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Hi Guys,

There was at one time a device, called an "is was", used in the USNavy
for facilitating the soultion of the torpedo attack problem before a
mechanical computerized system was devised. Although I have never used
such a device, I recall having seen something about it in the older books
- as this solution is basically a maneuvering board problem, it would
seem to have been a similar device to that being here discussed. I go
back quite a way and at one time stood CIC watches in the old USN but
used only the maneuvering board or DRT to solve station keeping and
maneuvering problems, including torpedo attack. Sorry not to be of more
help.

Henry

On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 13:49:30 +0000 Joel Jacobs 
writes:
> A very similar device was used by our Navy in WW II. I have seen them
> a couple of times, but have never paid much attention nor have I
> saved the information or taken pictures. The interesting thing is
> that it stood the test of time and was in service over here. Maybe
> Henry H. can offer some insight.
>
> Joel Jacobs
> --
> Visit our website
> http://www.landandseacollection.com
>
>
>
>
> -------------- Original message from Paul Hirose
> : --------------
>
>
> > I came across this by chance while prowling the Internet. "The
> > Battenberg Course Indicator was invented in 1892 by Captain H. S.
> H.
> > Prince Louis of Battenberg, G.C.B., afterwards
> Admiral-of-the-Fleet The
> > Marquess of Milford Haven, P.C., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., LL.D.
> It is
> > practically the mooring board in mechanical form, and is designed
> for
> > the rapid solution of a series of ordinary speed and distance
> triangles
> > frequently met with in fleet work."
> >
> > To me the instrument looks like a mechanization of the maneuvering
> > board. It has arms and sliders on which you set up the inputs and
> read
> > the outputs. "Owing to the small inaccuracies inseparable from an
> > instrument built with moving parts on robust lines, the answers
> > furnished by individual instruments will vary slightly."
> >
> > http://www.gwpda.org/naval/ou5274.htm
> > (This consists of scans of the instructions, and photos showing the
> > setups for several example problems. It must total a couple meg, so
> > there will be a delay with a dial-up connection.)
> >
> > There are several other interesting links at the parent site.
> "Boxing
> > the compass, points of the compass", etc.
> >
> > http://www.gwpda.org/naval/n0000000.htm#swt
> >
> > I found the 1908 document "Coaling from a Collier" interesting,
> though
> > the instructions were about 70% incomprehensible due to the
> thicket of
> > terminology. Good grief, what a detestable task coaling must have
> been!
> > "The first maxim in coaling should be to get every single officer
> and
> > man that can be spared, into the collier to dig out the coal...
> You will
> > find at the commencement of a commission, that there are various
> ratings
> > who look upon it as a right to be excused coaling. Meet them with a
> > stony eye, and say there is no such thing as 'having a right' when
> the
> > coal has to come in."
> >
> > The author, Christopher Cradock, commanded the small British force
> that
> > confronted von Spee's powerful squadron in the battle off Coronel
> in
> > 1914. He was killed when his cruiser HMS Good Hope blew up.

   

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