship was used as reference for range, but in the sim, this was found to be inaccurate.

As far as the DO method goes, I have also used this with success as well. As long as you have an accurate speed calculation, you're good to go. I still use this method, but mostly in very low vis. situations. With Radar, I can obtain course and speed, and with Sonar determine his bearing. When his bearing is close (can't visually see him), I fire my spread.

[Armistead]

I seldom use OK method. I use rather difficult tweaked settings, so I don't want to be stuck to a fixed position that can leave me broadside to an escort. I prefer to attack as close as possible in the middle of convoys, so I need to get past escorts, which means constant turning and evading. Once I have the TDC set, I'll unlock target and shoot by the wire, setting new bearings as they cross the wire.

[TorpX]

I usually am not using the TDC, but if I was I would certainly use the PK.

Part of the reason it seems less useful to you, is due to the limitations of the game. In RL, enemy ships would often zig-zag, and this would in turn often require the sub to maneuver. RL skippers had it harder than we do.