Questions on Sniping & manual aiming + Torpedo kg/suitable targets

[Kibbers]

So I've come back to this awesome game after quite a break. I need a refresher/some advice!

I'm using a Type VII A boat & T-III G7e torps in the area Securing the North Sea. I'm finding that even these torps sometimes give me only 1-2 red squares of damage, mostly without magnetic detonation (with +1m under the target keel I'm getting some torps pass under & not detonate). Should I upgrade to the T-IX G5ut Steinbutt + do all mag detonation? Almost all my attacks are at 90 deg angle.

Sniping/Manual aiming- https://youtu.be/UMz-Lp1SuTA?t=20m27s
This guy is using Marks on the map at points where the WO has calculated torp solution and then uses these marks to determine manual aiming/firing. Is this a good option for sniping at say 4-5k?

I refuse to use aimpro ;p I like the manual side of targeting, although I'm not really any good at it!

Any advice, much appreciated.

[Too_Short]

Welcome back to the game.

For torpedo damage, magnetic detonation set at draft +1m or draft +2m is the best result. If you are using only non-premium torpedoes, the only torpedo that can consistently one shot cargo ships and escorts is the Steinbutt, so I would highly recommend it. Otherwise you would require 2 torpedoes to guarantee a ship kill, although sometimes 1x G7e can sink a ship if you hit it perfectly, that really isn't something you can rely on.

As for sniping / manual aiming without aimpro, yes, that is totally possible. Here are 4 methods for you to choose from:

Right angle method:
1) draw the line of the course of your target.
2) draw a circle centered on your sub, with the edge of the circle just touching your target's course line.
3) mark the point where the circle touches the line, this is the point where your torpedo will hit the target. Then you may delete the circle.
4) use the ruler to measure the distance from your sub to the mark.
5) the distance you just measure divide by the speed of your torpedo, then multiply by the speed of the target. [e.g. 2536m / 40knots * 8knots = 2500/5 = 500m approximately] This is the number of meters you need to lead the target by.
6) draw a circle centered on the mark with radius equal to your lead.
7) when the target enters that circle, you fire at the mark.





Any angle method:
1) draw the line of the course of your target.
2) mark on the course line where you want the torpedo to hit.
3) measure the distance from your ship to the mark
4) measured distance divide by torpedo speed multiply by target speed. This gives you the lead in meters
5) draw a circle centered on the mark with radius of the lead you just calculated.
6) when the target enters that circle, you fire at the mark.





Stationary bearing method (requires looking up a sine table):
1) flood the torpedo tube, then select target the target with your periscope, so your periscope is now tracking the target
2) write down the bearing as displayed at the top of your periscope. This is the target's bearing with respect to your sub.
3) use the protractor to measure the "angle on bow" of your target. This is the angle between the target's course line and your course line, measured on the side of the bow (front end) of the target.
4) calculate sine(angle on bow) divide by torpedo speed multiply by target speed, then look up this number on sine table and get the angle it corresponds to. [arcsin(sin(angle on bow)/torpedo speed*target speed)]
5) If the target is crossing your sub's bow from port to starboard, you add the angle to the target bearing to get the bearing you want to shoot your torpedo at. If the target is crossing your sub's bow from starboard to port, you subtract the angle from the target bearing to get the bearing you want to shoot at.





Double circle method:
1) draw a big circle centered on your sub that just includes your target inside the circle.
2) draw a small circle centered on the point where you think the target will cross the big circle, the radius of this small circle is the radius of the big circle divide by torpedo speed multiply by target speed.
3) shoot at the center of the small circle when the target crosses its circumference.





The right angle method and the any angle method are best for when you are stationary and sniping at cargo ships in convoys from afar. The stationary bearing method is best when you are moving and the target is moving, but you can move in the same direction as the target. The double circle method is for when you are in trouble, and shooting at escorts that move around a lot, and you are moving around a lot too, especially in later phases.


You can use multiple subs to plan torpedo attacks that hit simultaneously. The best simultaneous attack I managed so far is 6/8 torpedos hit from 2x VII/Cs from 6km and 11km, with a II/D scouting in the middle of the convoy. That was extremely satisfying. I'm sure there is a lot of room for improvement on that, so do remember to post good results when you get them.

[Kibbers]

Thanks! This will help a lot- thanks for posting o7