Difference between revisions of "Vickers Fire Control Instruments"
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[[Vickers]] manufactured a variety of [[Step-by-Step]] [[Fire Control Instrument]]s and bells for shipboard communication. The Royal Navy tested and deployed Vickers instruments in a number of ships, eventually favouring their [[F.T.P.]] instruments for use in keeping sights set to the proper [[Gun Range|range]] and [[Gun Deflection|deflection]]. | [[Vickers]] manufactured a variety of [[Step-by-Step]] [[Fire Control Instrument]]s and bells for shipboard communication. The Royal Navy tested and deployed Vickers instruments in a number of ships, eventually favouring their [[F.T.P.]] instruments for use in keeping sights set to the proper [[Gun Range|range]] and [[Gun Deflection|deflection]]. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Dial Instruments== |
| + | :<small>([[Vickers Dial Fire Control Instruments|main article]])</small> | ||
| + | <gallery widths=240px> | ||
| + | File:HFCI1914Plate7.jpg | '''Range Transmitter'''<ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', Plate 7.</ref> | ||
| + | File:HFCI1914Plate8.jpg | '''Range and Deflection Receiver'''<ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', Plate 8.</ref> | ||
| + | File:HFCI1914Plate9.jpg | '''Check fire switch'''<ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', Plate 9.</ref> | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| − | + | Vickers "dial instruments" were step-by-step devices more accurately referred to as "cyclometric instruments", like those of [[Barr and Stroud Fire Control Instruments|Barr and Stroud]]. That is, they did not indicate on a clockface, but digitally, as an old-time speedometer. | |
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| − | + | The range and deflection transmitters had tell-tale receivers built into them to indicate the value, and a single handle by which to drive the value through its range. | |
There were no separate order instruments, but the transmitters featured a 3 position "check fire switch" could be set to "Control Fire" or "Check Fire" to cause the receivers to expose a red or a white disc, respectively. The intermediate position of this switch was labelled "Off" and removed power from the attached instruments entirely. | There were no separate order instruments, but the transmitters featured a 3 position "check fire switch" could be set to "Control Fire" or "Check Fire" to cause the receivers to expose a red or a white disc, respectively. The intermediate position of this switch was labelled "Off" and removed power from the attached instruments entirely. | ||
Revision as of 17:11, 22 April 2011
Vickers manufactured a variety of Step-by-Step Fire Control Instruments and bells for shipboard communication. The Royal Navy tested and deployed Vickers instruments in a number of ships, eventually favouring their F.T.P. instruments for use in keeping sights set to the proper range and deflection.
Dial Instruments
Vickers "dial instruments" were step-by-step devices more accurately referred to as "cyclometric instruments", like those of Barr and Stroud. That is, they did not indicate on a clockface, but digitally, as an old-time speedometer.
The range and deflection transmitters had tell-tale receivers built into them to indicate the value, and a single handle by which to drive the value through its range.
There were no separate order instruments, but the transmitters featured a 3 position "check fire switch" could be set to "Control Fire" or "Check Fire" to cause the receivers to expose a red or a white disc, respectively. The intermediate position of this switch was labelled "Off" and removed power from the attached instruments entirely.
F.T.P. Instruments
The need to keep sights set for range and deflection was one that suffered from error and latency if the process were not automatic or at least one that could be done in a manner catering to simple eye-hand mechanics. The Royal Navy experimented with a number of efforts to entirely automate sightsetting, but the difficulties were such that a follow-the-pointer was seen as a reliable and reasonable expedient.
As a result, the front-line ships of the Royal Navy in the war relied on Vickers F.T.P. instruments to allow indicated data to be quickly and accurately established on sights at guns and directors.
See Also
Footnotes
Bibliography
- Template:BibUKARTS1903
- Template:BibUKARTS1904
- Template:BibUKARTS1906
- Template:BibUKTorpedoDrillBook1905
- Template:BibUKTorpedoDrillBook1908
- Template:BibUKTorpedoDrillBook1912
- Template:BibUKTorpedoDrillBook1914
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1910). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Copy No. 173 is Ja 345a at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1914). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. G. 01627/14. C.B. 1030. Copy 1235 at The National Archives. ADM 186/191.
