Giant rangefinder FODID

[Erik van Straten]

In WW1 optical firms like Zeiss and Leitz made rangefinders for the artillery of the army. Where these an inspiration for Barnack when he constructed the FODIS?

Erik.

 

[Livesteamer]

I think Nikon holds the record for the largest rangefinder.

They were supposed to have built the rangefinder for the Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Yamato. Others might be able to provide details on that. Joe

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, Nikon made big ones, but who thought it out to use them for photography?

Erik.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Check the big-ole ding on the left (to us) tube.

Rangefinders, we don't need no stinkin' rangefinders!

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I sometimes wonder who made the original ones to use with Dr Flak's invention.

Regards, David

 

[Erik van Straten]

David, who was Dr Flak? What did he invent?

Erik.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

That's a good question and my worries about it are due to a photo of a similar huge RF with an AA battery and a mention of the Dr as though he was from one of the Scandinavian countries. And that's all I know/remember. Except that I came across the photo whilst doing a little research. Sorry I can't help more, (edit) it was about 20 to 25 years ago when I could afford museum's photocopies and was going through old papers. At the time I was beginning to recognise people's handwriting from the period 1890 to 1910; meaning early aviators.

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

Naval application of rangefinders...Erik, by comparison yours is a baby!

When one considers the concept of lobbing two ton shells at ships around 15 miles away when both the gun and the target are moving at sea at around 25 mph in different directions the mathematics of the whole thing becomes seriously intense.

History doesn't seem to delve too far into what I think was called 'Ship Fire Control' before the advent of radar, computers etc., but the topic has always fascinated me. How did they do it?

Was HMS Hood a lucky(?) shot or the result of advanced German rangefinder and mechanical computing technology?

Discuss...

Michael

 

[Livesteamer]

Getting a bit off topic here but I think the way they fired with some accuracy on the old battleships was a device that did not allow the guns to fire until the waves had rolled the ship level. By WWII fire control computers were very large mechanical things the size of a room. The U.S. battleship North Carolina is nearby and I have always wanted to visit her and see that part. Joe

 

[Dralowid]

Yup, off topic and into stormy seas...'firing on the roll' goes way back to the days of cannon etc. Plenty of that in Patrick O'Brian.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Hi,

That's a good question and my worries about it are due to a photo of a similar huge RF with an AA battery and a mention of the Dr as though he was from one of the Scandinavian countries. And that's all I know/remember. Except that I came across the photo whilst doing a little research. Sorry I can't help more, (edit) it was about 20 to 25 years ago when I could afford museum's photocopies and was going through old papers. At the time I was beginning to recognise people's handwriting from the period 1890 to 1910; meaning early aviators.

Regards, David

You know "flak" comes from the German abbreviation for flugzeugabwehrkanone, right?

Coincidence rangefinders had been about for a bit longer, British Army had infantry rangefinder before World War 1 for directing their machinegun interference fire.

I have just found some anecdotal evidence of a "Dr Flak", A German Eye-specialist who was arrested for having an illegal weapon collection back in 2014 🙂

 

[Mauro]

The Italian Navy was not equipped with Radar during WW2, therefore the artillery fire system worked only on giant rangefinder devices. For night battles they used to fire lightening shell to help the rangefinder staff.
The lack of radar systems was fatal to the Italian battleships in the Mediterranean sea.