Navy back to Sextant

[HMEL]

Both sextant and transit advertised accurate
degree is 69.4 miles
One minute is 1.6 miles
20 second is 0.386 mile or 2,037 feet.

The sextant hand held on a rolling ship I wonder how close most could do on most days.
Does any one know how close with handheld Sextant in real life ?

Dave

Yes, if you are on land and your observations are correct and your time is correct and your charts are accurate and you have a good instruments you should be dead on. However, the whole purpose of that instrument is to let you know where you are when there are no landmarks available to the naked eye. But the limited knowledge I have on this subject is that you must be aware of the errors that can occur in your measurements and reference points. Accuracy is a matter of what care you put into those measurements and navigation techniques you have available to you. But you really do not appreciate these techniques until you have been truly lost. When the sky is the same color of the ground, the terrain is the same and you find footprints in the snow that are yours. And add to the fact you have no survival gear with you. I would have been very happy to know where I was with in a mile or so. So accuracy is relative. You need to know where you are so you can move to where you want to be. I am now the proud owner of about five compasses and one plastic sextant for use in a lifeboat!

 

[SmithDoor]

Yes, if you are on land and your observations are correct and your time is correct and your charts are accurate and you have a good instruments you should be dead on. However, the whole purpose of that instrument is to let you know where you are when there are no landmarks available to the naked eye. But the limited knowledge I have on this subject is that you must be aware of the errors that can occur in your measurements and reference points. Accuracy is a matter of what care you put into those measurements and navigation techniques you have available to you. But you really do not appreciate these techniques until you have been truly lost. When the sky is the same color of the ground, the terrain is the same and you find footprints in the snow that are yours. And add to the fact you have no survival gear with you. I would have been very happy to know where I was with in a mile or so. So accuracy is relative. You need to know where you are so you can move to where you want to be. I am now the proud owner of about five compasses and one plastic sextant for use in a lifeboat!

When I was going into mountains . I take a CB and 35 feet of wire great long range. I do a compass too.

If going on water I take your advice and have more than one compass and a plastic sextant too.

Good advice for all.

Where live most think cellphone. It does not work in parts of mountains. So backers find hard way.

Most do not know part earth the magic compass does not work.
You need a radio compass, sun dial compass with watch or a gyro compass.

Dave

 

[Richard Hed]

Having experienced storms in the Caribbean and North Atlantic on this ship I can guarantee we didn’t have any stabilization system.

The Satellite Communications Antennas did have servos, but they were controlled by the satellite signals not gyros (it was nigty watching the antennas move during swells, rough seas and turns).


While we had chronometers, they were backups to WWV.

World War FIVE?

 

[GreenTwin]

There were a few that occurred last night while you were sleeping.
Life comes at you fast, you know (hypersonic speed and all that).
Try to keep up.

.

 

[SmithDoor]

World War FIVE?

That is what I am thinking too.
I have not heard of fiber under ocean replacement . Maybe long range radio. Remember over 40 years ago satellites was going to replace under telephone wire.

One thing about a major war they looking at any working engines and radio. That go news for owner hobbyist building engines.
If ever read in ww2 all hobbies was used in war effort. Like replacement part for all type of farm and car engines. Manufacturering electronic parts,. In France they small lathes like sb9 for making grease guns.I stay in hobby , It was large list.

Dave

 

[SmithDoor]

There were a few that occurred last night while you were sleeping.
Life comes at you fast, you know (hypersonic speed and all that).
Try to keep up.

.

There things we do not know.
We get bits of information.
No we have analyze what really is and why.

Dave

 

[Richard Hed]

That is what I am thinking too.
I have not heard of fiber under ocean replacement . Maybe long range radio. Remember over 40 years ago satellites was going to replace under telephone wire.

One thing about a major war they looking at any working engines and radio. That go news for owner hobbyist building engines.
If ever read in ww2 all hobbies was used in war effort. Like replacement part for all type of farm and car engines. Manufacturering electronic parts,. In France they small lathes like sb9 for making grease guns.I stay in hobby , It was large list.

Dave

Yes, I also read that in the USA small shops were NOT used for the war effort, apparently the corporations didn't try to contact them. However, I know that at least SOME of the small shops were used as I know of a small shop in Ellensburg, WA that had contracts with Boeing, which meant transporting over relatively krappy (by today's standard) roads, over a mountain, to Seattle area, probably a four hour drive in those days. now, it's only about 2.5 hours or less.

Even tho' these shops were not used for the war effort directly, I'm pretty sure they contributed mightily such as keeping agricultural machines working, and transportation, etc.

BTW,. there is a krappy tv show about zombies where the electric doesn't work, therefore modern engines wont work. But did they not know about diesel & steam? Krappy sci-fi.

 

[ChazzC]

World War FIVE?

You guys need to get out more:

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv

 

[Richard Hed]

Thanx for that.

 

[SmithDoor]

Hi,
I work in merchant navy as engineer. We have sextant onboard. We have gyro compass and magnetic compass onboard too. It is duty of navigating officer to take noon sight everyday at noon to calculate for position. We also have GPS subscription for accurate position keeping.
Ships generally have a 2 stroke main engine which is really big. You can fit only one in most of the ships. Now there are some ships with 2 propellers driven by electric motors or smaller 4 stroke engines.
Some ships don't even have rudder, they have steerable propeller.

Regards
Nikhil

When working sundials the calculations was fun lot of but if noon or 6am or 6 pm fewer calculations need. Then the time year . Here is simple chart for correction.

Do not forget magic north correction This changes every year. (where at it about 0.5° each year.). So easy today with Excel.
Just try it some with a slide rule and paper

Dave

 

[GreenTwin]

You guys need to get out more:

https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-distribution/radio-station-wwv

Its all coming back now.
My dad was a big ham radio operator back in the 60's, and I recall him tuning into WWV, but I had not heard that reference for a very long time.
Ham radio chat use to be a big deal.

.

 

[SmithDoor]

Its all coming back now.
My dad was a big ham radio operator back in the 60's, and I recall him tuning into WWV, but I had not heard that reference for a very long time.
Ham radio chat use to be a big deal.

.

In ww2 all Ham radios was stop until the end. I did of any help for war but never know
In California the ham cubs would work with forests fires.

Dave

 

[Steamchick]

My Dad was still apprenticed at the outbreak of WW2. His workshop was taking all sorts of scrapped ICE engines and motors - and making generators for small cargo ships that needed electricity on board, for new fangled electrical stuff - like radios, etc. - so "coastal" ships could be used to replace ships being sunk in the Atlantic... - or become targets for German submarines themselves. Germany nearly defeated the British by sinking ships... a part of their siege tactics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_June_1940
Often it was the Civil side of the War Effort that needed the small workshops , not just the National forces. - His first job, make that "seized and rusted" old motorcycle work so he could run errands (collecting and delivering parts) all over town. A good start to an apprenticeship! - The day after he finished his apprenticeship he joined the Navy... - and spent the war keeping ships' machinery working!
Lest we forget.
K2

 

[SmithDoor]

My Dad was still apprenticed at the outbreak of WW2. His workshop was taking all sorts of scrapped ICE engines and motors - and making generators for small cargo ships that needed electricity on board, for new fangled electrical stuff - like radios, etc. - so "coastal" ships could be used to replace ships being sunk in the Atlantic... - or become targets for German submarines themselves. Germany nearly defeated the British by sinking ships... a part of their siege tactics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_June_1940
Often it was the Civil side of the War Effort that needed the small workshops , not just the National forces. - His first job, make that "seized and rusted" old motorcycle work so he could run errands (collecting and delivering parts) all over town. A good start to an apprenticeship! - The day after he finished his apprenticeship he joined the Navy... - and spent the war keeping ships' machinery working!
Lest we forget.
K2

All stores I read your interest too. Thank you for sharing.

Dave

 

[Richard Hed]

My Dad was still apprenticed at the outbreak of WW2. His workshop was taking all sorts of scrapped ICE engines and motors - and making generators for small cargo ships that needed electricity on board, for new fangled electrical stuff - like radios, etc. - so "coastal" ships could be used to replace ships being sunk in the Atlantic... - or become targets for German submarines themselves. Germany nearly defeated the British by sinking ships... a part of their siege tactics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_June_1940
Often it was the Civil side of the War Effort that needed the small workshops , not just the National forces. - His first job, make that "seized and rusted" old motorcycle work so he could run errands (collecting and delivering parts) all over town. A good start to an apprenticeship! - The day after he finished his apprenticeship he joined the Navy... - and spent the war keeping ships' machinery working!
Lest we forget.
K2

I took a look at that--no tonnage and only for June. It's always interresting to see that. I have some students and they don't seem to know anything about anything. I wouldn't be too surprised if they didn't even know what WWII was.

 

[Steamchick]

Stories are for telling... and sharing. Brought up pre-tv, all we had was the radio (stories were the "good stuff " for kids!). Most books and cinema films are simply stories.
There are now so few WW2 Veterans alive, their stories should still be remembered, and re-told. Like all history. But personal stories are about real people, who they were, how they lived, what they did. We should all record our stories for our children, and theirs, down the generations.
Just as we pass on our technical knowledge on this site.
K2

 

[mcostello]

A most unusual war story from My Dad. He was called up for WW2 when He was old enough.
Went to San Francisco and left for Guadalcanal. On a LST, 1 1/2 MPH for 3000 miles. Took 3 months. About 1 1/2 months into the trip a new model of LST passed Them up traveling 3 MPH. It left later and got there about a month ahead of Them. On the way there Japan surrendered. Fighting was over and clean up under way when He got there. They turned around and came right back. He was sent home with no participation in the fighting. The family always made fun of Him, but as far as I am concerned,He went and did was He was told to do. Some one had to be first, Somebody had to be last.
As an aside a Uncle chased Rommel around, then Parachuted into Anzio, but I have no stories from Him.

 

[SmithDoor]

Stories are for telling... and sharing. Brought up pre-tv, all we had was the radio (stories were the "good stuff " for kids!). Most books and cinema films are simply stories.
There are now so few WW2 Veterans alive, their stories should still be remembered, and re-told. Like all history. But personal stories are about real people, who they were, how they lived, what they did. We should all record our stories for our children, and theirs, down the generations.
Just as we pass on our technical knowledge on this site.
K2

I agree
Even castings tech is here.

The first did it for model airplane engines. Besides my work I made reparts for large old engines too.
Machine tools I used steel.

It was easy learning experience and fun.

I have tools out side making engine. From working with father in construction is a Transit AKA {Analog Theodolite} 20 seconds division with optical plump bobb and a automatic optical leave the accuracy is 1/64" at 2,000 feet. Not best purchase I did, I was young and had money it also gave my father a tax deduction too. But for something types of work it is great. I use on metal buildings like swinging 90° corners and then adjust columns. In shop (outside) was great for laying large metal parts.
The automatic leavel is great for setting machine tools .

Dave

 

[Steamchick]

MCostello. Hope your Uncle survived Anzio? Too many didn't. Although my Dad was at Anzio, off-shore, the ship shelled land targets and kept air defence over the landing fleet. So he survived it all. Otherwise I wouldn't be here to tell you about it.
No problem with anyone who spent 3 months crossing the Pacific. That's what your Dad was detailed-off to do. Deliver his craft. And some didn't make that trip successfully... The hazards of war. Glad he made it and you are able to tell us about it!
Thanks
K2

 

[SmithDoor]

Stories are for telling... and sharing. Brought up pre-tv, all we had was the radio (stories were the "good stuff " for kids!). Most books and cinema films are simply stories.
There are now so few WW2 Veterans alive, their stories should still be remembered, and re-told. Like all history. But personal stories are about real people, who they were, how they lived, what they did. We should all record our stories for our children, and theirs, down the generations.
Just as we pass on our technical knowledge on this site.
K2

MCostello. Hope your Uncle survived Anzio? Too many didn't. Although my Dad was at Anzio, off-shore, the ship shelled land targets and kept air defence over the landing fleet. So he survived it all. Otherwise I wouldn't be here to tell you about it.
No problem with anyone who spent 3 months crossing the Pacific. That's what your Dad was detailed-off to do. Deliver his craft. And some didn't make that trip successfully... The hazards of war. Glad he made it and you are able to tell us about it!
Thanks
K2

I have call a government paid camping trip.
All expenses camping trip under starts
See world
Having fun playing with guns.
Great food
Hunting
What could go wrong
When Sargent say do not worry about print it just health care You have helth care if something goes wrong.
Only one downside the praey shoots back.
A fantastic vacation

Dave