Comments by "Old Guy Gaming Network" (@CRAZYHORSE19682003) on "" video.

  1. These fire control computers were so far ahead of their time. Some of the data you entered into the computer so it could calculate corrections to the firing solution for the most accurate fire possible were things like temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, temperature of the gun powder, how many rounds had been fired through each barrel since the last time they were relined. Curvature of the earth, rotation of the earth, your course and speed, the targets course and speed. The computer developed a firing solution and updated it in real time. so gone were the days of ranging shots and adjusting fire to try and hist the target. Once the computer had a firing solution it would be reasonable to expect a first salvo hit. The only factors to consider were the natural dispersion of the guns, mechanical or human error in data input. In actual combat use the Battle of the Surigao strait is an excellent demonstration of how good the MK-8 Range Keeper was. The USS West Virginia which was rebuilt and modernized after Pearl Harbor started tracking the Japanese Battleship Yamashiro in the pitch black of night at 42,000 yards. At 30,000 yards she had a firing solution. They waited until they were at 22,800 yards and opened fir scoring a first salvo hit as well as hits on 5 of the next six salvos. The California and Tennessee which were also rebuilt and modernized after Pearl Harbor also had firing solutions on Yamashiro and opened fire. I can not find any information on how many hits they scored. The Other three battleships Maryland, Mississippi and Pennsylvania did not get the extensive modernizations and had older fire control gear and never got a firing solution on Yamashiro. Maryland sighted in visually towards the end of the battle and Mississippi fire one broadside. Pennsylvania never fired a shot. The Japanese battleship Yamashiro had optical fire control and was never able to return fire against any of her attackers. The MK-8 was so good that when the Iowa's were reactivated in the 1980's they kept their WW2 fire control computers and it ensure that any of the modern battleships built by the USN during the war, the North Carolina, South Dakoda and Iowa class ships would have little difficulty smashing any axis battleship they encountered provided the captain TRUSTED the technology at his disposal and deployed his ship accordingly.
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