Originally posted by Curval
Wotan, maybe you can answer a question I have:
The little triangle reticule in the UZO or periscope that changes colour can be set to point up or point down. Why is that? Is it to target magnetic torps better by having the triangle pointing up (ie pointing at the underside of the ship)?
It's basically an aim bot.
Why it flips up or down I think has to do with the angle of your scope and simply flips to allow you to know which way to adjust. I don't use it so I can say for sure.
I do everything manually. It doesn't take a whole heck of a lot to take over the weapons functions. You can practice making your plots while using the map markers and the aim bot and pretty soon you will pick it up.
You can even have your weapons officer do it all. Just order him to.
There's several keys you will want to remember when doing it manually.
q = open tube doors.
w - closes them but this seems to be an automatic function after the tops are fired. You don't need to worry about closing them after firing. If you don't fire close them before you head deep.
This will prevent any delay in torp launches if you open the tube doors before you wish to fire.
CTRL + Page UP / Page DOWN will fully extend your attack periscope (CTRL + INSERT / DELETE for the observation 'scope). You don't need to be in the periscope postion to use this function.
I typically stay in the sonar shack listening for contacts, getting bearing etc.. In rl I spent 6 years riding 688 class sub as a sonar technician. So the sonar shack is like home.
I never leave my 'scope up for more then the few seconds it takes to locate, id, range in and plot a target. I then lower jump to the map and make my plot then head back to the sonar shack.
Then repeat. While jumping around I can have the 'scope going up or down and ready when I jump back.
The hardest thing about no map markers is is creating a viable search zone based on BDU reports. As I described above you want to do everything you can to come up with the smallest search area. Once you get the hang of that killing them is easy.
Get in close, and then closer and you can't miss. Set magnetic with a depth +1 over draft and let umm go.
I am on my tenth patrol and have near 450k tons sunk. I stay with a convoy and try to kill the escorts. Its only August '40 in my current career. I was about killed by a flower corvett. I didn't realize they had asw capabilities. I just assumed it was an 'armored trawler'.
I spotted him covering then northern flank of an out bound convoy. It was heavy Seas so no deck gun. I went to flank on the surface to close then went to periscope depth.
He spotted me and came right at me as I submerged. He fired his guns but missed and I was going to hit him with an aft shot as he crossed behind me.
I suddenly heard pinging and thought a destroyer was near. I went hard right rudder and came around just as the corvett released its depth charges.
45% hull damage and a wounded radio men. I dove quickly to 60m and got the hell out of there.
