Difference between revisions of "Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter"

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[[File:SpottingTopCroppedToShowAidToSpotter.jpg|thumb|512px|'''Kilroy's Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter'''<br>I believe this is the critter seen in the top of an unidentified dreadnought.]]
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[[File:MysteryDeviceInBritishSpottingTop.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter'''<br>Or possibly an Evershed or Elliott bearing transmitter.]]
 
   
 
   
The '''Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter''' was designed by {{LieutRN}} W. D. Kilroy to ensure that the [[Spotting Officer]] was watching the same target as was being fired upon by his own ship.
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The '''Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter''' was designed by {{LieutRN}} [[Willie Dickson Kilroy|W. D. Kilroy]] to ensure that the [[Spotting Officer|spotting officer]] was watching the same target as was being fired upon by his own ship.
  
 
==Mark I==
 
==Mark I==
The need for this was envisioned in early 1916.  It seems likely that supply commenced in late 1916 at the earliest.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919'', pp. 25.</ref>
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:[[Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter Mark I|<small>Main article</small>]]
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The need for these instruments was envisioned in early 1916.  It seems likely that supply commenced in late 1916 at the earliest.{{FCHMShips|pp. 25}}  The first version was deployed in 22 of the earlier dreadnoughts and battlecruisers.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', p. 34.</ref>
  
 
==Mark II==
 
==Mark II==
Supply of these to the latest capital ships commenced in the early months of 1919.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919'', pp. 26.</ref>
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:[[Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter Mark II|<small>Main article</small>]]
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This device is detailed in ''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920''.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 35-37, Plates 45, 47, 49, 51.</ref>  Supply of these to the latest capital ships commenced in the early months of 1919,{{FCHMShips|pp. 26}} and by 1920, 22 had been equipped.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', p. 35.</ref>
  
 
==Mark II*==
 
==Mark II*==
This model was designed for use in light cruisers, and supply commenced in June, 1918.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919'', pp. 26.</ref>
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:[[Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter Mark II*|<small>Main article</small>]]
 
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This device is detailed in ''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920''.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 37-39, Plates 52-55, 59, 60.</ref>
By 1919, it was supplied to the following classes:
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Most often mounted in light cruisers from June 1918; an installation was generally a pair mounted on each side of the fore top.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', p. 37.</ref>{{FCHMShips|pp. 26}}
* Effingham
 
* Cairo
 
* Caledon
 
* Dunedin
 
* Dragon
 
* Centaur
 
* Adelaide
 
with plans to eventually fit it in:
 
* Chatham
 
* Weymouth
 
* Cambrian
 
* Comus
 
* Royalist
 
* Diomede
 
* Despatch
 
* HMS Furious
 
* HMS Eagle
 
* HMS Hermes
 
{{TBC}}
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
*[[Spotting]]
 
*[[Spotting]]
*[[Evershed's Bearing Indicator]]
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*[[Evershed Bearing Indicator]]
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*[[Usborne Fall of Shot Indicator]]
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==
Line 42: Line 26:
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
*{{BibUKFireControlInHMShips1919}}
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*{{FCHMShips}}
 
* Handbook for this device (not read by me) C.B. 1285
 
* Handbook for this device (not read by me) C.B. 1285
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}

Latest revision as of 14:31, 19 September 2012

Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter
Or possibly an Evershed or Elliott bearing transmitter.

The Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter was designed by Lieutenant W. D. Kilroy to ensure that the spotting officer was watching the same target as was being fired upon by his own ship.

Mark I

Main article

The need for these instruments was envisioned in early 1916. It seems likely that supply commenced in late 1916 at the earliest.[1] The first version was deployed in 22 of the earlier dreadnoughts and battlecruisers.[2]

Mark II

Main article

This device is detailed in Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920.[3] Supply of these to the latest capital ships commenced in the early months of 1919,[4] and by 1920, 22 had been equipped.[5]

Mark II*

Main article

This device is detailed in Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920.[6] Most often mounted in light cruisers from June 1918; an installation was generally a pair mounted on each side of the fore top.[7][8]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 25.
  2. Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920, p. 34.
  3. Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920, pp. 35-37, Plates 45, 47, 49, 51.
  4. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 26.
  5. Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920, p. 35.
  6. Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920, pp. 37-39, Plates 52-55, 59, 60.
  7. Manual of Gunnery for HM Fleet, Volume III, 1920, p. 37.
  8. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 26.

Bibliography