NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Was this optical instrument designed for celestial navigation?
From: John Morris
Date: 2016 Feb 2, 19:24 -0800
From: John Morris
Date: 2016 Feb 2, 19:24 -0800
Looks like Brad nailed it.
Article on a Russian naval dip meter, which could have to been inspired by one the Soviet Army captured in Jena. It looks different but functions very similarly.
https://sextantbook.com/?s=Russian+naval+dip+meter