Need help understanding salvo and gun aiming

[Lekrom]

Let me preface this by saying I'm new to the game, so I apologize if my terminology use is incorrect.  Also i'm here to learn, so you won't offend me by pointing out anything I've done or said wrong.  I understand the mechanics of aiming with the reticule, but I'm having a bit of trouble understanding how to line up my guns, and getting a full salvo versus a single shot.  I'm assuming those little roundish marks along my horizontal line indicate the aiming position of my guns. First, I've watched several videos explaining aiming, and many mention firing a single shot then adjusting the aim before firing a full salvo, but not how.  How do I fire just a single shot?  It seems to me when I fire, all guns lined up will fire at once.  So do i have to misalign my guns until only one is lined up to get just a single shot, or is there something i'm missing?  Also, I know that turning your broadside to the enemy is bad, but when I'm facing them I can only get one or two guns lined up and lose a lot of firepower.  Is this normal?  Lastly, I know there are primary and secondary guns, what is the difference, and how to I utilize this?  I appreciate the help, and i'm sorry if there's a lot of noobie questions.  If there's a video explaining this that would be great too.  Thanks

[BelgaraththeSorcerer]

A single click should only fire one shot and double clicking will fire a salvo. A full broadside will get you more potential damage and is generally best to turn your ship just enough to fire all your guns then turn back into an angled position to mitigate damage. 

[J30_Reinhardt]

Single click = single shot.

Double click = salvo of guns that are loaded and aligned with reticle.

Holding button = ripple fire.

After that, its easy.

[Lekrom]

I didn't realize there was a left click variance, that helps tremendously, thanks.  

[atPrick__]

Let me preface this by saying I'm new to the game, so I apologize if my terminology use is incorrect.  Also i'm here to learn, so you won't offend me by pointing out anything I've done or said wrong.  I understand the mechanics of aiming with the reticule, but I'm having a bit of trouble understanding how to line up my guns, and getting a full salvo versus a single shot.  I'm assuming those little roundish marks along my horizontal line indicate the aiming position of my guns. First, I've watched several videos explaining aiming, and many mention firing a single shot then adjusting the aim before firing a full salvo, but not how.  How do I fire just a single shot?  It seems to me when I fire, all guns lined up will fire at once.  So do i have to misalign my guns until only one is lined up to get just a single shot, or is there something i'm missing?  Also, I know that turning your broadside to the enemy is bad, but when I'm facing them I can only get one or two guns lined up and lose a lot of firepower.  Is this normal?  Lastly, I know there are primary and secondary guns, what is the difference, and how to I utilize this?  I appreciate the help, and i'm sorry if there's a lot of noobie questions.  If there's a video explaining this that would be great too.  Thanks

 

Getting better at shooting comes with practice, i still struggle with it. One of the issues with firing a test shot is that the target will adjust also, with a single salvo you will minimize the targets ability to maneuver.

 

Staying alive is important, more important than putting every gun you have on target. Hopefully the target opens up and you can do great damage with less guns by hitting them in the softer areas, or you  whittle them down and start to open up to get more guns on target as they become weaker.

 

 

[J30_Reinhardt]

I didn't realize there was a left click variance, that helps tremendously, thanks.

 

*pats you on the face*

No worries,most of us have been there before.

[Dade_ChocolateBaldMan_]

I didn't realize there was a left click variance, that helps tremendously, thanks.  

 

check your private messages, a couple of youtube videos​ for you to check out.

[Nicoli_Voldkif]

Primary guns are the guns you aim.

Secondary guns are the smaller guns that automatically shoot when a target is within range usually 3-7km depending on ship.

 

And when engaging an enemy ship, you want the turrets farthest away from the ship, normally the rear guns, at or almost at the traverse lock. That means the turrets should just barely be able to be fired because of your ships superstructure, this gives you a good angle on your armor to improve your survivability while still allowing maximum firepower. Some USN BBs namely the Wyoming and New York have center turrets that have bad arcs, in those cases just ignore that turret.

[Lekrom]

Thanks for all the help, I appreciate it.  Definitely a lot to practice.  I'm not rushing through tiers so I'll have plenty of time to work these out.  Thanks!

[Skpstr]

Also, as you get more experienced, you'll figure out when it's safe® to present a broadside. (for example if you want to fire during a turn, and you're engaging another BB, if you hold off your turn until he fires, you have about 30 seconds to complete your turn, and be angled the other way before he fires again)

 

Single shots are especially useful for BBs, often you will have a nearby target that's fairly easy to hit, and very low on HP. Firing one turret lets you sink that ship, but leaves most of your guns ready to fire.

[Lekrom]

Also, as you get more experienced, you'll figure out when it's safe® to present a broadside. (for example if you want to fire during a turn, and you're engaging another BB, if you hold off your turn until he fires, you have about 30 seconds to complete your turn, and be angled the other way before he fires again)

 

Single shots are especially useful for BBs, often you will have a nearby target that's fairly easy to hit, and very low on HP. Firing one turret lets you sink that ship, but leaves most of your guns ready to fire.

 

 

This is something I've just started to notice.  I'm also learning to get my guns aiming in the general direction ahead of time, so that when I'm ready to engage I don't have to wait so long, especially in a BB.

[round1away]

How do you use the secondary guns when you reach a level 5 in captains achievements? I understand they don't fire automatically until you do something. What is that something? I have heard ctrl left mouse button while you use x to select your target, but no luck yet. Now that I have this award I would like to use it. Thanks round1away, --- Mick

[Genferrett]

How do you use the secondary guns when you reach a level 5 in captains achievements? I understand they don't fire automatically until you do something. What is that something? I have heard ctrl left mouse button while you use x to select your target, but no luck yet. Now that I have this award I would like to use it. Thanks round1away, --- Mick

 

Hold control, when your cursor comes up, left click on the target and your secondaries will focus that target.  Target doesn't have to be in range to focus it, but guns won't open up until it is.  If I know something will get close enough or even might, I Ctrl-Click it just out of habit now.  You can also do that with planes to have your AA focus on a particular squadron.

 

Edit:  When you have a target set as focus you'll see a different targeting circle over it than the normal one.  So you can have your secondaries (or AA) focus on one target while you continue blasting something else.  I do that with cruisers who get too close if I don't want to swing my BB guns around on him to stop shooting whatever I was shooting at.

[Skpstr]

 

 

This is something I've just started to notice.  I'm also learning to get my guns aiming in the general direction ahead of time, so that when I'm ready to engage I don't have to wait so long, especially in a BB.

 

Yup, that's huge, and getting used to that really softens the blow when your turret speed takes a nosedive tiering up from a CL to a CA.

[MorbidGamer]

I'm to lazy to make the last 2/3 of the picture. But this is how you shoot when someone is coming at you.

[Skpstr]

How do you use the secondary guns when you reach a level 5 in captains achievements? I understand they don't fire automatically until you do something. 

 

Not true. They will fire at anything within range, but unless you have the Lvl 5 captains skill, the guns will fire at all enemies within range. The skill lets you concentrate fire on one enemy (which is the same as automatic if only one enemy is in range) and gives an accuracy bonus.

[RightYouAreKen]

 

 

This is something I've just started to notice.  I'm also learning to get my guns aiming in the general direction ahead of time, so that when I'm ready to engage I don't have to wait so long, especially in a BB.

 

Bingo, that's a great thing to get in the practice of.  It'll get easier as you learn the maps and the common firing lanes.  Getting caught in a BB with your turrets in the wrong direction is a great recipe to get fire roasted

[round1away]

Thanks guys, wow what great help I really appreciate it, thanks again, round1away --- Mick

[PhoinixW]

I've also noted that if you change your ammo selection for your next shot (single push he/ap instead of twice to reload immediately) your next shot will be a full salvo. This is to avoid the problem of having different shells loaded at the same time in different guns, I believe. FYI. That's annoyed me a few times...