Difference between revisions of "Concentration Signals"

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The Royal Navy used a variety of visual methods to help multiple ships [[Concentration|concentrate]] their fire upon a single target.
 
The Royal Navy used a variety of visual methods to help multiple ships [[Concentration|concentrate]] their fire upon a single target.
  
==Bearing==
 
 
==Visual Training Marks==
 
==Visual Training Marks==
 
The Royal Navy would paint hash marks on the sides of some turrets to permit nearby ships to see the angle of training.
 
The Royal Navy would paint hash marks on the sides of some turrets to permit nearby ships to see the angle of training.
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A ship could indicate the [[Gun Range|range]] it was firing to on large indicators mounted on its tops.  Two basic designs for these displays were used:  drums and dials.
 
A ship could indicate the [[Gun Range|range]] it was firing to on large indicators mounted on its tops.  Two basic designs for these displays were used:  drums and dials.
  
===Visual Range Dials===
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===Range Dials===
By courtesy of Mr. John A. Roberts.
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:[[Range Dial|<small>Main article</small>]]
 
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These generally took the form of one or two dials of 4- to 10-feet in diameter with hands arranged to indicate the gun range.  Often, the gun range was decomposed by separate hands indicating 100s, 1000s and 10000s of yardsSimple mechanical levers were used to transmit the hand positions.
The Concentration Dials introduced in the Royal Navy in the latter part of the First World War were arranged like a clock with a short and long hand except that 12 o'clock was replaced by ''''0'''' and the remaining numbers (Roman '''I''' to '''IX''') stopped at 9 o'clock.  The hour hand indicated 1000 yard steps the minute hand 100 yard steps.  There was also an arm at the back of the dial with a disc at the end which sat at the outer edge of the dial and could be aligned with number '''0''', '''II''' or '''III''' indicating 10000 yard steps.  This arrangement covered ranges from 100 yards to 29,900 yards in 100 yard steps and was used to indicate the gun range in use.  These dials were officially described in various ways including "range dial" and "clock dial" and probably quite a few others both official and unofficial.  Many ships also had a second dial which was exactly like a clock (numbers '''I''' to '''XII''', short and long hand) which was used for passing spotting information using a numeric code.  The Type 31 was also employed to pass spotting and target indication information but could be used to pass other information as well (including range if necessary) &mdash; the method was (initially at least) left to the ships to employ whatever system worked best.
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Other dial-based designs are described in ''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', along with a list of ships equipped with the various models.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 43-45.</ref>
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===Type A===
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[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate69.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type A Dial'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 69.</ref>]]
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These had two dials, each four feet in diameter.  The hands were positioned by transmitting arms similar to those on a [[Semaphore Machine]].  The upper dial indicated range and the lower dial was used for various purposes by different squadronsThere were several variants on the design.
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* Type A.I. (Inverted) had transmitters above the dials, on the same side of the tube
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* Type A.R. (Reversed) had transmitters below the dials, on the opposite side of the tube
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* Type A.I.R. had transmitters above the dials, on the opposite side of the tube.
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* Type A.T. (Turret) was designed for use in a turret
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===Type B===
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[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate70.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type B Dial'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 70.</ref>]]
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A single dial instrument similar to A, transmitting range only, and with similar sub-types, B.I., B.R. B.I.R. and B.T.
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===Type C===
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[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate71.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type C, E and F Dials'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 71.</ref>]]
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These had transmitted immediately behind their 4 foot dials, intended for use in light cruisersA "New Type C" was modified to be lighter.  Some installations had 9 or 10 foot dials.
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===Type D===
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[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate72.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type D and J Dials'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 72.</ref>]]
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These had larger 5 foot dials and were for remote use by chains.
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===Type E===
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These were similar to the original Type C, but had larger 7 foot dials.
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===Type F===
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Could be fitted directly to a bulkhead with a 7 foot dial.
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===Type H===
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Like Type D, afforded remote control by chains, but also able to pivot its 4 foot dials 40 degrees to either side.
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===Type J===
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A large 10 foot dial on a vertical standard.
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===Type K===
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Similar to Type C, but with a 10 foot dial hollowed by a 5 foot inner cut-out.
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===Type L===
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Similar to Types J and K, but with remote control by wire and chain and a shaft for training.
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===Concentration Drums===
 
===Concentration Drums===
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Prior to the pre-eminence of the dial-based designs, a few ships briefly had cylindrical drums which indicated the range in a digital manner.  These designs were found to be much harder to read.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Latest revision as of 12:36, 3 July 2012

The Royal Navy used a variety of visual methods to help multiple ships concentrate their fire upon a single target.

Visual Training Marks

The Royal Navy would paint hash marks on the sides of some turrets to permit nearby ships to see the angle of training.

Range

A ship could indicate the range it was firing to on large indicators mounted on its tops. Two basic designs for these displays were used: drums and dials.

Range Dials

Main article

These generally took the form of one or two dials of 4- to 10-feet in diameter with hands arranged to indicate the gun range. Often, the gun range was decomposed by separate hands indicating 100s, 1000s and 10000s of yards. Simple mechanical levers were used to transmit the hand positions.

Concentration Drums

Prior to the pre-eminence of the dial-based designs, a few ships briefly had cylindrical drums which indicated the range in a digital manner. These designs were found to be much harder to read.

See Also

Footnotes

Bibliography

  • Schleihauf, William (April, 1998). "A Concentrated Effort: Royal Navy Gunnery Exercises at the End of the Great War." Warship International 35 (2): pp. 117–139.
  • Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920.