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| A '''Torpedo Director''' is merely a sight for torpedo fire, more similar to a [[Sightsetting Equipment|settable gunsight]] than to a [[Gunnery Director|gunnery director]].
| | #REDIRECT [[Category:Torpedo Director]] |
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| ==Nature and Function==
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| The ''Director Angle'' is the proper angle between the line of sight to the target and the path of the torpedo. Helping the torpedo officer judge and discern this angle from data available to him by direct observation or external sources is the fundamental purpose of any torpedo director. Additionally, a good torpedo director design should offer its user a quick means of judging whether the target is near enough that the torpedo will be able to reach it.
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| It should be noted that the proper director angle is dependent upon a proper estimation of enemy heading and speed (expressed in one of several ways), and upon the assumption that his motion while the torpedo is underway will, on average, continue about this mean heading. It is easy to see aiming a torpedo which generally takes longer to reach its target than does a shell requires more cooperation on the part of the target!
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| By 1916, the Royal Navy was clearly not happy with its directors. They were seen as flimsy, mechanically loose, and not very easy or quick to set.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 12.</ref>
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| ==Director Triangle==
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| The Royal Navy began the 20th century with a series of sights that characterized the torpedo firing problem according to the '''Director Triangle''' formed by the path of the torpedo, the line of sight to the target at the moment of firing, and the path of the target between firing and impact.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', pp. 4-5.</ref> It delivered a number of sights which embodied this geometry, including the [[Pattern 2006 Torpedo Director]].
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| ==Deflection Triangle==
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| In 1915,<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915'', pp. 31-32.</ref> the Royal Navy started to migrate toward a different geometric model called the '''Deflection Triangle''', formed by the path of the torpedo, the line of sight, and that component of the target's [[Speed-Across|speed-across]] attributable to its movement alone (i.e., the [[Dumaresq Deflection]] as if our ship were not moving.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', pp. 4-5.</ref><ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', Plate I.</ref>
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| ==Common Accoutrements==
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| A '''Radiomir Fore Sight''' is one with a small glass tube containing radium for use in night work.
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| An '''Inclination Disc''' is a disc that rides the sighting arm and is marked 0 to 180 degrees left and right so that target [[Inclination]] is directly readable.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 17.</ref>
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| A '''Gyro Angle Base''' on some directors consisting of a pair of discs that could rotate against each other and lock every 5 (from 1916 or so) or 10 degrees (initially) by use of a conical spring permitted them to be clicked to the same heading a torpedo set to the same [[Torpedo Gyro Angle|gyro angle]] would take upon being fired.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 18.</ref>
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| A '''Tangent Bar''' was a small armature which could be added to a torpedo director to offset its rear sight a short distance to make its sighting angle converge with the track of the torpedo when the director could not be located on or near the firing tube. The idea was an example of the Royal Navy over-thinking the problem, and the service soon great disenchanted with the fragility and complexity they bestowed upon the directors. Some time during the production of directors Pattern 2391a and 2392a, some were being sent out without tangent bars and directors of Pattern 2006 and later that were brought in for repair were sent back without their tangent bars.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 18.</ref> The conclusion finally reached was that the lateral errors that would remain untreated without the tangent bars were apt to be vastly smaller than the other sources of error inherent in accurate torpedo fire except in very short range attacks. These scenarios were to be treated by choosing a suitably offset aim point on the target.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', pp. 77-78.</ref>
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| ==Progress==
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| ===1903===
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| [[File:ARTS1903Plate5.jpg|thumb|400px| Graduated sighting bar for range determination, pp 47-48 Sight is 1193 (as it has sight bar graduations)]]
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| ===1904===
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| plates
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| Discussion of "existing Dumaresqs marks I and II" for consideration with new dial plates, and creation of range clock drums graduated in yards/minute.
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| description of range corrector (pamphlet G 4023/08, pp 45-45)
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| cross-connection of range transmitters being trialled in Dreadnought, King Ed VII, Exmouth, Prince of Wales, Shannon, Indomitable.
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| ===1905===
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| The two directors described in service are a semi-circular one for trainable tubes, presumably Pattern 1192, and a 60 degree one for fixed tubes and dropping gear, presumably 1193. A double foresight was available when used with double VII. B tubes. A further variant was available with a tangent bar for use in 4-in CT openings of "later ships".<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1905'', p. 376</ref>
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| ===1909===
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| ART1909 p. 22.
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| The introduction of heater torpedoes with speeds above the 40 knot maximum on the radius bars of the directors in service necessitated that their scales be regraduated by 2/3rds. This gave a max torpedo speed of 60 knots .
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| The directors as they stand at present was;
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| * 1895 w/ modified rear- and fore-sights but no other alteration were supplied to torpedo craft not supplied with heaters, for their tubes only and for ships with dropping gear.
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| * 1895 as above, but with re-graduated scales were supplied to torpedo craft with heaters for use at their tubes
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| p. 23
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| * Patterns 1192, 1193 and 1895 directors with tangent bars and regraduated scales supplied to TBDs equipped for fore bridge firing for use at their fore bridge
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| * 1895, 2006 and 2391/2392 for "ships" (from the context, this appears to mean ships larger than destroyers) will not be regraduated, as their heaters will be fired at slow-speed settings at long ranges.
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| If it were necessary to run a fast heater from a director not regraduated, speed of torpedo and enemy were to be halved on the sights (G&T orders Feb 1st 1909)
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| A ''Harrier'' (gunboat HMS Harrier?) is mentioned as having double tubes demanding a double foresight -- she was not to receive night sights based on the obsolete nature of her tubes.
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| ===1910===
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| Lt Col Chaytor's Torpedo Danger Area Instrument (Plate 10 and text)see also ARTS1909 p22
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| ''Vernon'' asked ''Bellerophon'' to try a modified Mark II Combined Transmitter and a Combined Receiver to see if they were suitable to convey enemy speed and relative course from the TS to the torpedo director position. She reported that the devices worked fine for this purpose, but that the TS was a poor authority on the heading and speed of the target, suggesting a topside position for the transmitter offering better overall visibility than that enjoyed by the [[Torpedo Control Tower]].<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', pp. 32-33. (N.S. 016/4824, 2nd April 1910)</ref>
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| In 1910, Indomitable, Inflexible and Invincible tested Mark I instruments and Telaupads as a means of tying the Torpedo Control Tower to the submerged aft torpedo tube. These successful tests formed the basis for the development and deployment of the B&S Mark I Torpedo Control Instrument.
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| ''Britannia'' suggested use of hinged director stands in the conning tower, owing to limited head room. Later classes would not require such, as their tables were not mounted on the armor.
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| ===1911===
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| ===1914===
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| p. 32 and plates 12-16
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| Walker's Instrument
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| ===1915===
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| In 1915, trials were carried out to compare the "wire" and "theodolite" methods of aligning directors for submerged tubes, but results were not yet complete. Until they were available, contract-built ships were to have their directors aligned by theodolite means. Extensive description of the method is outlined in ''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915''.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915'', pp. 28-30.</ref>
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| A new design of director for capital ships was being undertaken. It would not have a tangent bar, and would therefore offer a stronger design. Additionally, there was talk of using periscopes to keep personnel clear of gun blast. This blast was studied in ''Iron Duke'' when directors were placed in secondary hoods, and found to be so considerable that directors were to be placed in conning and torpedo control towers only, and no further hoods would be built. The tubes were to be dirigible from either position, with communications and firing circuits laid to both towers.
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| A director called ''Hallet's Director'' was tried, apparently unsuccessfully, as it was returned for disposal. Seven examples of [[Lambert's Attack Director]] were under trial at sea. Note was made of directors having been reassembled incorrectly after maintenance, resulting in poorly aimed torpedoes.<ref>''Torpedo Order No. 39 of May 1st, 1914, (G. 14148/14)''.</ref> One gotcha that was to be corrected was to ensure that sliders would be modified so they could not be reversed upon reassembly. <ref>(A.L. 1/4/14. G. 13173/14)</ref>
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| Hinged stands for directors were tried in ''Invincible'' and ''Hercules'', but found not to be worth the expense or the possibility of errors in alignment. Henceforth, they would only be fitted where absolutely necessary. <ref>(G. 01191/13)</ref>
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| Directors would henceforth be illuminated for use at night. An aperture with variable stop and violet glass would use a switch to turn on and off.<ref>(G. 8725/13)</ref><ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915'', pp. 30.</ref>
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| The director telescope Pattern 2393's 6-power magnification was criticised at sea as being too high, rendering it difficult to see in haze and rain. Six telescopes answering to a 3-power specification had been ordered for trial.<ref>(G. 13028/14)</ref>
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| A promising wander mark telescope from the German Goertz company had been ordered before the war, but not taken before the war started. It was seen as having some promise as a director telescope or for use on the [[Middleton Plotter]] in lieu of electrical contacts.
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| An enterprising torpedoman aboard ''Blonde'' had added a 4-inch diameter brass disc plate to the enemy speed slider on his Torpedo Director Pattern 2390 to permit the enemy's heading to be expressed or read as an inclination to line of sight. This would especially help the adjustment of a director at a trainable tube, but no explicit recommendation was spelled out despite a supportive description of its utility.
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| It was concluded from practical experience that the deflection triangle was superior to the director triangle as a means of setting the director.
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| ==Royal Navy Torpedo Directors==
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| ===Pattern 1192/1192a===
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| A large, semicircular director, presumably of the director triangle principle, not used in any modern ships as of 1912.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1912'', p. 494.</ref> If a 1192a existed, it was similar, but made stronger in its pivots and sighting bar.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref> As of 1916, it was noted as being in use in the ''H.M.S. Pelorus'' class, and its semicircular nature related to its employment as a "broadside director".<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref> Some were fitted with tangent bars and regraduated to 2/3rd scale for use from TBD fore bridges and heater torpedoes.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1909'', p. 22.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 1193/1193a===
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| Had a 60 degree arc, used in early torpedo craft. If a 1193a existed, it was similar, but made stronger in its pivots and sighting bar.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref> Likely available in 1903, with a graduated sighting arm.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1903'', Plate 5.</ref> It was sometimes called the "Right Ahead" director.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 1895/1895a===
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| Very similar to the 1193, the 1895 had a 60 degree arc and was used in early torpedo craft. If a 1895a existed, it was similar, but made stronger in its pivots and sighting bar.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref> It lacked graduations on its sighting arm.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref> In 1909, those used with heater torpedoes had their scales regraduated at 2/3rds scale to allow for the faster torpedoes.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1909'', p. 22.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 2006/2006a===
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| Thirty of these compact, circular directors were ordered for trial at 'Vernon'' and at sea in 1904. Its torpedo arm was not pivoted, and the square knob for the enemy speed pinion was geared such that each flat of the square knob was a knot of enemy speed (4 knots per turn). The sights were fine wires in sighting arches. The distance from the fore sight to the pivot of the sight bar was fixed at 17 inches.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School'', 1904, pp. 54-55.</ref>
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| Probably ready for service some time in 1905<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1905'', p. 381.</ref>m it was used in conning towers and director towers of "earlier ships" (as judged by 1912<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1912'', p. 495.</ref>) with a tangent bar, and perhaps also at times directly on tubes.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', Plate III.</ref> The 2006a was fitted for adapting to gyro angles.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref>
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| The directors had slides underneath permitting some lateral motion (3 inches?) to look around obstacles.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 33. (C. of N., May 1906, G. 5965/06?)</ref>
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| By 1916, displeasure with tangent bars was such that Pattern 2006 directors and later brought in for repair were sent back without their tangent bars.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 18.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 2380/2380a===
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| Similar to the Pattern 2390a, but larger and of improved construction.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref> By 1916 (at least), it had a possible shot scale and inclination disc.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref> It was a 50 degree sector model designed especially for light cruisers.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16, plate XIII.</ref> The enemy bar pivot was much stronger than on the 2390a. A lettered disc provided on the 2380 to set enemy heading in relation to the torpedo bar was obsolete by or before 1916. The 2380a differed by having the lettered disc removed in favor of an inclination disc and a Radiomir fore sight.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 17. Contradiction of presence of inclination disc on 2380 is noted.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 2389/2389a===
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| Available by 1910 at least.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 32.</ref> Same as the Pattern 2390, but fitted for use from the bridge, presumably by the addition of a [[Tangent Bar|tangent bar]].<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref> It almost certainly was a circular design.{{INF}}
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| ===Pattern 2390/2390a===
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| [[File:ARTS1914Plate11.jpg|thumb|400px| Disc added to 2390 to help set course of enemy as expressed as inclination.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1914'', Plate 11.</ref><br>Note the lack of any graduations on the sighting arm.]]
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| Available by 1912 at least, supplied to torpedo craft with heater torpedoes. Similar to Pattern 1895, but graduated for higher torpedo and enemy speeds.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1912'', p. 494.</ref><ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref><ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref> It was not circular, and probably a 60 degree arc like the 1895.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref>{{INF}} It lacked graduations on its sighting arm, but by 1916 at least, they sported inclination discs. The 2390a had more rigid pivots, sturdier construction, and a sighting arm that was solid rather than slotted, and made of hard rolled brass.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 2387===
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| Available from 1910 at least.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 32.</ref> Same as Pattern 1192, but fitted for use from the bridge by addition of a [[Tangent Bar|tangent bar]].<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref>
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| ===Pattern 2388/2388a===
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| Available by 1910 at least.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 32.</ref> Same as Pattern 1193, but fitted for use from the bridge by addition of a tangent bar.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref> By 1916, they were considered obsolete.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 16.</ref> They may have been semi-circular.{{INF}}
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| ===Pattern 2391/2391a2392/2392a===
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| [[File:ARTS1909Plate7.jpg|thumb|400px| A Pattern 2391 director similar to the 2392. The 2392 would differ by having its telescope mounted to the left of the sighting bar. The possible shot scale depicted is graduated for a Mark VI* heater torpedo (35 knots to 4,000 yards)<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1909'', p. 23.</ref>]]
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| [[File:ARTS1910Plate9.jpg|thumb|400px| Additional maximum firing range scales for use on Pattern 2391/2391a,2392/2392a directors using different tupes of torpedoes.]]
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| A "right handed" director for use in conning and director towers of ships from at least 1909-1910. They had open sights as well as the capability to mount a telescope.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 32.</ref><ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1909'', Plate 7.</ref> The 2391a was fitted for gyro angling.<ref>''Torpedo Drill Book, 1914'', p. 564.</ref>
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| These were circular directors modified from the 2006.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 17, plate XIV</ref>
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| The telescopes used initially had crosswires, a 5-power magnification, and field of view of 7 degs, 10 minutes. It was not given illumination, as the regular sights would be used at night. Improvements in moving the rear sight along the tangent bar were incorporated, and an additional scale along the sighting bar allowed the maximum firing range to be read off directly. A disc labelled 0 to 180 degrees, port and starboard was added and a pointer on the speed and course of enemy bar. This disc was fitted only when a director was mounted on its ship, as the disc was oriented to own ship's keel, with 0 degrees being forward. The intent was that enemy heading could be communicated and set on the sight as a relative heading to own ship's course.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1909'', p. 23.</ref>
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| The original telescope in use was a Pattern 2393 of 5 power and field 7 degrees 10 minutes, but in 1915, the need for the lower power scope for haze and rain was realised. A quick trial resulted in the Pattern 3341 of 2.5 power, ~25 degree field being introduced, likely sometime in 1916.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', Plate IV.</ref><ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 17.</ref>
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| Around 1910, as on the 2006, the directors were provided slides underneath permitting 3 inches of lateral motion to look around obstacles.<ref>''The Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910'', p. 33. (C. of N. 17th May 1910, G. 5217/10)</ref>
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| ===Pattern 2236===
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| Entering service in 1915 or 1916, and reflecting the disfavor accorded tangent bars, the 2236 was a modification of the 2391a with the tangent bar and the association telescopic member to offset the sighting telescope removed. It had an inclination disc, a Radiomir fore sight and a deflection bar.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 18.</ref>
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| ==Royal Navy Submarine Torpedo Directors==
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| Handbook of Torpedo Control
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| plate V, VI: Pattern 3340
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| ==See Also==
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| ==Footnotes==
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| {{reflist}}
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| ==Bibliography==
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| {{refbegin}}
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| *{{BibUKARTS1915}}
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| {{refend}}
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| [[Category:Torpedo Control]]
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| [[Category:Shipboard Equipment]]
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