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Tankerace -> RE: How does a submarine plot a target (10/20/2004 1:08:05 AM)
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This applies to a US sub using a Mk 1 Torpedo data computer.
Captain sights a target. Using a Japanese ship identification handbook, the commander gets a rough idea of the size of the ship. He uses this to guess (yes, guess) the range of the ship (If the sub has SJ radar, then he can use its radar bearing to get the range). He calls out the range, and the bearing. Bearing is determined by looking at the top of the scope. Numbers on their indicate the degree bearing on the scope in relation to the front of the sub.
Speed is determined by the bow and stern wakes, plus how oftern the CO must move his scope. The larger the wakes, andthe more the CO has to move the scope, the faster the target is going.
The entire process is guesswork, and the majority of the time the numbers are wrong. That is why wou fire a spread. You fire 4 torpedoes, angled a few degrees apart, at where a target SHOULD be, and with luck 1 or 2 might hit.
If you want to do it all manually, I suggest you take a calculus class, because you have to figure target course and speed, your course and speed, torpedo speed, distance, etc etc. Very very hard work. The TDC was a life saver.
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