Difference between revisions of "Hallett's Director"
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| − | ''' | + | '''Hallett's Director''' was an experimental [[Torpedo Director|torpedo director]] invented by Lt. [[J. I. Hallett]]<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911'', pp. 44.</ref> and tried at sea and rejected by the Royal Navy's Torpedo School in 1915.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915'', p. 30.</ref> |
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==Geometry== | ==Geometry== | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
| − | ARTS1912 p. 27 | + | *[[Pitcairn's Director]] |
| + | * ARTS1912 p. 27 | ||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
Revision as of 17:39, 3 March 2011
Hallett's Director was an experimental torpedo director invented by Lt. J. I. Hallett[1] and tried at sea and rejected by the Royal Navy's Torpedo School in 1915.[2]
Geometry
The director was intended to exploit, with improvements, an old practice of French torpedo boat tactics[3] The geometry of the design drew upon the fact that when a collision course on another ship is steered, that ship will be on a "steady bearing" no matter its speed or heading.[4]
Use
The director's "own speed bar" is always aligned with the keel of own ship, and is initially set to zero speed and the torpedo bar is set to the speed of the torpedo. The commander then endeavours to steer a course and speed such that the enemy is on a constant bearing. Once satisfied that he has done this, the sighting bar is pointed at the target and the speed of own ship is placed on "own speed bar". This would establish the proper director angle on the sight. The primary innovation Hallett added to the process was to use a gyroscope to fire the torpedo the instant the tube was aligned with the correct bearing to fire. The ship could then have helm applied and the torpedo would fire when it came on target. [5]
Trial
A director based on Hallett's design was under construction by Portsmouth Yard by the end of 1911 for trial by Vernon.[6]
It was tried in the Second Destroyer Flotilla and H.M.S. Bellona. These early tests revealed some minor mechanical issues which did not seem insurmountable, and the added demands for voice pipes, circuits and men were seen as problematic. However, the requirement to place the target at a constant compass bearing was just too difficult with the compass presently fitted.[7][8]
In 1913, the test unit(s) were transferred to the Third Flotilla, as the Beagle class was fitted with fore bridge firing gear which it was felt would show the device's advantages.
See Also
- Pitcairn's Director
- ARTS1912 p. 27
Footnotes
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911, pp. 44.
- ↑ The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915, p. 30.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1887, pp. 111-112 (not read by editor)
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911, p. 44
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911, p. 44
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911, p. 44. (A.L. 29.6.11 G. 0416/11)
- ↑ The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912, p. 27-28.
- ↑ The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913, p. 31.
Bibliography
