Mod Request - “Odometer” Log

[derstosstrupp]

If anybody is interested, it would be great to have the odometer log that was in the tower of the boats. Picture below from U-505, and the VIIs had the same.



The top counter shows nautical miles traveled, with a zeroing knob to the left. The bottom counter allows the user to preset a certain number of nautical miles with the knob at the left. A signal would go off when that reached zero.

I’m not sure how feasible, however it doesn’t need to be the device itself modded, just simply a resettable odometer in some fashion. I don’t know the first thing about how to do it, but if anybody has the skill and interest….

Thoughts?

[SnipersHunter]

A must have for everyone who does navigation himself.

[gap]

Nice idea. The counter you are suggesting might or might not be scriptable as an UI feature. UI scripts are very flexible, and in the past UI modders have done miracles with them.

I doubt it can be added as a working 3D gauge in the CT though, since doing that would require a kind of controller which, to the best of my knowledge, is missing from the game.

[Aktungbby]

I'll look into this; ... EDIT: PM sent where it might do some good!

[derstosstrupp]

Thanks guys, great to hear! Completely understand about not making the actual device, but even just the functionality would be a tremendous improvement.

[gap]

Two thoughts.

- The SH5 world is based on the metric system, so maybe, if someone implemented this feature, it would be better/easier using km rather than nm as unit.

- We know for a fact that the game keeps track of fuel left on the boat. This is a function of kilometers travelled, but other variables like speed, diesel or electric propulsion and probably sea state, boat integrity, etc, come into the picture. All in all, inferring distance travelled from fuel consumption might be a PITA. Implementing the odometer would be a lot easier if the game kept track directly of distances covered. I am not 100% sure that this is the case, but TDW's automated scripts using distances as one of their variables (at least so I think), gives me some hope.

BTW, does anyone remember if somewhere within patrol logs kilometers travelled are recorded?

[Aktungbby]

I can't find that picture much less the actual German name of the device itself...and I looked through the gallery of U505 photos.... Geschwindigkeitsmesser für UBoote ?? https://uboat.net/forums/read.php?20,62562,62643

[derstosstrupp]

The photo in the OP is from my collection from a private visit to 505. In German it was called an “Entfernungsmelder”. Different than the kmotmeter (which was called “Fahrtmessanlage”).

I agree, kilometers would be fine to use. The real device based its output on speed through the water (from the knotmeter’s “pitot tubes”) and time. So I think the game one should be based on same if that is possible.

[SnipersHunter]

Any news on this? No modder interested in making such a tool?

[derstosstrupp]

Bumping this - anyone with expertise interested in making this?

[Dönitz78]

it's possible for sure, but it's a big job.
If anyone of you embarks on this project do not hesitate to contact me.

[grheiner]

Currently working on it. The basic functionality is more or less working, up to 99.9 km in metric system, after which it auto zeroes down although it doesnt look terrific yet. Can someone with some german knowledge translate to me if the upper part is the one which stores the meters after it is zeroed down, or the lower part it is? Also if someone would feel the urge could do the texture for it, Im really bad with GIMP, so it will be functionally good but wont look really cool.

[Aktungbby]

grheiner! Finally on the surface after a
3 year silent run! And thanks in advance for your work I researched it back in 2022 and asked a german Subsimmer to help out but have gotten nowhere with it since:

Originally Posted by a PM to me

Originally Posted by C*&%)$H
re the device photographed by Derstosstrupp in U-505, finally got a bit from a friend
He basically wrote that this "Wegstreckenzähler" (~"distance counter") obviously is a trip odometer coupled to the revolution counter of the engine. A planned distance is being entered into the device, and as soon as the boat has covered the distance an alarm sounds. Most probably done to ease dead reckoning (or could be also used to calculate distance made, against fuel level to get the mean fuel consumption – only my thought).
Best wishes,

[grheiner]

Ahh, yes I see, currently the mod is capable to sum up the speed*time in each second and puts it on a speedlike dial, and with a button you can zero it down and the number jumps into another dial, so we can mainly plot our turns way more precisely. Well, not exactly, because thatone would need another nomogram because we have to guess the radii of the turn, but it could be done. As for adjusting a given distance, I think it could be done, like the alarm clock functionality in TWOS. That wouldnt be too hard I think, but thats just a guesstimate. It is functioning, although not that cool loking. I have to play with the visibilities to hide it when it is not needed, then the basic Odometer is done. I think it will be ready till the end of the week.

[derstosstrupp]

Great to hear someone is working on it!

Here’s how it worked:
The speed log transmitter in the control room had a clockwork unit in it that was wound daily. It also had an odometer. Using that time element, and the speed in knots registered on the transmitter gauge, the odometer counted the nautical miles. It wasn’t tied in any way to the RPM gauges.

Every 0.1 nm, an electrical signal was sent to the repeater in the tower (the picture I originally posted), which changed that unit also by 0.1 nm. The top counter was resettable to zero and counted up from zero. The bottom counter was adjustable to a certain value via a key and counted down from that value. The operator would remove the faceplate and insert the key to adjust each digit. When the bottom counter got to zero, a buzzer would sound and the light at the top would shine.

Here is a little slide deck I put together showing how the speed measurement system worked in general, with info specifically on this unit as well:
https://docs.google.com/presentation...qHPdZyEfg/edit