Red lights

mcf1 · 12-14-07, 11:48 AM

Thank's, i recently watched the film das boot. a great film

PavelKirilovich · 12-14-07, 12:07 PM

Any light on the ocean at night is very, very visible. There is nothing darker than the ocean on a half-moon or a concealed moon night.

The human eye adjusts to darkness, as we all know. Being exposed to light "bleaches" the visual rods and causes the eye to contract. When entering a dark environment afterwards, your eye takes longer to widen and regenerate the "Visual Purple" that enables night vision.

Red light and blue light do not affect the eye as much as other colours. This is because they interfere less with the visual rods that carry the 'visual purple.' Chirascuro (I think I gimped the spelling of that) is the play of light in an environment or on an object - or both - and the control thereof. It's a principle factor in concealment.

You'll notice that you get a clearer image through binoculars or an optic with the less light that seeps in between your eye and the eyepiece lens. The same would apply to a periscope; redlight is a more neutral light and allows you to see more effectively in the darkness through an optic, hence its use in the control room at times when the periscope is in use.

Boris · 12-14-07, 12:48 PM

Yep, I don't think any military uses white light at night. I know that it was a big no no for us, and always had to have red filters on any torches.

PavelKirilovich · 12-14-07, 01:23 PM

Yeah, SOP is often to get under a poncho or a shelter-half or your fieldjacket to read your map, using a red lens on the flashlight (torch, for our non-Commonwealth comrades) so as not to give away your position. Shipboard, mention has already been made of the curtains, etc.

I remember a Night Navigation exercise where I ambushed a group of new cadets afraid of the dark and their junior NCO instructor. I blinded the NCO with the torch, having taken off the red lens, then ran around them shouting in Afrikaans and Russian until they panicked and ran off.

Took me a half hour to track them all down. Everyone thought it was funny. Except for our officers, all of whom felt it nessecary to stay at CHQ around a fire. We had glorious "Lee-dars."

12-14-07, 12:07 PM	#2
PavelKirilovich Machinist's Mate Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canadian Coast Posts: 123 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Any light on the ocean at night is very, very visible. There is nothing darker than the ocean on a half-moon or a concealed moon night. The human eye adjusts to darkness, as we all know. Being exposed to light "bleaches" the visual rods and causes the eye to contract. When entering a dark environment afterwards, your eye takes longer to widen and regenerate the "Visual Purple" that enables night vision. Red light and blue light do not affect the eye as much as other colours. This is because they interfere less with the visual rods that carry the 'visual purple.' Chirascuro (I think I gimped the spelling of that) is the play of light in an environment or on an object - or both - and the control thereof. It's a principle factor in concealment. You'll notice that you get a clearer image through binoculars or an optic with the less light that seeps in between your eye and the eyepiece lens. The same would apply to a periscope; redlight is a more neutral light and allows you to see more effectively in the darkness through an optic, hence its use in the control room at times when the periscope is in use. __________________ Winter Garden on the North Atlantic Currently: U128 (Type IXC), U180 (Type IXD2), U198 (Type IXD2) operating in the I.O. Previously: U48 (Type VIIB), U568 (Type VIIC) [Completed 1940-1945 career in Type VIIs, in the Atlantic] Running: SH3 v1.4b w/ GWX 2.1

12-14-07, 01:23 PM	#4
PavelKirilovich Machinist's Mate Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canadian Coast Posts: 123 Downloads: 28 Uploads: 0	Yeah, SOP is often to get under a poncho or a shelter-half or your fieldjacket to read your map, using a red lens on the flashlight (torch, for our non-Commonwealth comrades) so as not to give away your position. Shipboard, mention has already been made of the curtains, etc. I remember a Night Navigation exercise where I ambushed a group of new cadets afraid of the dark and their junior NCO instructor. I blinded the NCO with the torch, having taken off the red lens, then ran around them shouting in Afrikaans and Russian until they panicked and ran off. Took me a half hour to track them all down. Everyone thought it was funny. Except for our officers, all of whom felt it nessecary to stay at CHQ around a fire. We had glorious "Lee-dars." __________________ Winter Garden on the North Atlantic Currently: U128 (Type IXC), U180 (Type IXD2), U198 (Type IXD2) operating in the I.O. Previously: U48 (Type VIIB), U568 (Type VIIC) [Completed 1940-1945 career in Type VIIs, in the Atlantic] Running: SH3 v1.4b w/ GWX 2.1

12-14-07, 11:48 AM	#1
mcf1 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Greece, Volos Posts: 710 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Thank's, i recently watched the film das boot. a great film

12-14-07, 12:48 PM	#3
Boris Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 1,691 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 0	Yep, I don't think any military uses white light at night. I know that it was a big no no for us, and always had to have red filters on any torches.