[Gino]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

The cranks were not difficult to use and you only had to overcome the friction of the slip clutches. But using torpedo type as the input instead of torpedo speed would prevent lots of human error, I would think.

I still want to find a photo of the correct crank and its location on the TDC Mark III.

Indeed, setting the input values on either the Position Keeper, or the Angle Solver is a piece of cake. You just rotate the cranks untill the correct values appear. This can even be done while the TDC is running and therefore is calculating the angles.
The TDC rather quickly to any changes in the scenario, with some exceptions.
For example, if the submarine should pass beneath the target a number of the mechanical elements will have to travel clear to the other end of their range to get back onto the solutions. The follow-up heads will not match during the time it takes for the elements to drive all the way to the other extreme. The whole TDC makes some very interesting noises while that is happening. It's a great machine to work on (play with )

I'll have to look at some photographs I've got at home, to see where the Torpedo Speed crank is located. I think it's the one in the middle on the Angle Solver.:hmm:

The Cod has a Mark IV TDC which means it has a Receiver Unit in the middle between the PK and the AS. Therefore we have the advantage that values from periscope, radar and/or sonar can directly be fed into the PK.


By the way, each torpedo came with a piece of paper at what exact speeds it could run. Every torpedo was tested at it's possible speed settings. For a Mark 14 that would be two. For every torpedo fired, the TDC Officer had to dial in the correct speed setting, according to the papers sent with each torpedo. That's why, if you read a patrol report, you'll find for every torpedo fired, its serial number.

Let me see what I can find more on this topic.

groetjes,