Angle on bow.

[Ragnarok]

I honestly, even after reading the manual, still can't make any sense of this. When I use angle tracking on the data computer, when they are straight on in front of me, its 0 degrees... but its actually 90 degrees right? Well, how do I determine actual angles? People are saying its not needed to be accurate, but in my experiences... im always missing.

So, is there a way to learn how to do this? I can't ever figure it out and im getting frustrated.

[Igoooor]

Hi,
the AoB is the value how your view on the target ship is. If you see the left or right side and the front 0 to back 180.
The dial in the TDC is actually ok to get the idea.
An example:
https://imgur.com/a/VEJwcrY
We obviously look at the left side of the ship, we see more of the back that the front (it's heading away from us) so we must be in the 90 - 180 degree area.
On the other hand, we see more side than back, so we're inside 90 - 135 degrees.
As my disc has a scale I would "guess" it to be like 110 - 115 ;)

Best thing to practise this is the "training" mission where you can see the AoB on the map.

[Valen]

AOB is how the target captain must turn his head to look at you.
The TDC already knows where the target is from your point of view. (by the angle tracking selector) So you do not need to set it yourself (although you can by selecting the off state and set the heading dial) It also knows the own Uboat course by a hidden connection to the Uboat gyro-compass. From those it can derive the target course.

This should also help:
Subsim.com AOB guide: https://www.subsim.com/tips/wolfpack/aob.htm

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Valen:

AOB is how the target captain must turn his head to look at you.
The TDC already knows where the target is from your point of view. (by the angle tracking selector) So you do not need to set it yourself (although you can by selecting the off state and set the heading dial) It also knows the own Uboat course by a hidden connection to the Uboat gyro-compass. From those it can derive the target course.

This should also help:
Subsim.com AOB guide: https://www.subsim.com/tips/wolfpack/aob.htm

So if I use the angle tracker on the attack periscope, I don't need to set the AOB at all myself?

[Igoooor]

No, you just don't have to adjust it once is set.
So if you overtake the convoy from a distance wait for the perfect 90 degree AoB and set the TDC accordingly while aiming for the ships center. As long as you don't switch targets it will remain correct!

Pro tip:
If you know the enemies course, you can aim you AP at that course (low black direction meter) and set the AoB to 180 (as you would be seeing the back). Thanks to the auto-adjust your AoB will be still correct if you aim on target

[Valen]

You need to set it once. You only need to adjust the AOB dial if the convoy members change course. Your course changes are automatically adjusted. The good thing about convoy members is that they are all moving in the same direction. Once to turn the periscope to another relative bearing, the AOB angle is adjusted in the same amount.

[Igoooor]

Originally posted by Valen:

The good thing about convoy members is that they are all moving in the same direction.

As long as they are not "alerted" (spotted an uboat or something got hit by a torpedo).
Other exception are military ships that regularly switch speed and direction...

[Valen]

Originally posted by Igoooor:

Originally posted by Valen:

The good thing about convoy members is that they are all moving in the same direction.

As long as they are not "alerted" (spotted an uboat or something got hit by a torpedo).
Other exception are military ships that regularly switch speed and direction...

Yes, I meant in their normal non-alerted state.

[Ragnarok]

All of this is just completely confusing. The only one that might help is the guy who posted the link. I could use that as a visual reference.

[Igoooor]

There were only two guys and both posted links ;)
If I've got too much spare time (which I don't have much of) I'll drive a circle in the tutorial mission around a training boat and take screenshots every 5 degrees of AoB,
arrange them on a grid on one sheet of paper with the corresponding captions - et voila - visual comparison for the win ;)

[Valen]

What exactly is confusing? Where do you feel it is contradictive? I think we both said the same thing, but with different words in the hope it presents a broader explanation. I am sorry we, or atleast I, failed in that.

[Valen]

Basically, put yourself in the spot of the target captain. Try to visualize that. Then look at your Uboat. What angle must you turn?

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Valen:

Basically, put yourself in the spot of the target captain. Try to visualize that. Then look at your Uboat. What angle must you turn?

I dont know angles at all. Its the visualization of things. The one he posted thats 3d looked really nice and when I play again, ill be using that as help.

[Igoooor]

Well, you'll need a 3D printer for that one, but the paper part below can be done with a regular printer ;)

the discs can be found at another topic:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/490920/discussions/0/1742264309470637269/

[Ragnarok]

I meant for visualization. I can alt tab and look, and study it more.

[Valen]

Originally posted by PanzerShrek:

Originally posted by Valen:

Basically, put yourself in the spot of the target captain. Try to visualize that. Then look at your Uboat. What angle must you turn?

I dont know angles at all. Its the visualization of things. The one he posted thats 3d looked really nice and when I play again, ill be using that as help.

Fair enough, 3d visualisation isn't easy for every one. But with effort it can be learned though I think. The important part of the former discussion and our attempts to help is to point out exactly which angle you are supposed to consider. Your first message indicated that you think it is the viewing direction of your periscope or UZO. I hope we made that clear it is the similar angle from the target side. Now we can move on to provide tips for definite cues of some specific angles.

Like Igoooor wrote, you can learn how ships look at various angles in the tutorial mission. There is a checkmark on the map to show the range and AOB an speed of that moment. Either pass them along side from behind to forward, or start from ahead and pass alongside on a reverse course. The later is the quickest. With the former you have more time to look. Then you get every angle of AOB. Pay attention how certain structures are glanced away. How some masts are hidden behind other structures. Look how much of the far side island (deck ridge) extends beyond the near side, or vice versa. Some angles are easier to distinguish than others. If side-by-side masts (kingposts) overlap you can be sure that the AOB is 90 degrees. Take your time until this is exact. This is known as the kingpost-90 method. If you notice that the apparent width of a ship is half of what it would look from side-on (AOB=90) then it's actual AOB is 30 degrees. If there is a square/cubic structure on the target that looks symmetric along it's diagonal then (both side faces of the cube are equally wide) then the AOB is 45 degrees. The same applies for angles greater than 90 degrees where you would see the back side of structures. If you've seen enough examples then you should start to be able to estimate the angles in between.

Another easy and precisely to notice AOB angle is 0 and 180. Then you are exactly in front or behind it. Then the ship is showing exactly symmetrically across the centerline. Masts along the centerline are not skewed to one side. The longer the ship the more accurate you can tell.

[edit, added later on: Since being in front is the tactical prefered position, use this to verify the AOB needle is at 0 then]

Keep you eye to the grindstone. ;)