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A '''Range Dial''' (or "Concentration Dial") was a form of [[Concentration Signals|concentration signal]] by which ships could visually indicate their present [[Gun Range|gun range]]. Mr. John A. Roberts responded to an initial inquiry into their nature by the following reply: <blockquote> The Concentration Dials introduced in the Royal Navy in the latter part of the First World War were arranged like a clock with a short and long hand except that 12 o'clock was replaced by ''''0'''' and the remaining numbers (Roman '''I''' to '''IX''') stopped at 9 o'clock. The hour hand indicated 1000 yard steps the minute hand 100 yard steps. There was also an arm at the back of the dial with a disc at the end which sat at the outer edge of the dial and could be aligned with number '''0''', '''II''' or '''III''' indicating 10000 yard steps. This arrangement covered ranges from 100 yards to 29,900 yards in 100 yard steps and was used to indicate the gun range in use. These dials were officially described in various ways including "range dial" and "clock dial" and probably quite a few others both official and unofficial. Many ships also had a second dial which was exactly like a clock (numbers '''I''' to '''XII''', short and long hand) which was used for passing spotting information using a numeric code. The Type 31 was also employed to pass spotting and target indication information but could be used to pass other information as well (including range if necessary) &mdash; the method was (initially at least) left to the ships to employ whatever system worked best. </blockquote> Other dial-based designs are described in ''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', along with a list of ships equipped with the various models.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 43-45.</ref> ==Type A Dial== [[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate69.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type A Dial'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 69.</ref>]] These had two dials, each four feet in diameter. The hands were positioned by transmitting arms similar to those on a [[Semaphore Machine]]. The upper dial indicated range and the lower dial was used for various purposes by different squadrons. There were several variants on the design. * Type A.I. (Inverted) had transmitters above the dials, on the same side of the tube * Type A.R. (Reversed) had transmitters below the dials, on the opposite side of the tube * Type A.I.R. had transmitters above the dials, on the opposite side of the tube. * Type A.T. (Turret) was designed for use in a turret By 1920, these were in use in a number of capital ships: the [[Revenge Class Battleship (1914)|''Revenge'' class]], the [[Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship (1913)|''Queen Elizabeth'' class]], the [[King George V Class Battleship (1911)|''King George V'' class]], and {{UK-Erin}}.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44.</ref> ==Type B Dial== [[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate70.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type B Dial'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 70.</ref>]] A single dial instrument similar to A, transmitting range only, and with similar sub-types, B.I., B.R. B.I.R. and B.T. By 1920, these were in use in a number of capital ships and a few light cruisers: the [[Iron Duke Class Battleship (1912)|''Iron Duke'' class]], the [[Indefatigable Class Battlecruiser (1909)|''Indefatigable'' class]], the [[Lion Class Battlecruiser (1910)|''Lion'' class]], the {{UK-Tiger}}, the [[Chatham Class Cruiser (1911)|''Chatham'' class]], the light cruisers {{UK-1Aurora}}, {{UK-Galatea}}, {{AU-Melbourne}} and {{AU-Sydney}}.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type C Dial== [[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate71.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type C, E and F Dials'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 71.</ref>]] This model was designed for use in light cruisers and had transmitters immediately behind their 4 foot dials, though a few ships had 9- or 10-foot dials. The modified "New Type C" was reworked to reduce weight. By 1920, they were in use in the [[Iron Duke Class Battleship (1912)|''Iron Duke'' class]], the [[Indefatigable Class Battlecruiser (1909)|''Indefatigable'' class]], {{UK-Tiger}}, {{UK-1Ajax}}, {{UK-Erin}}, the [[Emerald Class Cruiser (1920)|''Emerald'' class]], {{UK-Diomede}}, {{UK-Despatch}}, the [[Capetown Class Cruiser (1918)|''Capetown'' class]], [[Danae Class Cruiser (1917)|''Danae'' class]], [[Ceres Class Cruiser (1917)|''Ceres'' class]], the [[Arethusa Class Cruiser (1913)|''Arethusa'' class]], the [[Birmingham Class Cruiser (1913)|''Birmingham'' class]], the [[Chatham Class Cruiser (1911)|''Chatham'' class]], {{AU-Adelaide}}, {{AU-Brisbane}} and {{AU-Sydney}}.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type D Dial== [[File:ManGunVolIII1920_Plate72.jpg|thumb|240px|'''Type D and J Dials'''<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', Plate 72.</ref>]] These had 5 foot dials and could be worked remotely by use of chains to the transmitter handles. By 1920, they were in use in the [[Orion Class Battleship (1910)|''Orion'' class]], the [[Lion Class Battlecruiser (1910)|''Lion'' class]], and ''Hood''.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type E Dial== These were similar to the original Type C, but had larger 7 foot dials. As of 1920, however, no installations of them were recorded.<ref>No mention in lists at ''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type F Dial== Could be fitted directly to a bulkhead with a 7 foot dial. By 1920, one of these were installed in each ''Revenge'' class battleship. ==Type H Dial== Like Type D, afforded remote control by chains, but also able to pivot its 4 foot dials 40 degrees to either side. As of 1920, they were in use only in the [[Hawkins Class Cruiser (1917)|''Hawkins'' class]].<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type J Dial== A large 10 foot dial on a vertical standard. As of 1920, they were in use only in the [[Hawkins Class Cruiser (1917)|''Hawkins'' class]].<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type K Dial== Similar to Type C, but with a 10 foot dial hollowed by a 5 foot inner cut-out. As of 1920, however, no installations of them were recorded.<ref>No mention in lists at ''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Type L Dial== Similar to Types J and K, but with remote control by wire and chain and a shaft for training. As of 1920, they were in use only in the [[Danae Class Cruiser (1917)|''Danae'' class]].<ref>''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920'', pp. 44-5.</ref> ==Concentration Drum== ==See Also== *[[Concentration]] ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} *Schleihauf, William (April, 1998). "A Concentrated Effort: Royal Navy Gunnery Exercises at the End of the Great War." ''Warship International'' '''35''' (2): pp. 117–139. *''Manual of Gunnery in H.M. Fleet, Volume III, 1920''. {{refend}} [[Category:Fire Control]] [[Category:Shipboard Equipment]]

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