Open Director Sight

An Open Director Sight is a rifle-style peep sight the Royal Navy devised for fall-back use when telescopic director sighting systems might have difficulty finding the target in haze or poor light.

It was for installation in large gun turrets to be operated by the Turret Officer to direct the turret's guns, although an unsuccessful trial was conducted in 1918 to see if an altered design could be used to replace directing guns as an alternative to proper director systems.

Installations

22 sights were ordered in October, 1914 for complete or partial installation in 6 dreadnoughts and battlecruisers. This was soon followed by decisions to equip the entire Revenge and Queen Elizabeth classes. In July 1915, 77 more sets were ordered for general distribution in existing capital ships. Most of the installations (or at least procurement) were effected by January 1917.

See Also

• Gunnery Director
• Directing Gun

Bibliography

• Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
• Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.