Torpedo Data Computer: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:57, 29 November 2016

Revision as of 21:59, 29 November 2016

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[[Image:DeflectionAngle.png|noframe|thumb|Figure 4: Deflection angle versus track angle and target speed ({{math|1=''θ''_Gyro = 0°}}).]]

A number of publications<ref name = OptimumTrackAngle>{{harvnb|COMSUBATL|1950|loc=&sect; "Theory of Approach and Attack", p. 8-9}}</ref><ref name="Clear2">{{harvnb|O'Kane|1977|p=303}}</ref> state the optimum torpedo track angle as 110° for a Mk 14 (46 knot weapon). Figure 4 shows a plot of the deflection angle versus track angle when the gyro angle is 0° (''i.e''., {{math|1=''θ''_Deflection=''θ''_Bearing''}}).<ref name="track">Most work on computing intercept angles is done using track angle as a variable. This is because track angle is a strictly a function of the target's course and speed along with the torpedo's course and speed. It removes the complexities associated with parallax and torpedo ballistics.</ref> Optimum track angle is defined as the point of minimum deflection angle sensitivity to track angle errors for a given target speed. This minimum occurs at the points of zero slope on the curves in Figure 4 (these points are marked by small triangles).

The curves show the solutions of Equation 2 for deflection angle as a function of target speed and track angle. Figure 4 confirms that 110° is the optimum track angle for a {{convert|16|kn|km/h|0|sing=on}} target, which would be a common ship speed.<ref name = TargetSpeed>