NavList:

Thanks David for the clarification on the 6B designation. I notice my MKIX is 6B/313.  Thanks Bill I should have looked there first. It does seem a bit of a mystery as you say there's very little weight saving and there don't seem to be many space issues on the bigger flying boats. It would be good to find a picture of one in use. There must have been many other smaller maritime aircraft and RAF launches which may have carried a sextant. Walrus, Swordfish etc. One could imagine one stowed in a dedicated stowage without the heavy box. I've always wondered what type of sextant Chichester used on his Tasman sea flight which obviously pre dated the 6B/177. Maybe he influenced Hughes when he was working there during WW2.