relative bearing & true bearing

Buck_O · 03-07-10, 01:21 PM

Can anyone explain to me the difference between "relative bearing" & "true bearing"?..

KL-alfman · 03-07-10, 01:29 PM

hope, I get it right:

true bearing: tells where the cardinal-points are. N = 0°/360°, S = 180°, W = 270°, E = 90° andsoon.

relative bearing: tells where/which angle a certain point (ship) is/has calculated from the bow of your boat (= 0°)
it's used by hydrophone, radar, periscope, UZO

Sailor Steve · 03-07-10, 06:31 PM

Yep. If I'm heading west (270 true) then 270 relative is directly to my left, or 180 true. To understand it zoom way in and look at the bearing tool that surrounds your u-boat icon on the map. As you turn the tool will turn with you. That way you can see how the relative bearing works.

frau kaleun · 03-07-10, 06:36 PM

I also found that the slide-out compass rose (izzat what it's called?) helped me with this.

03-08-10, 03:57 AM

True Bearing = Relative to True North.

Relative Bearing = Relative to your vessels Heading.
(To borrow from Steve:
Straight Ahead = 000.
Directly Left = 270.
Directly Right = 090.
Directly Astern = 180.)

The outer circle on your Compass Rose = True Bearings.
The inner circle on your Compass Rose = Relative Bearings.

Buck_O · 03-08-10, 11:34 AM

thanks gang, you have no idea, how much that helps me

03-07-10, 01:21 PM	#1
Buck_O Helmsman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 110 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	relative bearing & true bearing Can anyone explain to me the difference between "relative bearing" & "true bearing"?..

03-07-10, 01:29 PM	#2
KL-alfman Grey Wolf Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Weimar Posts: 930 Downloads: 86 Uploads: 0	hope, I get it right: true bearing: tells where the cardinal-points are. N = 0°/360°, S = 180°, W = 270°, E = 90° andsoon. relative bearing: tells where/which angle a certain point (ship) is/has calculated from the bow of your boat (= 0°) it's used by hydrophone, radar, periscope, UZO __________________ Life, Liberty and Property! Last edited by KL-alfman; 03-07-10 at 06:33 PM.

03-07-10, 06:31 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Yep. If I'm heading west (270 true) then 270 relative is directly to my left, or 180 true. To understand it zoom way in and look at the bearing tool that surrounds your u-boat icon on the map. As you turn the tool will turn with you. That way you can see how the relative bearing works. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-07-10, 06:36 PM	#4
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	I also found that the slide-out compass rose (izzat what it's called?) helped me with this.

03-08-10, 03:57 AM	#5
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	True Bearing = Relative to True North. Relative Bearing = Relative to your vessels Heading. (To borrow from Steve: Straight Ahead = 000. Directly Left = 270. Directly Right = 090. Directly Astern = 180.) The outer circle on your Compass Rose = True Bearings. The inner circle on your Compass Rose = Relative Bearings.

03-08-10, 11:34 AM	#6
Buck_O Helmsman Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 110 Downloads: 46 Uploads: 0	thanks gang, you have no idea, how much that helps me