[GreenKeys] Was: TWX/TELEX now: Analog Computers

[dave.g4ugm at gmail.com]

Well sadly gunnery really drove analog computer design over the years. Range calculation is a nasty problem. Well actually range calculation given a set of initial conditions is fairly easy. 

 

I think Author Pollen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Pollen was the first to develop a practical gunnery computer…

 

What is hard is working out the initial conditions required to hit a target. I understand that traditionally gunners had books of tables. I guess with a gunnery computer you can tweak the conditions and check where the shell lands.

 

So ENIAC was really built to calculate gunnery tables…

 

https://ftp.arl.army.mil/~mike/comphist/eniac-story.html

 

You may also note that the arguments as to which is best, digital date back to the 1800’s

 

http://rutherfordjournal.org/article020106.html

 

Dave

G4UGM

 

 

 

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Steve Garrison
Sent: 16 April 2021 21:29
To: Greenkeys <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Was: TWX/TELEX now: Analog Computers

 

The fire control system on the B29 was an analog computer.  It was used by the gunners to control their 50 calibers weapons and made the adjustments for “aiming” from the view seen in the recticle of their sights.  The gunner manning the top bubble on the B29 was referred to as the CFC (Central Fire Control) gunner.

 

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  <greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > On Behalf Of Clay Archer
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2021 3:46 PM
To: 'WAYNE' <teletypeparts at comcast.net <mailto:teletypeparts at comcast.net> >; 'steve bennett' <raleigh_ranger at yahoo.com <mailto:raleigh_ranger at yahoo.com> >; 'steve bennett via GreenKeys' <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys at mailman.qth.net> >; 'John' <john at tubetestingpros.com <mailto:john at tubetestingpros.com> >; dave.g4ugm at gmail.com <mailto:dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> 
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Was: TWX/TELEX now: Analog Computers

 

In my pre-teen years I was always tearing things apart, and (usually) putting them back together to “see how it worked”.   My dad was frustrated when he found something I had “destroyed” but still wanted to encourage my curiosity.   So he would go to the local electronics & military surplus store and bring home something for me to tear apart.   Several of those were a “Range Computer”, probably out of a WW2 bomber.   It was an analog computer full of gears, motors, dials used to calculate wind speed and direction and other factors to calculate when to drop bombs (I guess).   I run across parts from those in my junk box still today.    As I grew up I frequented those stores and bought things that I actually used (rather than tear apart).   I recall bring home an old oscilloscope balanced on my bicycle.   Bought my first Teletype from one of those stores too.   Too bad most surplus stores have gone out of business.

Clay

KG7LWX

 

 

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of WAYNE
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2021 9:51 AM
To: steve bennett; steve bennett via GreenKeys; John; dave.g4ugm at gmail.com <mailto:dave.g4ugm at gmail.com> 
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Was: TWX/TELEX now: Analog Computers

 

I believe that mechanical computers were used aboard large ships in WW2 to control the aiming and firing of their guns. 

  

Wayne 

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