![[OC] That grey thing in the middle is a MK1A Ford Range keeper. 100% analog mechanical ballistics computer for naval guns. The US Navy used these from the early '40's until the mid 90's.](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/5084ce9c-198a-4aff-8dc1-8c709109f1eb.jpeg){kind=link}
This particular unit weighed 3150LBS, was built in Feb 1946, took 7 people to operate and all data was input by hand cranks. Photo credit OP, Gunnery Plotting Room USS Brumby FF-1044 mid 1980’s.
This particular unit weighed 3150LBS, was built in Feb 1946, took 7 people to operate and all data was input by hand cranks. Photo credit OP, Gunnery Plotting Room USS Brumby FF-1044 mid 1980’s.
I’m not sure if this is the same fire control computer or not (looks very similar), but here’s a video explaining the general principles of how those worked:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4
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Yeah, I saw an article on Hack a Day about that system a while back and sat there and watched that 40 minute film start to finish. I think there were 2 or 3 others in that series on YouTube that I watched after. Absolutely fascinating.
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