Mk. 52 and Mk. 53 rangefinders

[Defcon 6]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Ahh but anything is possible even at long range. You can still "walk on" to target. That is if you have the time. Maybe skill, Maybe luck but even luck counts when it destroys what you are aiming for. Just look at some of the longest shots the battleships made during WWII.

Okay, I was using top spot as my conceptual method. I guess range walking or whats it called works better.

[tlturbo]

Could you please explain how the dye packs worked and where they were in the shell?

Thanks - Terry

[Defcon 6]

it's a good thing we have shipwreck here to explain how the rangefinders work.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by Defcon 6

Okay, I was using top spot as my conceptual method. I guess range walking or whats it called works better.

Top spot as in the FCR atop the main mast (Spot 1) or aft (Spot 2) or the origianal FC station atop the armored conning tower?

Spotting for the secondary arms comes from Sky#1, Sky#2, Sky#3 or Sky#4.

The telescoping range finders (across the interior of turrets 2 & 3. #1 turret rangefinder was removed on all Iowa class during reactivation) were 46' Stereo Rangefinder Mark 52 mod.1 Bausch & Lomb optical. 1942

[Defcon 6]

Top spot from the air.

Sky #x

i think...lol. ur suppose to tell me! lol

[Shipwreck]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

The telescoping range finders (across the interior of turrets 2 & 3. #1 turret rangefinder was removed on all Iowa class during reactivation) were 46' Stereo Rangefinder Mark 52 mod.1 Bausch & Lomb optical. 1942

1. Unlike Turrets II & III, Turret I had a Mark-53 coincidence rangefinder.

2. This Mark-53 coincidence rangefinder was removed on all four Iowas in the 1950s.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by Defcon 6

Top spot from the air.

Sky #x

i think...lol. ur suppose to tell me! lol

Ok, Sky#1,#2,#3 & #4 are for the secondary 5"/38 mounts.
Four locations fore,port,starboard and aft.

FCR is atop main mast and is in the shape of a rectangular beam (not exactly top but you get the idea) and aft just aft second funnel. These are for the 16"/50 rifles.

This should give you a little clearer picture of the layout.

[Dreadnought]

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

1. Unlike Turrets II & III, Turret I had a Mark-53 coincidence rangefinder.

2. This Mark-53 coincidence rangefinder was removed on all four Iowas in the 1950s.

Correct.

As built, all three turrets on the Iowa class had 25 power, 46 foot (14 m) rangefinders, with Stereoscopic Mark 52 used in Turrets II and III and Coincidence Mark 53 in Turret I. The Mark 52 weighs 10,500 lbs. (4,763 kg) and cost about $100,000 US during World War II. Near focus for the Mark 52 is 5,000 yards (4,570 m) and the maximum range is 45,000 yards (41,150 m). Mark 53 was a coincidence type with a special astigmatic lens which allowed it to range in on a single point source, such as a searchlight. In the 1950s, the Mark 53 rangefinder was removed as weight compensation for growth in other areas. This rangefinder was selected as the increasing sophistication of fire control radar made its special capability redundant. The lower height of Turret I above the water also meant that this mounting had a shorter distance to the horizon capability. The openings in Turret I were then armor-plated over.

[Dreadnought]

This is the aft 16"/50 director or Spot#2

[Dreadnought]

This is the forward 16"/50 gun director (rectangular beam) or Spot#1 although a bit obscured by Sky#1 and the ECM's in this image.