29 Dec
2002
29 Dec
'02
8:24 a.m.
Hi,
A bit (er, lot!) of a long shot this, but it's probably vaguely on-topic...
Does anyone know anything about the mechanical fire control computers as used
in second world war for UK coastal defence batteries? I did some restoration
work out in New Zealand earlier in the year on a wartime coastal battery which
was built to a British design, and used British systems. Unfortunately all
information on 'out' plotting-room computer mysteriously vanished in the
1950's, and the unit itself sadly was cut up for scrap value many years ago.
It'd be nice to get some information on possible units though just for
something to show on site open days.
It's possible that the unit shared a lot of commonality with ship-based
systems, in some cut-down form or other, but I haven't yet located anyone who
can confirm this.
I seem to recall a few posts about US equivalent systems a few years back, so
there's probably a few current list members who are interested in this sort of
system despite the units being non-electronic in nature!
cheers,
Jules
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29 Dec
29 Dec
9:36 a.m.
A bit (er, lot!) of a long shot this, but it's
probably vaguely on-topic...
All questions about fire control computers involve shots...
Does anyone know anything about the mechanical fire
control computers as used
in second world war for UK coastal defence batteries?
You might try posting this question to the guys that know, on the
coastal-defense mail list (yes, there is a list for geeks of all kinds).
I can post the question to the list, if you wish.
I did some restoration
work out in New Zealand earlier in the year on a wartime coastal battery which
was built to a British design, and used British systems. Unfortunately all
information on 'out' plotting-room computer mysteriously vanished in the
1950's, and the unit itself sadly was cut up for scrap value many years ago.
It'd be nice to get some information on possible units though just for
something to show on site open days.
Getting any information or artifacts will be very difficult - about as
close to impossible as you can get. The reason for this is post-war, the
fire control computers were of little use (they do exactly one function) and
have large scrap values (for example, a Mk IV TDC has about a _pound_ of
gold inside). When the mechanisms were scrapped, the manuals were simply
thrown away.
I have a collection of fire control gear, but I have never found
any of the computers complete. The only one I have ever seen was at The
American Science Center (a rather famous surplus hangout in Chicago)
about 15 years ago. It sold many years ago - and I wonder where it went.
It's possible that the unit shared a lot of
commonality with ship-based
systems, in some cut-down form or other, but I haven't yet located anyone who
can confirm this.
Possibly. They probably would be cut down, as there are less variables to
deal with - not being on a ship means that you can eliminate the stable
element and gyrocompass inputs.
I seem to recall a few posts about US equivalent
systems a few years back, so
there's probably a few current list members who are interested in this sort of
system despite the units being non-electronic in nature!
I am very interested in these things (I think the fire control collection
now outweighs the computer collection).
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org
10:26 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Donzelli" <aw288(a)osfn.org>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Cc: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2002 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: WWII fire control 'computers'
Ok, I'll bite. Got a URL? I'm up to the 10th page on google, but nothing
recognizable. --Say, it's not a yahoo group, is it? Looks like there might
be a costal defense group there, but I don't want to hit up yahoo unless
it's really worth it.
> A bit (er, lot!) of a long shot this, but
it's probably vaguely
on-topic...
All questions about fire control computers involve shots...
> Does anyone know anything about the mechanical fire control computers as
used
in second
world war for UK coastal defence batteries?
You might try posting this question to the guys that know, on the
coastal-defense mail list (yes, there is a list for geeks of all kinds).
I can post the question to the list, if you wish. William Donzelli
Bob
10:33 a.m.
Ok, I'll bite. Got a URL? I'm up to the 10th
page on google, but nothing
recognizable. --Say, it's not a yahoo group, is it? Looks like there might
be a costal defense group there, but I don't want to hit up yahoo unless
it's really worth it.
It is a Yahoo group.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org
1:45 p.m.
New subject: WWII fire control 'computers' - side note
As an interesting side note, when President Reagan
reactivated the Iowa-class battleships from WWII back
in the '80s I remember reading that they kept the
original fire control computers because they were as
accurate as a modern electronic equivalent.
Good hunting!
-- Frank
--- Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk(a)yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:
Hi,
A bit (er, lot!) of a long shot this, but it's
probably vaguely on-topic...
Does anyone know anything about the mechanical fire
control computers as used
in second world war for UK coastal defence
batteries? I did some restoration
work out in New Zealand earlier in the year on a
wartime coastal battery which
was built to a British design, and used British
systems. Unfortunately all
information on 'out' plotting-room computer
mysteriously vanished in the
1950's, and the unit itself sadly was cut up for
scrap value many years ago.
It'd be nice to get some information on possible
units though just for
something to show on site open days.
It's possible that the unit shared a lot of
commonality with ship-based
systems, in some cut-down form or other, but I
haven't yet located anyone who
can confirm this.
I seem to recall a few posts about US equivalent
systems a few years back, so
there's probably a few current list members who are
interested in this sort of
system despite the units being non-electronic in
nature!
cheers,
Jules
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com
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5:14 p.m.
New subject: WWII fire control 'computers' - side note
Clayton Frank Helvey wrote:
As an interesting side note, when President Reagan
reactivated the Iowa-class battleships from WWII back
in the '80s I remember reading that they kept the
original fire control computers because they were as
accurate as a modern electronic equivalent.
Good hunting!
-- Frank
It thought it was navigation? I had an article on that, but I'm not
sure if I currently have it..... if I do, it's in one of many boxes, in
one of two rooms. I just moved :-)
Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
5:42 p.m.
New subject: WWII fire control 'computers' - side note
It thought it was navigation? I had an article on
that, but I'm not
sure if I currently have it..... if I do, it's in one of many boxes, in
one of two rooms. I just moved :-)
Navigation and fire control are interwoven. And yes, the Iowas still have
Mk 16 gyrocompasses from Sperry.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org
7826
days inactive
7826
days old
7 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
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aw288＠osfn.org -
fernande＠internet1.net -
jrasite＠eoni.com -
julesrichardsonuk＠yahoo.co.uk -
msspcva＠yahoo.com -
rschaefe＠gcfn.org