Gyro Angle: Difference between revisions
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A '''Gyro Angle''' (or '''Torpedo Gyro Angle''') is an angular turn of a given number of degrees that a torpedo equipped with a gyroscope and some additional hardware could be set to assume as soon as it gained control in the water. | A '''Gyro Angle''' (or '''Torpedo Gyro Angle''') is an angular turn of a given number of degrees that a torpedo equipped with a gyroscope and some additional hardware could be set to assume as soon as it gained control in the water. | ||
Britain first started experimenting with torpedoes capable of gyro angles in | ==Trials== | ||
Britain first started experimenting with torpedoes capable of gyro angles aboard ''Furious'' in 1910 using two Mark VI* (cold) torpedoes. The initial tests allowed the gyros to work vertical rudders 0.36 rather than the customary 0.12 inch travel until the torpedo assumed its gyro angle, in order to speed its response. This resulted in a radius of turn measured at 50 yards after 7 yards of initial straight travel. <ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', pp. 45-47.</ref> | |||
{|border=1 | |||
!colspan=3|Fired to Starboard, own speed 12 knots, range 1,000 yards | |||
|- | |||
!Torpedo||Angle||Remarks | |||
|- | |||
|26||Straight||5 yards left | |||
|- | |||
|23||Straight||short but true | |||
|- | |||
|26||10 right||Quick-turn device stuck, torpedo hit bottom | |||
|- | |||
|23||10 left||15 yards left | |||
|- | |||
|26||20 left||1 yard right | |||
|- | |||
|23||20 right||stirred mud, 5 yards right | |||
|- | |||
|26||20 right||hit | |||
|- | |||
|26||30 right||<= 2 yards right | |||
|- | |||
|26||40 right||short but true | |||
|- | |||
|23||30 left||1 yard left at 800 yards | |||
|- | |||
|23||40 left||12 yards left, but wind caught target | |||
|} | |||
The quick-turn apparatus was removed as unnecessarily complex, and the turn radius went to 200 yards as trials continued:<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 47.</ref> | |||
{|border=1 | |||
!colspan=3|Fired to Starboard, own speed 12 knots, range 1,000 yards | |||
|- | |||
!Torpedo||Angle||Remarks | |||
|- | |||
|23||10 left||1-2 yards right | |||
|- | |||
|26||10 right||hit | |||
|- | |||
|23||20 left||3 yards left | |||
|- | |||
|26||20 right||7 yards right | |||
|- | |||
|23||30 left||3-4 yards left | |||
|- | |||
|26||30 right||short, ~10 yards right | |||
|} | |||
{{TBCTONE}} | |||
The initial models could take up angles as large as 40 degrees on either side, in 10 degree increments.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911'', p. 90. (D.N.O. 26th July 1911)</ref> | |||
The angle was set by use of a spanner pressed down on an index plate and working it around. | |||
They were under trial in the Home Fleet in 1911.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911'', p. iv</ref> | |||
Some time after, the granularity of angles that could be set was reduced to 5 degree increments, but the limits were still generally kept as 40 degrees. | Some time after, the granularity of angles that could be set was reduced to 5 degree increments, but the limits were still generally kept as 40 degrees. | ||
Revision as of 21:16, 18 April 2011
A Gyro Angle (or Torpedo Gyro Angle) is an angular turn of a given number of degrees that a torpedo equipped with a gyroscope and some additional hardware could be set to assume as soon as it gained control in the water.
Trials
Britain first started experimenting with torpedoes capable of gyro angles aboard Furious in 1910 using two Mark VI* (cold) torpedoes. The initial tests allowed the gyros to work vertical rudders 0.36 rather than the customary 0.12 inch travel until the torpedo assumed its gyro angle, in order to speed its response. This resulted in a radius of turn measured at 50 yards after 7 yards of initial straight travel. [1]
| Fired to Starboard, own speed 12 knots, range 1,000 yards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Torpedo | Angle | Remarks |
| 26 | Straight | 5 yards left |
| 23 | Straight | short but true |
| 26 | 10 right | Quick-turn device stuck, torpedo hit bottom |
| 23 | 10 left | 15 yards left |
| 26 | 20 left | 1 yard right |
| 23 | 20 right | stirred mud, 5 yards right |
| 26 | 20 right | hit |
| 26 | 30 right | <= 2 yards right |
| 26 | 40 right | short but true |
| 23 | 30 left | 1 yard left at 800 yards |
| 23 | 40 left | 12 yards left, but wind caught target |
The quick-turn apparatus was removed as unnecessarily complex, and the turn radius went to 200 yards as trials continued:[2]
| Fired to Starboard, own speed 12 knots, range 1,000 yards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Torpedo | Angle | Remarks |
| 23 | 10 left | 1-2 yards right |
| 26 | 10 right | hit |
| 23 | 20 left | 3 yards left |
| 26 | 20 right | 7 yards right |
| 23 | 30 left | 3-4 yards left |
| 26 | 30 right | short, ~10 yards right |
[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]
The initial models could take up angles as large as 40 degrees on either side, in 10 degree increments.[3]
The angle was set by use of a spanner pressed down on an index plate and working it around.
They were under trial in the Home Fleet in 1911.[4]
Some time after, the granularity of angles that could be set was reduced to 5 degree increments, but the limits were still generally kept as 40 degrees.
The use of gyro angling had impacts on torpedo control data instruments as well as on torpedo directors and sights.
Method of Applying
See Also
Footnotes
Bibliography
