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Compasses

Gyro Theory
A Gryro compass is a North Seeking
Gyroscope
A spinning wheel held by two GIMBALS
Has 3 axies of angular freedom
Spin Axis
Horizontal Axis
Vertical Axis

Gyrocompass
Gyroscope
3 axes
Spin
Torque
Precession

Precession axis

Spin axis

Torque axis

Gyrorepeaters

Compasses - Abbreviations
Gyrocompass
PGC
Magnetic Compass
Steering Compass
Standard Compass

PSTC
PSC

Gyro Theory
Physics A Gyro Scope will always point in
one direction (in this case TRUE NORTH)
Precision Apply force to the spin axis and the
gyro scope will rotate, not in the direction in
which the force was applied but 90 degrees
from that force vector.

Gyro Compasses
Ships normally have 2 gyro compasses
Main Orientated N/S used for Navigation
Auxiliary Oriented E/W for combat systems or as
a backup for Navigation.

Located deep within the ship

On the center line

Gyro Uses
Gyro Repeaters
Located on the bridge wings, Navigation Table,
Dead reckoning plot
Are used for Fire Control for gunnery systems
Pitch, yaw, and Roll
Centerline Pelorus Center of Bridge used as the
most accurate reference

Gyro Error
Mechanical Device has some inherent error
THE KEY IS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS AND
HOW TO CORRECT FOR IT
Sources of error
Mechanical Friction
Ships motion
Electronic malfunctions
Power Fluctuations

Determining Error
Visual Range
Triangulation
Adjusting three or more lines of position to find
location and bearing .

Compare course with a known true course

Entering and exiting port or in a channel

Celestial Azmiuths and Amplitudes

Comparison with a gyro of known error

Gyro Error
Error the difference between the true bearing and the
Gyro reading
Expressed in degrees East or degrees West

Gyro Least, error East

Gyro Best, error West
Gyro Bearing + East Error = True Bearing

Error Example
You are dead center on a Range Bearing 173
Degrees True and your Gyro reads 175
Degrees PGC what is your Error?

GYRO = 175
True = 173
GYRO is BEST
ERROR is WEST
175 173 = 2 degrees West

Shipboard Compasses
Three principle references of direction
Ships longitudinal axis RELATIVE BEARING (R)
Local magnetic meridian MAGNETIC BEARING (M)
True meridian
TRUE BEARING (T)

Relative Vs. True

Relative bearings Can NOT be plotted so
must converted

Relative Bearing + Ships Head =

True Bearing
090 + 090 = 180

Magnetic
The Earth is a core of Iron which acts as a large
magnet with its poles aligned with the earths axis
NOT located at 090 North Latitude
Difference is VARIATION

Magnetic Meridians - Skewed due to

irregularities in the Earths
core

Applying Variation
Variation is found by referencing the compass
rose closest to the ships position

Deviation
Each ship is made of Steel and Iron
It has its own magnetic field that can effect changes in
the ships magnetic compass
Determined by angle in which the Keel is laid during
initial construction
Equipment electronics can also cause deviation
Expressed in Degrees East
and West (rounded to nearest
.5 Degree)
Changes with the ships heading

Degaussing
Degaussing system - electrical installation designed to
protect ships against magnetic mines and torpedoes
Purpose counteract the ships magnetic field and
establish a condition such that the magnetic field near the
ship is, as nearly as possible, just the same as if the ship
were not there
Degaussing installation consists of permanently installed
degaussing coils wrapped around ship on underside of
hull, control unit to control the coil current, and compass
compensating equipment to prevent disturbances to mag
compasses
Coil is a large diameter electrical wire
A, F, L, M, Q Coils

Compass Error
Deviation + Variation =
Compass Error
Observed Bearing Least =
Error East
Observed Bearing Best =
Error West
Ex. Deviation = 3 West
Variation = 13 West
3 + 13 = 16 West

Example
USS Princeton is on course 125 degrees true
when you lose your gyro scope. The
Navigation gives you the following:
Variation = 8 degrees West
Deviation = 2.5 degrees East

Example

Truly True Course = 125

Valiant Variation = 8 W
Marines - Magnetic Course = 133
Dont - Deviation = 2.5 E
Cry Compass 133 2.5 = 130.5
Because of ADD WEST

Application of Compass Error

Can Compass Head What the mag compass reads
Dead Deviation
Men Magnetic Head What the magnetic heading is
Vote Variation
Twice True Head What the true heading is
Add
At
East
Elections

Sample Problem #1

Degaussing is ON
Ships Magnetic Compass reads 030 PSTC
Var is 11 W
Find ships true head

Interpolation

Bill and Jorge decide to split a pizza.

The pizza costs $9.00 and has 6 slices.
Bill eats 5 slices
Jorge eats 1 slice
How much should Bill pay?

Interpolation

Eating all the pizza slices costs $9.00

Eating none of the pizza costs $0.00
So Bill has eaten 5/6 of $9.00
5/6 times $9.00 = $7.50

This is interpolation - calculation of an

internal value by assuming a linear
relationship with surrounding data.

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030 (-3)

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030 (-3)
027

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030 (-3)
027
Reinterpolate - We assumed that the magnetic
head was 030, we now see it was 027

Sample Problem #2
Reinterpolate - We assumed that the magnetic
head was 030, we now see it was 027.
Value for 030 = 3.0W
Value for 015 = 3.5W
3.0W-3.5W = -0.5W

Sample Problem #2
030 - 015 = 15 degrees
027 - 015 = 12 degrees
So we are 12/15 of the way from 015-030
12/15 times -0.5 = -0.4
BUT we round to the nearest .5 so it is -0.5
3.5W - 0.5W = 3.0W
Or no change (in this case)

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030 (-3)
027
Reinterpolate
027

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030 (3)
027
Reinterpolate
027
(11)

Sample Problem #2
C D M V T AE
030 (3)
027
Reinterpolate
027
(11)
016

Questions?
Homework Read Chapter 8 pg. 129-147
1st Homework due Tuesday
2nd due Next Thurs