[Milsurplus] 1943 out of the box thinking?

[k5urg at yahoo.com]

I used to be a system engineer on the Nike Hercules system.  This had  a massive analog intercept computer.  In the Nike Hercules all the intelligence was located on the ground with the missile receiving steering orders from the ground.  Bell Labs was behind the development of such system.   Ed Thelen as a copy of the Nike I ballistic computer manual.  It is a comprehensive manual showing both the intercept theory and its basic electronic implementation.

 

https://www.ed-thelen.org/TM9-5000-14.pdf

https://www.ed-thelen.org/computer.html#About

 

For the more curious the Nike system went through several improvement programs, with additional ECCM and tracking improvement. The analog computer was replaced in 1978 by the Norden AN/UYK-42.  The YUK-42 was great, but not as much fun has the old analog computer.

 

Best, Francesco K5URG

 

From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Brooke via Milsurplus
Sent: Monday, September 8, 2025 5:03 PM
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] 1943 out of the box thinking?

 

Hi Ken:

I have some information on the Ford Instruments fire control computers and the Torpedo Data Computer at:
https://prc68.com/I/Torpedoes.html#TDC

They are trying to solve a triangle.  The inputs are:
The shooting ships direction of movement and speed, 
The target ships direction of movement and speed,
The movement of the munition and how long it takes to get somewhere.
This also applies to bomb sights.

As far as I can tell it never worked.  It took many shots where the aiming of the kill shot was done be walking the impact point from the prior shot.
In the case of torpedoes they only really worked once they had acoustic (or newer means of) homing.
In the case of big guns they only worked with a spotter.  (In one of the desert wars where drones were used for spotting ship borne big guns people would waive white flats at the drones).
Dumb bombs got better after radar altimeters, but only really worked with either GPS (JDAM) or laser guided weapon (Paveway).
https://prc68.com/I/RWR.shtml#LASER_Guided_Bomb

PS Information on various rifle sights is at:
https://prc68.com/I/FNFAL.shtml#Sights



-- 
Have Fun,
 
Brooke Clarke
https://www.PRC68.com
axioms:
1. The extent to which you can fix or improve something will be limited by how well you understand how it works.
2. Everybody, with no exceptions, holds false beliefs.

-------- Original Message --------

Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:24:25 -0700
From: kgordon2006 at frontier.com <mailto:kgordon2006 at frontier.com> 
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net <mailto:milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> , "Charlie L."  <mailto:mjcal79 at gmail.com> <mjcal79 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] 1943 out of the box thinking?
Message-ID:  <mailto:68BF3B79.25317.40AF35F5 at kgordon2006.frontier.com> <68BF3B79.25317.40AF35F5 at kgordon2006.frontier.com>
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The computer which always interested me was the one that controlled the aiming of the rifles 
on any of our (U.S.) capital ships. As I understand it, all guns could be made to swivel and 
aim onto a target simultaneously from one set of controls in the main "office". As I remember 
it, that computer was made by Ford and I do not mean the car company.
 
I wish I knew more about that thing.
 
Another computer which vey much interests me is Babbage's Computing Engine which was 
built somewhat recently and is demonstrated on youtube.
 
That was orginally designed to use a 20 HP steam engine to power it
 
Absolutely fascinating.
 
Another is the Thyatira computer.
 
I have always loved steam engines. A Doble engine was once mounted in an airplane and 
succesfully powered it. I have seen that on youtube also. A steam-engine powered airplane!! 
Snazzy!!!
 
Such things are the reason I am also fascinated by "mechanically generated" radio signals" 
alternators and arc.
 
Ken W7EKB

 

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