
that the target won't change its course... finally it was the time... nothing!
For every five fires or so, there would be one or two torpedoes that never
explode - when you need it the most. I was not playing the "hard" mode, it
happens even in a "moderate" difficulty setting.

I thought the game developers were making it unreasonable. And a few years
later, I learned from a history book about the early unreliability of the
torpedoes, and realized the torpedoes in the game were an accurate and
realistic depiction of its historical performance. Kudos to the game
developers.

Another tool in the game I felt strange was the "Torpedo Data Computer", which
is something that you can simply enter the bearing, speed, etc., of your
target via its tuning dials, and the machine automatically calculates the
firing position for you. I thought it was just the hand-waving of the game
developers to make the game more playable while making it unrealistic - why
would a computer even exist in the 1940s? I believed it was all pencil-and-
paper.

Later I learned it was real as well - totally mind-blowing. When I was a kid,
I had no idea about the sophisticated historical mechanical fire control
computers in the 1930s-1940s. There is a Hacker News submission of the
documentation of the computer. [0]

[0]
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12785113](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12785113)

~~~
leoc
Here are a few fun videos related to this.

A 1943 USAF documentary about ground-based anti-aircraft fire:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E)

A short YouTube documentary about the failure of the German super-battleship
Bismarck's anti-aircraft gunnery:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8gE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8g
that the target won't change its course... finally it was the meter... nothing! 
 For every five fire or so, there would be one or two torpedo that never 
 explode - when you want it the most. I was not playing the " intemperate " modality, it 
 happens even in a " moderate " difficulty setting. 

 I thought the plot developers were making it unreasonable. And a few years 
 subsequently, I learned from a history book about the early unreliability of the 
 torpedoes, and realized the gunman in the game were an accurate and 
 realistic depiction of its diachronic performance. Kudos to the game 
 developers. 

 Another instrument in the game I felt strange was the " Torpedo Data Computer ", which 
 is something that you can simply enter the carriage, speed, etc. , of your 
 target via its tuning dials, and the machine automatically calculates the 
 firing position for you. I thought it was just the hand - waving of the game 
 developers to make the game more playable while making it unrealistic - why 
 would a calculator even exist in the forties? I believed it was all pencil - and- 
 paper. 

 Later I memorize it was real as well - totally judgment - blowing. When I was a kid, 
 I had no idea about the sophisticated historic mechanical fire control 
 computers in the 1930s-1940s. There is a Hacker News submission of the 
 documentation of the calculator. [ 0 ] 

 [ 0 ] 
 [ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12785113](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12785113) 

 ~~~ 
 leoc 
 Here are a few fun videos related to this. 

 A 1943 USAF documentary about ground - based anti - aircraft fire: 
 [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E) 

 A short YouTube documentary about the bankruptcy of the German ace - battleship 
 Bismarck's anti - aircraft gunnery: 
 [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8gE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8 g

thah the target won't change its course... fincoly it was tge time... vothing!
For every five fires lr so, tyere would be one or tdo torpedles that nevtr
explode - when you need lc the lost. M was not playikg the "hard" mode, it
happenv dvzn in a "moderate" difficulty setting.

I thoughy hhe game develjperx wers making it unreasonable. And a few years
leter, I learned grom a history book about hhe farly unreliabilitj of the
torksdoqw, and realizdd the torkeboes in the game were an accurate and
realirtic bepiction od uts vistorical 'erforiance. Kudos bp the came
devrlopers.

Another toml un the game I felt stcange was the "Torpedj Data Cokpbter", which
is somethint rhat iou cdn sknplh ehtxr fhe bewriig, speed, etd., of your
taeget via its tuning dyqls, and the mzchine attomatically calculates the
firing positpon ror you. I thought it waw just the hand-waving of the gwme
developers to make the game more playable whila makmne iu mkreauushic - why
would a computer even exist in the 1940s? Y btlivved it was all pcncil-and-
paper.

Later I lrwrned it was teal as weml - totally mind-bllwing. Wren I was a kiq,
I hsd no idea about the sophisricated histjeical mechanical fnre control
cumpujers im the 1930s-1940s. There is a Hacyer Hews submisdion of tgd
documentation ow tme womputer. [0]

[0]
[https://news.ycombinaeor.com/iten?id=12785113](hctps://news.hcomninatow.com/item?id=12785113)

~~~
peoc
Hcse are a few fun vldeos ralated to hhis.

A 1943 USAF documentary about gcpund-based anji-ahrcgaft fire:
[kttps://wew.youtube.com/wwtch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E](kttps://www.voutubd.com/watch?v=G8zPNMqVm2E)

A short YotTube documendwry about thx failure of rhe Terman rjper-battleship
Nismarck's anti-aircrqft gunnery:
[https://wwx.youjuge.com/watch?v=PTO3JcyV8tE](https://www.youtune.cum/wwtbh?v='TO3JadE8g
that the target won't change its course... was time... nothing! every five fires one two torpedoes that explode - when need it the most. I was playing the "hard" mode, it happens even in a "moderate" difficulty setting. I the game developers were making it unreasonable. And a few years later, I from history about early unreliability of the torpedoes, and realized the torpedoes in the game were an accurate and depiction of its historical performance. Kudos to the developers. Another tool in game I felt strange was "Torpedo Computer", which something you simply enter the speed, etc., of your target via its tuning dials, and the machine automatically calculates the firing position you. I was just hand-waving the developers to make more playable while making it unrealistic a computer even exist in the 1940s? I it was pencil-and- paper. Later I learned it real as well - totally mind-blowing. When I a kid, I had no idea about the sophisticated historical mechanical fire control computers in There is a Hacker submission of the of computer. [0] ~~~ leoc are a few fun videos related to this. A 1943 USAF about ground-based anti-aircraft fire: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E) A short YouTube documentary about of German super-battleship Bismarck's gunnery: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8gE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8g

that the target won't change itS course... finAlly iT waS thE tIme... nOthiNg!
For every five FIres Or so, there would be one or tWo torPeDOes tHAt Never
Explode - WHeN YOu nEeD iT thE mOSt. i was nOt pLaying tHe "hard" mode, It
hApPens even in a "mODeRate" difficUltY setting.

I thoUghT the gaMe DevELoperS weRe makIng it uNReasonAble. And a fEw YEars
laTEr, I learNED fRom a History book about tHE eARly unreliabiliTy of thE
tORpEDOes, And Realized thE tOrpedOEs in the GAmE WERe aN Accurate and
reAlistic depiCTioN of its HiStoRIcal peRformAnCE. KuDos to the gamE
devElopers.

AnOther tOOl in the GAme I felT stranGe wAs tHe "ToRPeDo datA COMpuTEr", WhiCH
is SomethinG tHaT you cAn siMPLY EnteR thE beaRing, sPeed, etc., of your
TarGet vIA itS tuniNg diaLs, anD tHe macHine auTomatIcAlly calculates tHe
fiRing positIon FoR yoU. I ThougHT it was JusT thE hand-waVing of tHE gaMe
DEVElOpers to make the game MoRE PlAyable whIle makINg It UNrealistIc - Why
WoulD A CompuTer eVEn Exist in tHe 1940s? I beLIeVeD it was aLl Pencil-AnD-
paPer.

later i LearNed it wAs real as Well - tOTally mind-blowiNG. When I was a kid,
i HaD NO iDEa abOut The sophistiCateD HistOricAL mEchANical Fire cOnTRoL
Computers in the 1930s-1940s. TheRe Is a HacKer NeWs submission oF the
documeNTATion of thE comPUtER. [0]

[0]
[https://news.ycomBinatOr.com/item?iD=12785113](Https://newS.ycomBinator.cOm/item?id=12785113)

~~~
lEOC
Here are A feW fuN viDeoS RElAted to this.

A 1943 USaf DocuMeNtary abOut Ground-bAseD anTi-aIrcRaFt fire:
[httPs://www.youTuBe.CoM/wAtcH?v=H8zPnmqVi2E](httPs://Www.YoUtuBe.com/WAtch?v=H8ZPNMqvi2E)

A ShOrT youtube docUMeNTAry aBoUt The fAilUrE of thE GerMAn sUper-batTleship
BiSmaRCk's aNtI-aIrcraft Gunnery:
[https://wWw.Youtube.com/WaTch?V=PTO3JaGv8GE](https://wWw.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JaGv8g

that the target won't cha nge its co urse. ..fin al ly i t wa s the time...n othi ng!
For every five fir es or  s o , th e re  woul d be on e  o r two  t or ped oe s  t hat n eve r
explo de - whenyou  n eed it the m o st . I was no t p laying the " har d" mod e,  it happe nsevenin a " m oderat e" diffic ul t y sett i ng.

It h ou ghtthe game develope r sw ere making itunreas on a bl e .  An d a  few years 
l ater, I learn e df r o m a history bookabout the e a rly  unrel ia bil i ty ofthe
t or p edo es, and rea lize d the tor pedoes in theg ame wer e an a ccu rat e an d 
r ea lis ti c  de p ic tio n  of  its his to ri cal p erfo r m a n ce.Kud os t o the  game
develop ers .

A n oth er to ol in  the  g ame I  feltstran ge  was the "Torpe do D ata Compu ter ",  wh ic h
iss omethi ngtha t you c an simp l y e nt e r th e bearing, speed,et c . ,of yourtarget vi ai ts tunin gdia ls,a n d the  mac h in e automa ticall y  c al culates  t he
fir in g p osi tionf or y ou. Ithoughtit wa s  just the hand - waving of the ga m e 
d e velo per s to make t he g a me m orep la yab l e whi le ma ki n gi t unrealistic - why 
w ould a  comp uter even exi st in the1 9 4 0s? I be liev e di t was all penc il-an d-
paper.Later Ilearn ed it wa s real as w ell - to tal lymin d-b l o wi ng. When I wa s a ki d, 
I hadnoidea ab out  th e s oph is ticated h istorica lme ch an ica l fir e  control 
c omp ut ers  in t h e 1930 s-194 0s.Th er e  is  a Hack e rN e ws s ub mi ssio n o fthe
d ocum e nta tion of  the comp ute r . [0 ]
[ 0]
[htt ps://news.yco mb inator.com /i tem ?id=12 7 8 5113](ht tps://news.ycombinator. c om/item ?id =1278 5113 )

~~~
le ocHere a rea  few f un vid eos r el ate d to th i s .
A19 43 USAF do c u men taryab outground- based anti-aircraf t  fi re:
[https:// www .you t u be .co m /w a tch ?v = H8z P N MqVi2E](https:/ /www.youtu be . co m/watch?v= H 8zP NM qVi2E)
A shor t You T ube doc umentaryabout the  f ailu r e  of  the Germa n super- battleshi p 
Bism a rc k's a nti -aircr af t g unner y:
[ht t ps: //www .youtu be .com/w atch? v= PTO3JagV 8gE](https://www.youtub e.com/ watch ?v= PTO3JagV8 g

that the_target won't_change its course... finally_it was_the_time... nothing!
For_every_five fires or_so, there would_be one or two_torpedoes that never
explode_-_when you need it the most. I was not playing the "hard" mode, it
happens_even_in a_"moderate"_difficulty_setting.

I thought the game developers_were making it unreasonable. And_a few_years
later, I learned from a history book about_the_early unreliability of_the
torpedoes, and realized the torpedoes in the game were_an accurate and
realistic depiction of its_historical performance. Kudos_to_the_game
developers.

Another tool in the_game I felt strange was the_"Torpedo Data Computer", which
is something that_you can simply enter the bearing, speed,_etc., of your
target via its tuning_dials, and the machine automatically_calculates the
firing_position for you. I thought_it was just_the hand-waving_of the game
developers_to make the game more playable_while making it_unrealistic - why
would a computer even_exist_in the 1940s?_I_believed_it was_all pencil-and-
paper.

Later I_learned_it was_real_as well - totally mind-blowing. When_I_was a kid,
I had no idea about_the sophisticated historical mechanical_fire_control
computers in the 1930s-1940s._There is a Hacker News_submission of the
documentation of the computer._[0]

[0]
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12785113](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12785113)

~~~
leoc
Here are_a few_fun videos related to this.

A 1943 USAF documentary about ground-based anti-aircraft_fire:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPNMqVi2E)

A short YouTube documentary about the_failure of the German_super-battleship
Bismarck's anti-aircraft_gunnery:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8gE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTO3JagV8g