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How To Use Torpedoes

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How To Use Torpedoes

#1
To make things even more simple, I'm french, so explaning maths and geometrics in a foreign language is not easy...

I played Silent hunter when I was a kid, and I remembered that there was someting about calculating the angle to shoot the torps without the calculator on board ( Silent Hunter is a reel sub simulation so its quite realistic). So I searched in my archive the manual....which I didn't found (only the year I bought it...1997...!)

Anyway did a small research on the web and.....found it on :

http://www.battlebelow.com/SHUM.htm

Ok now the topic: read appendix C of the manual. It's short and realy simple to understand when you've done a bit of math, even when your a foreigner.

So I did some test, because I didn't know the torp's speed and which angle is which Image Finaly when you understand how simple it is you will be able to shoot cargo ships at 3.5 kilometer with 1 or 2 torps Image . And it worked nicely on 5 other targets, so i think it isn't meer luck.

So if you are trying this pleas post your reactions, I only used the first aproximation (fig.1 of the manual) --->if you want to know what i'm talking about read SH's manual. ;)

Another precision, I test this with a DD only, because didn't had the problem with torps in a sub, but it's the same realy.

Keep in mind that you can't input the exact angle in ENIGMA but it gives you a good aproximation. I used 40 for torps speed seems to work, it's not 45 my torps kept missing the target.

If you realy don't understand how to calculate that angle PM me. If you can't calculate the angle but you kill boats with torps in a DD at 3.5km for dinner, don't bother! :lol:

Btw it's still interesting to understand how things works with torps, becaus it's the most powerful weapon you can use for the moment against surface target in a DD, after it's DC against those damn subs... Can't wait for those 15 inchs...

Good Hunting enigma!:

Donoby

Mmmh, maybe i should have post this in tips and tactics, maybe a moderator can do this... Thanks.

[Moderator: Moved to Tips & Tactics]

How To Use Torpedoes

#3
To sink a Freight ship of any type, with 1 torpedo, using Zoom X2

If youre approaching the vessel at its broadside (left or right side):

At range 0->800m aim directly at the bow of the ship.

At range 800->1400m aim about 1-1.5 ship lenght in front of the bow.

At range 1400->2100m aim about 2-2.25 ship lenght in front of the bow.

At range 2100->????m Ill leave it to you to find out out, start by shooting at closer range, you'll soon get around it :)

If youre approaching the vessel at its AFT/Bow (Front/Rear side):

Take not about its heading, as it most likely not moving in a straigt line off your bow.

At range 0->900m aim directly at the bow/aft of the ship.

At range 900->2000m aim 1-2.5cm (centimeter) to the same side as the ship is heading. (these maybe a little OFF as you have to calculate for the speed of the ship and thqat it may zig-zag or make a sudden turn.

Hit to a fleeing ship greater than 2000m away, you again have to notice its heading off your bow, they usually sails at full 9kts speed, and tends to change direction a lot. So you will have to fire a spread of 2 or more torpedos.

If you fire 4, try aim 3cm and 4.5cm to both sides (again it depends on its heading and speed).

****************************************************

Sinking warships:

Since they are a lot smarter than frieghters you need to be cleaver and lure them into traps, make them think you do what they expect, and then do the unexpected.

For instance, you will notice how CV's always heads straight at you while DE's & DD's tries to come around you.

A CV is very easy to sink, as it approaches you on your aft or bow, bring up your tac'scope and make sure youre are constanly facing its bow directly. when it gets in as close as less then 100m sink it, fire 2 torpedos.

A beginners tip: When it is coming in at you you can fire 1 torpedo straight at it to force it to evade, when you see which side it turns to, turn the same way and put 2 fishes in it (aim directly at the bow).

Note: use Zoom X1 for this.

DE's

If there is more than one of them they tend to circle around you, waiting for you to make your move or one of them may approach you.

Pivot around in the opposite direction of the way that the DE's circle, if they are within 500-600m use Zoom X1 and depth at 11m

Fire your fishes (3 at the time) 1-1.2cm in front of them; make sure to make good use of your AFT tubes while turning around.

DD's

They are never alone (or have back up not far away), and you can be sure that they will circle like the DE's but they will also go in for DepthCharge runs, 1 by 1.

Keep you depth as deep as possible while still being able to raise your scope (its around 11-14m depending on the sea condition).

When a DD is about to pass over youdive to 25-30m and right after it has passed over you, blow up to 9-11 meters and up with the tac'scope, rapidly turn so youre facing the ship that just passed over you, and give her all you got (a DD takes 4 before it sinks).

Note: This also works for sinking CV's/DE's

Torpedoboats:

To sink them with a torpedo you need all the luck you can get, best thing to do is surface and man the deckguns.

How To Use Torpedoes

#5
Ok I've done it. I've managed to programm on a Ti-92 to calculate the angle to lead. Just input your heading, the reading in the tactical periscop, the target's heading and it's speed, and the calculator does the rest...Did some test on 10 tankers in pratrol training. Sunk them with 12 torps ( the plus 2 is for long range shot with a little bit of spread, but tiny spread). Closest target sunk: 1.8 km. Best longshot: 3.1km. Average distance 2.3 km. Image

Of course I've made this to shoot tankers and oilers will DD and CV are far away ;)

So if you want to try this out and you've got a cable to link your calculator to the computer, well just ask and I'll send the program. Image

And it needs improvements...help would be welcome

BTW :enigma!:

How To Use Torpedoes

#6
Target distance only matters in the calculations if there is a range limitation on the torpedo you are firing, other wise:

Torpedo Speed/Target Speed/Target Heading/Target Bearing

are the only numbers needed to determine the direction your tube needs to be pointed to hit the target.

A quick trick if you are trying to line up your stern tubes for a shot with a program using the above data is to take the firing angle and add 180 if it is less than 180 and subtract 180 if it is greater than 180:

Firing Angle = 275 degrees

275 - 180 = 95

You bow is pointed at 275 degrees so your stern would be pointed at 95 degrees...

Firing angle = 16 degrees

16 + 180 = 196

I know this is elementary to math pros and people familiar with Sub Sims, but anyone new to these games or not very good with math may not know this and it helps if you can shoot well from the rear ;)

Btw, adding 180 to 180 gets 360 and subtracting 180 from 180 gets 0. 0 and 360 are the same angle...

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