Waymouth-Cooke Rangefinder

From The Dreadnought Project
Revision as of 16:08, 9 April 2011 by Tone (talk | contribs) (→‎See Also)
Jump to navigationJump to search

Weymouth-Cooke Rangefinders were hand-held devices based on the principle of the sextant rangefinder for getting a rough range estimate for purposes of station-keeping, fire- or torpedo-control.

A series of Marks were created, and found use to assist in torpedo control on ships too small for or otherwise unsuitable for coincidence rangefinders.[1]

Mark II

These could be used as rangefinders or as inclinometers.

As a Rangefinder

In 1917, these instruments were being given to destroyers prior to the "V" class for general purposes, as these ships had a lot of vibration and not enough room on their bridge for a coincidence rangefinder. These Mark II devices could not produce usable range estimates over 10,000 yards unless in the hands of a gifted expert.[2] Its range scale, however, read to 18,000 yards.[3]

As Langley Type Inclinometer

  • Photo<ref>Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, Plate 57.

    Photo<ref>Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, Plate 57.

  • Design[4]

    Design[4]

  • Quadrant etchings[5]

    Quadrant etchings[5]

Twenty six Mark II devices were given additional parts to permit them to be used as inclinometers[6] and were issued to light cruisers.

As Langley Cooke Type Inclinometer

Sextant Rangefinder Inclinometer (Langley Cooke Type)Template:NEEDEDPORT[7]
Sextant Rangefinder Inclinometer (Langley Cooke Type)Template:NEEDEDPORT[8]

Thirty one of these were ordered from Cooke and Sons to be given to each battleship and battlecruiser, King George V class, Princess Royal and later, and later for the torpedo schools.[9] This was an adaptation of the Langley Type, and required the user to rotate the device about the line of sight to bring two masts (or ends) of the target into vertical alignment. When the range and base length between the features was entered on the device, the inclination would be indicated.

Handles were provided to steady the device in elevation and training, and the range scale could be set by the observer or an assistant. The eyepiece did not move with the device, counterweights balanced the affair, and large optics permitted ample light.

Mark III

The Mark III had a larger eyepiece that the Mark II, and offered a greater magnification. Its range scale read up to 24,000 yards. It was found to be useful at proportionately greater ranges, offering fair range estimates up to 15,000 yards on a clear, calm day. This improved performance, however, came at the cost of an increase in weight.[10]

Mark VII for Horizontal Use

This was for use at longer ranges to measure total distance between masts of a ship or its total length. It could also be used as an inclinometer. When used as a rangefinder, target inclination was an input. When used as an inclinometer, the range was an input. In both cases, the class of the ship being observed had to be known to set the base scale, and this proved difficult at large inclinations.[11]

Six devices were ordered and trialled in Castor, Parker, Calliope, Chatham, Saumarez, and Vernon.[12]

As a Rangefinder

File:HandbookTorpedoControl1916AppendixPlate3.jpg
Dials on Weymouth-Cooke Mark VII[13]

A torpedo control disc or an inclination scale on its own dial would assist in factoring out the inclination of the target. (TODO: ARTS 1916, p. 26 and plate 3 )

In late 1917, while awaiting the results of the ongoing sea trials, the drawbacks envisioned for the device were attributable to its rangefinding method:

  • difficulty in gauging inclination accurately
  • difficulty in coping with continual changes in inclination
  • difficulty in guessing the class of ship being ranged upon, particularly at high inclinations
  • device is difficult to manipulate, especially in poor visibility

Even so, a fleet request prompted approval that these be ordered for flotilla and half-flotilla leaders, although concern was expressed that manufacture would be slow.[14]

As an Inclinometer

In 1917, the trials were not appearing very promising. The issues were:

  • need to know range fairly accurately, which was difficult to achieve from small vessels. The need for accurate ranges was most keen when the inclination was near 90 degrees.
  • the class of ship must be known to set the base scale, difficult as previously stated
  • the difficulty of obtaining the cut at long ranges

Binocular Sextant Rangefinder

This was mentioned in passing in 1917 as having a vertical base and being suitable for destroyers. Its range and base working heads were on opposite sides and it could be worked without removing hands from the handles.[15]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, pp. 199-200.
  2. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 199.
  3. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 200.
  4. ↑ Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916, Appendix Plate 1 on page 98.
  5. ↑ Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916, Appendix Plate 2 on page 99.
  6. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 197. See also Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916, p. 26 (no copy known to exist)
  7. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, Plate 58.
  8. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, Plate 59. Template:NEEDEDPORT
  9. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 198. (C.I.O 2097 of 1917 -- N.S. 15024/17)
  10. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 200.
  11. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, pp. 197, 200.
  12. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 197. (C.I.O 1974-- N.S. 15178/17)
  13. ↑ Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916, Appendix Plate 3 on page 100.
  14. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 200. (N.S. 28,228/17)
  15. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 200.

Bibliography

Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Waymouth-Cooke_Rangefinder&oldid=23273"