[akdavis]

Originally Posted by starbird

Apparently both the US and German stadimeters could be rotated 90 degrees, and used horizontally to find AOB? OLC mentioned it in his gui manual, and many have mentioned it in the sh4 forums.

It sounds to me that US and German boats had similar tools available, they just had different tactics for using them.

Just a confirmation, from Submarine Periscope Manual, Navpers 16165:

4J1. General description. The periscope has an internal range finding device of the stadimeter type capable of giving both ranges and course angles. The change from direct observation to range reading or course measuring is quickly and positively effective.

The range and course-angle finding device is of the duplicate image type; the distance between the images may be varied at will, so that, for example, the water line of one image may be brought into contact with the masthead or funnel top of the other image. If the length of the vessel is known or estimated and set on the length of the target scale dial, the angle subtended is indicated in yards on the range scale dial, against the known height of the vessel on the height scale dial.

The device may be rotated 90 degrees in a plane normal to the optical axis of the periscope. This is done by continuing the clockwise motion of the operating gear beyond the limit of the vertical position of the separating mechanism; thus the whole divided lens unit rotates 90 degrees. In this position, the two images of the target are at opposite edges of the field and the mechanism is in contact with its stops. Turning the handwheel counterclockwise makes the two images approach each other. Since the known length of the target has been set on the length of target scale dial opposite the stationary index mark on the bottom of the stadimeter housing, when the bow of one image touches the stern of the other, the course angle is indicated on the length of target scale dial against the previously found range on the range scale dial.