Difference between revisions of "Iron Duke Class Battleship (1912)"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | ==Fire Control | + | ==Fire Control== |
===Rangefinders=== | ===Rangefinders=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Evershed Bearing Indicators=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | All 4 units were likely fitted with this equipment before late 1914{{INF}}<ref>They are not mentioned in the pertinent section of ''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914''</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | One might reasonably assume the particulars resembled those of the [[King George V Class Battleship (1911)|''King George V'' class]]{{INF}}. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Gunnery Control=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The control arrangements were as follows<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 7.</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Control Positions==== | ||
| + | * Gun control tower | ||
| + | * 'B' turret | ||
| + | * 'X' turret | ||
| + | |||
| + | Some ships had C.O.S.s within the control positions so they could be connected to either TS<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 7.</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Control Groups==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The five 13.5-in turrets were each a separate group with a local [[C.O.S.]] so that it could be connected to | ||
| + | * Transmitting Station | ||
| + | * Local control from officer's position within turret | ||
| + | |||
| + | The 6-in guns were formed into two groups<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 7.</ref> (presumably port and starboard broadsides{{INF}}). | ||
===Directors=== | ===Directors=== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 37: | ||
A [[C.O.S.]] in the [[TS]] afforded these options<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''. p. 88.</ref>: | A [[C.O.S.]] in the [[TS]] afforded these options<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''. p. 88.</ref>: | ||
| − | # | + | # All turrets on aloft tower |
| − | # | + | # All turrets on directing gun |
| − | # | + | # Forward group on aloft tower, aft group on directing gun |
====Secondary Battery==== | ====Secondary Battery==== | ||
| Line 24: | Line 49: | ||
===Transmitting Stations=== | ===Transmitting Stations=== | ||
| − | These ships were somewhat unusual in that they had a TS for the main battery and another for the secondary battery<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', pp. 6-7.</ref>. It is not clear to me whether the secondary battery TS had a Dreyer table. | + | These ships were somewhat unusual in that they (like [[H.M.S. Tiger (1913)||''Tiger'']] and ''possibly'' later ships{{INF}}) had a TS for the main battery and another for the 6-in secondary battery<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', pp. 6-7.</ref>. It is not clear to me whether the secondary battery's TS had a Dreyer table. |
===Dreyer Table=== | ===Dreyer Table=== | ||
| Line 30: | Line 55: | ||
In June 1918, ''Marlborough'' had a Mark I Dreyer table while the other three units had Mark IV tables<ref>''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref> and all had been provided Dreyer Turret Control Tables<ref>absent from list in ''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>. The disparity in Dreyer Marks creates a loose impression that all ships were initially given Mark I tables and for some reason ''Marlborough'' missed her chance for an upgrade, perhaps due to her damage at the [[Battle of Jutland]]. | In June 1918, ''Marlborough'' had a Mark I Dreyer table while the other three units had Mark IV tables<ref>''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref> and all had been provided Dreyer Turret Control Tables<ref>absent from list in ''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>. The disparity in Dreyer Marks creates a loose impression that all ships were initially given Mark I tables and for some reason ''Marlborough'' missed her chance for an upgrade, perhaps due to her damage at the [[Battle of Jutland]]. | ||
| − | === | + | ===Shipwide Network=== |
| + | |||
| + | Continuing the pattern established in the [[Colossus Class Battleship (1910)|''Colossus'' class]], all 4 units used [[Vickers]] [[F.T.P.]] Mark III range and deflection instruments to the gun sights and [[Barr and Stroud]] (probably Mark II*{{INF}}) instruments for other purposes<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', pp. 72.</ref>. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 12:53, 19 August 2009
Fire Control
Rangefinders
Evershed Bearing Indicators
All 4 units were likely fitted with this equipment before late 1914[Inference][1].
One might reasonably assume the particulars resembled those of the King George V class[Inference].
Gunnery Control
The control arrangements were as follows[2].
Control Positions
- Gun control tower
- 'B' turret
- 'X' turret
Some ships had C.O.S.s within the control positions so they could be connected to either TS[3].
Control Groups
The five 13.5-in turrets were each a separate group with a local C.O.S. so that it could be connected to
- Transmitting Station
- Local control from officer's position within turret
The 6-in guns were formed into two groups[4] (presumably port and starboard broadsides[Inference]).
Directors
Main Battery
The ships were fitted with a cam-type tripod-type director in a light aloft tower on the foremast along with a directing gun (in 'X' turret?)[5].
The main battery could be divided into forward ('A', 'B' & 'Q') and aft ('X' & 'Y') groups for split director control[6].
A C.O.S. in the TS afforded these options[7]:
- All turrets on aloft tower
- All turrets on directing gun
- Forward group on aloft tower, aft group on directing gun
Secondary Battery
The ships had a pair of directors fitted to port and starboard on the forward superstructure to direct the 6-in broadside guns. Marlborough's were pedestal-mounted, and the others tripod-mounted[8].
Torpedo Control
Transmitting Stations
These ships were somewhat unusual in that they (like |Tiger and possibly later ships[Inference]) had a TS for the main battery and another for the 6-in secondary battery[9]. It is not clear to me whether the secondary battery's TS had a Dreyer table.
Dreyer Table
In June 1918, Marlborough had a Mark I Dreyer table while the other three units had Mark IV tables[10] and all had been provided Dreyer Turret Control Tables[11]. The disparity in Dreyer Marks creates a loose impression that all ships were initially given Mark I tables and for some reason Marlborough missed her chance for an upgrade, perhaps due to her damage at the Battle of Jutland.
Shipwide Network
Continuing the pattern established in the Colossus class, all 4 units used Vickers F.T.P. Mark III range and deflection instruments to the gun sights and Barr and Stroud (probably Mark II*[Inference]) instruments for other purposes[12].
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ They are not mentioned in the pertinent section of Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 7.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 7.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 7.
- ↑ The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. pp. 88, 142.
- ↑ The Director Firing Handbook, 1917, p. 88.
- ↑ The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. p. 88.
- ↑ The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. pp. 143.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, pp. 6-7.
- ↑ Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
- ↑ absent from list in Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, pp. 72.
Bibliography
Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1914). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. G. 01627/14. C.B. 1030. Copy 1235 at The National Archives. ADM 186/191. Template:BibBrooksDreadnoughtGunnery Template:BibUKDirectorFiringHandbook1917 Template:BibUKDreyerTableHandbook1918
