I'm totally hopeless when it comes to torpedo attacks...

[mungojerry311]

In the years and years of my on-and-off playing of this game I don't think I've ever made a successful torpedo attack on a target. I don't want to use the auto solution because that's cheating IMO. I've watched and read plenty of tutorials but somehow that knowledge doesn't transfer to actual gameplay for me. The sheer amount of dials in the TDC is dizzying to me. I just draw a blank whenever a target gets spotted. I could go on and on but that's the gist of it.

Anybody got any words of wisdom for me?

[pikke]

I'm not that good either but I improved somewhat doing this:
1) create a "test" career at the very beginning of the war
2) find yourself a suitable target, a single merchant on a fine day is ideal
3) save the game as soon as you spot the target
4) stop there, pick up pen and paper and plan your attack in advance, write down a checklist of the things you are going to do. My advice is to run you first attacks from very close (600m or less) and an ideal angle (90°, either port or starboard)
5) do every step, take your time by pausing the game when needed and write down the data you got (target heading, speed, torpedo settings, and so on)
6) write down (or take a screenshot) of your TDC settings just before the attack and write down what you expect to happen (i.e. hitting the ship right under the funnel)
7) open the torpedo tube (I find this difficult to remember)
8) fire your torpedo!
9) cross your fingers! this is a very important step!
10) see what happens, write it down and compare it with what you expected trying to figure out what was wrong (i.e. wrong extimated target speed, incorrect AOB and such)
11) add or remove steps from your checklist if need be
12) save and exit, reload the engagement and run it again trying to fix what went wrong
13) rinse and repeat
14) once you get it right most of the time, change your attack plan (i.e. increase the range, attack from ahead or from astern with less than ideal angles, give yourself less and less time to gather the data, etc)
15) rinse and repeat
16) when you are confident on your results let yourself be spotted so that your target will be zigzagging and...guess what?...see below
17) rinse and repeat
18) play as much as you can and have fun!


Some people have the talent, others need practice...I need practice and lots of fingers crossed!


Have fun!

[John Pancoast]

"Fast 90" attack. Simple, accurate, etc. Google it for various links. Also, learn how to tell the target speed via just looking at the smoke/bow wave of the target(s). Just takes a little game time experience/experimentation.

[kyle9154]

I use the attack disk either the one that comes with ARB GUI mod or the other one that comes with MAG UI. easy instructions to follow and once you do it a few times its like second nature.

ARB Widegui RAOBF


MagUI RAOBF

[mungojerry311]

Thanks guys. I've also heard of people using the mission editor to make a practice scenario. I imagine that's an option as well?

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by mungojerry311

Thanks guys. I've also heard of people using the mission editor to make a practice scenario. I imagine that's an option as well?

Yes, but the ones in the academy will work just as well.

[bstanko6]

If I could chime in. The real secret to a successful torpedo attack is a structured plan.

1) identify your target.

Without properly identifying your target in the recognition manual, you will not have the information on the ship to calculate the numbers you need. It could take a while to do this.

2) calculate the speed

Once identified, you MUST calculate speed. The ID and speed will not change once you figure them out (unless you are discovered), so once you have this information, you can rest easy at having 2/3 of the vital information needed to make your attack.

3) Angle on the bow

This is the one thing that will prove most troublesome. This can change several times because it gets more accurate as the target gets closer. It is dependent on your point of view. But once you figure this out, you are in the zone.

Other aspects such as weather, depth under keel, draft, will add more complexities to your calculation but stick with the big 3. Practice in the academy. You will get there. But stay structured.

As you play as long as I have, you can learn how to shoot snapshots, and 33 deg convoy attacks.

Good hunting

[From the Deep]

I'm a bit late to the party here but here's a link to my method:

Skip to about 13 minutes, for a hydrophone hunt, I'm hoping my explanation of "AoB" is useful.

[mungojerry311]

Another update for you guys. I did the torpedo acadamy mission (training mode of course). I fired a two torpedo salvo at the unmoving Tramp Steamer and I missed! Huh? I'm baffled.


If I can't hit a stationary target how can I possibly hit a moving one?

[kyle9154]

Well if you can't learn from the videos and in-game tools provided then just play with the weapon officer and then you can fire with a 90-95% chance that your torpedo will hit, I think that will be better for your play style. subsims is just too much in depth for some people to grasp and learn so there's realism difficulty options to make it more arcade/easier with less things you have to manage in game. Plus using the weapon officer is better then using auto targeting because it gets rid of that stupid targeting arrow on ships when you look at it with periscope and you have to ask your WO for new torpedo data after every 10 seconds or so because of the target moving or getting closer/AOB changing etc. It only gives you the data/reading for that point in time when you locked on and requested the data from WO.

[bstanko6]

If you launched a torpedo at a 0 speed 90deg AOB target, and you double checked your solution… it’s either the mods you are using or your understanding of the game.

Turn off all mods and go vanilla… if you still can’t hit a stationary target, then I will send you your official papers stating your release from the Memel Naval Academy because you are not proficient for this game.

If you turn off the mods and hit it… you have a conflicting mod.

That is literally all I can say at this time.

[Pisces]

Originally Posted by mungojerry311

Another update for you guys. I did the torpedo acadamy mission (training mode of course). I fired a two torpedo salvo at the unmoving Tramp Steamer and I missed! Huh? I'm baffled.


If I can't hit a stationary target how can I possibly hit a moving one?

The tramp steamer scoots out of the path of the torpedo once it notices you fired on it. So it is not strange that you missed. I don't remember if you have electric torpedoes loaded in that training mission, but if you do, use those type 2 torpedoes. They don't leave a wake. Or keep your periscope down while it is on it's way.

But if the AOB is not correct set into the TDC compared to the bearing dial (or in vanilla SH3 it is called heading I think) then the torpedo goes the wrong way. It might help if you post a screenshot of your TDC dials and attackscreen.