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: [email protected]
To: [email protected], "Charlie L." <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] 1943 out of the box thinking?
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
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