Not knowing my OWN position?

perisher · 05-02-07, 04:36 PM

DRT and log systems are quite accurate in terms of relative movement and position as regards to other ships and targets, but they are not much good for fixing your position on the planet. They can tell you how far you are from your start point and where you are relation to it now, but unless the start point was a known position, you still have no idea if you are getting close to Tokyo. (Even if you have a good fix for your datum point, error will creep in.)
To know where you are you need fixes on known positions, or a sextant, chronometer and navigation tables. No GPS in 1944, but there was radio direction finding and, I'm not sure when it came in, but the LORAN radio navigation system was operational before the war ended. As it was developed from GEE, I guess '44 or maybe late '43.

05-02-07, 04:36 PM	#10
perisher Frogman Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 300 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	DRT and log systems are quite accurate in terms of relative movement and position as regards to other ships and targets, but they are not much good for fixing your position on the planet. They can tell you how far you are from your start point and where you are relation to it now, but unless the start point was a known position, you still have no idea if you are getting close to Tokyo. (Even if you have a good fix for your datum point, error will creep in.) To know where you are you need fixes on known positions, or a sextant, chronometer and navigation tables. No GPS in 1944, but there was radio direction finding and, I'm not sure when it came in, but the LORAN radio navigation system was operational before the war ended. As it was developed from GEE, I guess '44 or maybe late '43. __________________ "Pitt was the greatest fool who ever lived to encourage a mode of war which they who commanded the seas did not want, and which, if successful, would deprive them of it." Earl St.Vincent (allegedly)