The Sperry Gyro-Compass

HEN the earth was thrown off from the sun and commenced rotating about its own axis, there was developed a force generated by the earth’s rotation. For countless centuries this force has been at work, but no one has ever been able to harness it to serve the purposes of man. But now, through the efforts of Foucault, Hopkins, Sperry, and other noted scientists, this force has been put to work. It serves to direct a thousand ships in their courses.

Of course, this is not the only force which has been used to guide ships. Since 1297 A.D. mariners have used magnetic attraction as the force by which to guide their vessels. For centuries seafaring men sailed only in wooden ships, and were therefore satisfied with the magnetic compass. Then came steam and steel. Navigation then instead of being a hit or miss game of chance became the exact art of directing a ship by the shortest possible course in the quickest possible time.

Now that ships cost millions of dollars to build and thousands of dollars per day to operate, time has become the most essential element in navigation. The development of ships from the sailing vessel to the ocean greyhound has been one of the marvels of modern times. But the development of the magnetic compass has not kept pace with the development of the ships which rely upon it. Many of the great trans-Atlantic liners are guided by practically the same type of compass as that which Columbus used on the Santa Maria. The compass on the wooden Santa Maria pointed to magnetic north with a fair degree of accuracy, but the compass on the steel greyhounds must contend with many distractions.

For years magnetic compass designers spent their efforts to produce compensating devices that would annul the effects of all external influences, so that the magnetic compass would be free to indicate only the direction of the earth’s magnetic lines. Very little has been done to improve the compass itself—it still depends upon the attraction of the Magnetic North Pole. The Sperry Gyro-Compass differs in principle from any other compass. It is not magnetic. It derives its directive force, not from magnetic attraction, but from the earth’s rotation.

There is certainly a crying need for this new type of compass. A ship now-a-days costs millions of dollars and carries cargoes usually equal in value to that of the ship. It has been estimated that inaccuracies in navigation attending the use of the magnetic compass cause a yearly loss of ships to the value of $70,000,000. No estimate can possibly be made on the value of lives lost on these ships.

Millions of dollars are spent each year on charts, lighthouses, buoys, geodetic and hydrographic surveys, and on compilation of notices to mariners. Notwithstanding all of these, ships must ultimately depend upon their compasses for their safety and efficiency of navigation.

Inaccuracies in navigation can be eliminated by the use of a reliable compass. The Sperry Gyro-Compass puts the earth to work. It utilizes a force which is as unvarying as the law of gravity, a force that cannot be interfered with by any other influence.

Any wheel rotating at a high speed about its own axis, and free to place itself in any plane, is called a Gyroscope. The Gyroscope is the instrument which utilizes the earth’s rotation as a force to direct the course of ships.

Suppose you were to place such a small wheel supported by its axis upon a larger wheel which also is revolving. The rotation of the larger wheel would so influence the smaller wheel that its axis would point in the same direction as the axis of the larger wheel. Why this is the case does not concern us here. Let it suffice that the larger wheel will cause the smaller wheel to behave in this manner. This is in accordance with a natural law. This law operates as unfailingly as the law which causes an unsupported body to fall to the ground.

Suppose the larger wheel happens to be the earth, which in reality is a revolving wheel. Suppose further, the small wheel is a Sperry Gyro-Compass. In accordance with this natural law just outlined the smaller wheel, or Gyro-Compass, will point its axis in the same direction as the axis of the earth, or, in other words, to the true or geographical North Pole. This explanation of the principle of gyroscopic motion is necessarily crude. The principle itself has been established beyond any reasonable doubt. It can be proved by mathematics to the satisfaction of the most exacting scientist and has been demonstrated, throughout the navies of the world, to practical seamen.

The final result is that we have a principle which enables us to construct an instrument which will place itself in the true geographic north and south meridian, and that it responds to no influence or impulse other than the earth’s unvarying rotation.

HE purpose of a compass is to indicate direction. The relative position of the North Pole to any point on the earth’s surface is called North. We figure all direction from this conception. This geographical North Pole is called the True North. About 800 miles from this True North Pole is a spot which has a strange magnetic attraction. The needle of the magnetic compass, if undisturbed by local influences, points to this spot, and not to the True North Pole. This spot is called the Magnetic North Pole. This mysterious attractive spot is not stationary. It moves about from year to year within a wide circle.

Inasmuch as the navigator must refer to True North, he must determine the angle or variation between True North and Magnetic North as indicated by his magnetic compass. This determination is made comparatively easy by using charts which express in degrees the difference between Magnetic North and True North for any point on the earth’s surface.

Such a chart is shown in Figure 3. Also on each chart used by a navigator for a particular locality there is marked a compass rose in which is recorded the variation for that exact spot as of a certain date, and in addition the rate at which the variation changes annually, Figure 4.

Navigation along a coast line where sights can be taken on buoys or lighthouses is simple, and is termed “piloting.” This, of course, can be done without the aid of a compass.

Upon getting to open sea the mariner checks his position in a similar manner, by observing the position of his ship in relation to the position of the sun, moon or stars. Between observations the position of a ship is determined by “dead reckoning.” The distance it has traveled from the last known position is measured by the ship’s log and the direction is indicated by the compass. Very often for days at a time, owing to weather conditions, it is impossible to get an observation or sight on a celestial body. During this run the navigator is dependent entirely upon the compass. The slightest error in the compass, due to variation or deviation, in such circumstances will cause the ship to be miles out of its course, and the actual position will be far from the calculated position.

F you were to conceive of a compass which would be free from all the troubles and errors found in most compasses, which would relieve you of all the worry and care the present compass requires, a compass which would be accurate and reliable, a compass which would be the Ideal Compass under all conditions, you would undoubtedly conceive of a compass that had the following characteristics:

• 1.It must point True North.
• 2.It must free you from the necessity of making calculations and corrections.
• 3.It must free you from compensating the compass for errors.
• 4.It must free you from the burden of swinging the ship, or otherwise taking the deviation of your compass.
• 5.It must not be influenced by inherent magnetism of the ship.
• 6.It must not be influenced by any change in the character or disposition of the cargo.
• 7.It must not be influenced directly or indirectly by any temperature changes.
• 8.It must not be influenced by the roll or pitch of the ship.
• 9.It must not be influenced by any weather conditions.
• 10.In the event of failure, or error, it should give instant warning.

Let us compare the Magnetic Compass with the Sperry Gyro-Compass and determine which more nearly approaches the Ideal Compass.

The Sperry Gyro-Compass unfailingly points True North under all conditions of weather, ship or cargo. It relieves the navigator of calculation of errors, and tiresome compass compensations. It makes a great saving in time required to “swing ship.” The Sperry Gyro-Compass is, therefore, the Ideal Compass.

URING the construction of a steel ship it is usual to build it on ways the direction of which lie in the East-West line. Should the ways be placed in a North-South line the riveting on the keel and plates tends to help the molecules of metal to place themselves parallel to the magnetic lines of force, and magnetize the metal. When placed in the East-West line the molecules of metal in the plates are at right angles to the magnetic lines of force, and are not as easily magnetized. The use of the Gyro-Compass eliminates the necessity of placing the ways in the East-West line.

After a large ship has been launched, and during the fitting out period, it is often necessary to have it swung end for end in order to neutralize or equalize the magnetism induced by the earth’s magnetic field. To swing a large ship end for end costs anywhere from one thousand ($1000) to three thousand ($3000) dollars. The Gyro-Compass is unaffected by any magnetic phenomena, and is so dependable that it makes the swinging of the ship unnecessary.

In constructing a ship it is customary to make all metal parts within approximately ten (10) feet of the magnetic-compass stand of bronze, brass or other non-magnetic material. The proximity of magnetic metals seriously affects the accuracy of the compass. All electric leads are run so as to clear the vicinity of the compass, as the magnetic fields set up by such conductors seriously influence the compass needle. Actual experience is on record that the total installation cost of the Sperry Gyro-Compass has been saved many times over by the elimination of special metals and special run of electric leads.

Before starting on a long voyage, es­pec­ial­ly with a new ship using the mag­ne­tic compass, it is cust­o­mary to swing the ship through a comp­lete circle to check dev­i­a­tion. To swing ship it is first nec­es­sary to pick out a suit­able ob­ject on land having a known bear­ing to the ship. This object is used as a ref­er­ence point. If at sea ob­ser­va­tions are taken on the sun. The ship is then swung through 360 degrees, stop­ping usually on each 15-degree head­ing, and noting the dev­i­a­tion. A table is made up showing the deviation on each of these headings. An attempt is then made to so adjust or manipulate the compensating magnets to eliminate the error found. The ship must then again be swung through 360 degrees, stopping at headings as before to check the applied compensation.

Figure 5. Errors of Magnetic Compass Cause Departure From Desired Course.

On some ships it is the custom to check the deviation by the deflector magnet method. The ship in this case is put on a certain heading and a magnet placed to one side of the compass and the deviation noted. The same magnet is then placed at an equal distance to the opposite side and the deviation noted. The difference, if any, between the readings is the deviation on that particular course.

With either meth­od of check­ing for dev­i­a­tion, con­sid­er­able time is used. It is not nec­es­sary to check for dev­i­a­tion or ap­ply any com­pen­sa­tion to the Gyro-Com­pass, as it is not mag­net­ic. In fact the Gy­ro-Com­pass has noth­ing what­ever to do with magnetism.

When at sea the Gyro-Compass af­fords the means of keep­ing to the straight-line, true course. The line A B, Figure 5, shows the straight-line course from the port of New York to the port of Liver­pool. The line A C E B shows, with exag­ger­a­tion, the actual course steered due to com­pass and other er­rors. At the point E the ship’s position was checked by observation of a celestial body. The line E B represents the new course set to bring the ship to her destination. This is an occurrence which sometimes happens not once but often during a voyage.

It is evident that a loss of time is in­volved when the ship leaves her straight line course. The in­her­ent ac­curacy of the Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pass en­ables the ship to keep to the straight line course, and also to steer di­rect­ly on true courses.

By keeping on a straight line course the ship is en­abled to make a good many more miles on the same num­ber of rev­o­lu­tions or turns of the pro­pel­ler. Under ex­actly the same weath­er con­di­tions a 16,000 ton lin­er made 370 miles in 24 hours at an av­er­age of 86.95 rev­o­lu­tions per min­ute per mile when steered by a mag­ne­tic com­pass, and the same lin­er made 377 miles with 85.61 rev­o­lu­tions per min­ute per mile when steered by the Gy­ro-Com­pass. This sav­ing amounts to eas­ily $50 per day for this ship. Dur­ing her elev­en-day voy­age she saved $550. At this rate of sav­ing the Gy­ro-Com­pass equip­ment is soon paid for.

The Sperry Gyro-Compass does not oscillate with the rolling of the ship, or in other words, has no heeling error. The use of the helm is greatly diminished. Records show that on one trans-Atlantic liner a saving of 24 percent in the revolutions of the steering engine, when steered by Gyro-Compass, was effected. One of the largest trans-Atlantic liners reports that but one-third of the helm is used when the ship is steered by Gyro-Compass.

This saving in the use of the steering engine gives actual proof that the ship navigated by a Gyro-Compass steers a straight line course. It further proves that the ship does not divert its slip-stream as often—the power output of the main engines is thereby reduced.

Records taken on a well-known passenger liner show that in making her regular trip between New York and Jacksonville, Florida, she saved more than two hours due to steering by a Sperry Gyro-Compass. A saving of 3,410 turns of her propeller was also effected. These savings were made even with much greater than the usual draft.

Records taken by means of the Sperry Recording Compass show that when the helmsman is given a certain course he can keep the ship one and one-half degrees nearer the course when steering by the Gyro-Compass than when steering by magnetic compass.

The Gyro-Compass can make great savings in money both in construction and operation of the ship. These factors are perhaps trivial when compared with the safety factor introduced by the use of the Sperry Gyro-Compass.

Due to the elim­i­na­tion of the many un­cer­tain­ties of the mag­netic com­pass, insurance com­pan­ies are fav­or­ably dis­posed toward the use of the Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pass, which ul­ti­mate­ly will re­sult in a re­duc­tion of in­sur­ance rates.

The use of the Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pass elim­in­ates in­ac­cu­ra­cies due to nav­i­ga­tion, there­by sav­ing time, in­suring the ship, the car­go, and the lives of pas­sen­gers and crew.

Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pas­ses are op­er­at­ing on many of the world’s larg­est and fast­est pas­sen­ger lin­ers and car­go ships. These ships are ma­king sav­ings every day of fuel used and time re­quired to make their courses. The nav­i­ga­tors using these com­pas­ses find that they can come very much nearer their cal­cu­lat­ed po­si­tions when steer­ing by the Gy­ro-Com­pass. The Gy­ro-Com­pass makes the art of nav­i­ga­tion more exact.

The Sperry Gyro-Compass is the only one to pass the service tests in the world’s navies.

HE equipment which applies the principle set forth in a practical way consists of:

The function of each piece of equipment and its relation to other parts is shown on pages 22 and 23.

The Master Gyro-Compass is contained within a binnacle stand, with glass dome top.

As shown in the pho­to­graphs and sec­tion­al view, the twin gyro-wheels are sup­port­ed from a frame-work which is in turn set in gim­bal rings. The out­er gim­bal ring is at­tached to the bin­nacle stand by means of a num­ber of sup­port­ing springs. The springs are pro­vid­ed for pro­tect­ing the com­pass against sud­den jars and vi­bra­tions. Fig­ure 18 shows a pho­to­graph of the top view, while the wheels are shown from be­low in Figure 16.

A diagrammatic representation of the Sperry Gyro-Compass is shown in plan view in Figure 17. The elevation, or side view, is shown in Figure 15. These drawings show the working parts of the Gyro-Compass. Each of the twin gyro-wheels is enclosed in a case, which is in turn suspended from the main frame and spider.

The wheels are spun at a high speed in unison by means of electricity. The force of the earth’s rotation combines with the force resulting from the rotating wheels. The resultant action of these two forces is that both wheels turn their axes directly into, or parallel with, the earth’s north and south meridian. The compass card, of course, also turns and indicates direction by comparing the stationary “lubber line,” representing the ship’s head, with the compass card.

A single gyro-wheel would cons­ti­tute a sat­is­fact­ory sta­tion­ary, or “land com­pass.” On ship­board the roll, yaw and pitch of the ship would impose ad­di­tion­al duty on a single wheel. It would have to point not only True North, but also offset the effect of the sea. One of the two wheels is ar­ranged to always point True North, while its twin wheel op­poses and neutralizes all in­fluences other than the force of the earth’s rotation. The force of both wheels is utilized in seeking the mer­i­dian.

The Master Gyro-Compass is a marvel of mech­an­ical per­fec­tion and rug­ged­ness. Every ro­tat­ing or re­volv­ing part moves upon special bearings to reduce friction. It should be noted also that the gyro-wheels do not directly operate the compass card. The compass card is turned by a small electric motor (Azimuth Motor), Figure 17. The slightest change in position between the wheels and card operates the “trolley” or electrical contact, which controls the Azimuth Motor. The card is made to “shadow” the wheels. The follow-up is so close that the card frame has been called the “phantom.”

An electrical transmitter, Figure 17, is operated by the movement of the card. This transmitter is the means by which the repeaters are kept in unison with the movements of the Master Gyro-Compass, and made to show the exact reading at any instant. Again the Azimuth Motor furnishes the very slight amount of power required to operate this device.

Figure 13.

The Master Compass is placed near the center of the ship at the water line. At this point the effect of rolling is at a minimum. It is, however, not necessary to place it exactly at this position. Figure 13 shows the approximate location of the various pieces of equipment aboard ship.

A familiar application of the repeater principle is that used in hotels and public buildings, where a number of repeater clocks are operated from one master instrument. Likewise, the repeater used upon the bridge, the bearing repeater, and the one at the after steering station, are all operated by electricity in perfect unison with the Master Gyro-Compass and show the exact reading of the Master at any instant. Repeaters are operated by a small electric motor within each case, controlled by the transmitter at the Master Gyro. In designing the repeaters particular attention has been given to the electrical circuits so as to make all connections water, spray and condensation proof. Stuffing tubes of improved design are used at all outlets and entrances.

A miniature electric lamp within the repeater supplies the necessary illumination of the dial. The illumination can be brightened or dimmed by turning the switch handle on the face of the terminal box.

The repeaters are supplied in three styles:

• 1. Repeater mounted on steering stand—for use on bridge.
• 2. Bearing repeater mounted within pelorus stand.
• 3. Repeater mounted on bulkhead in Master’s room, or at the after steering station.

Special stands or fixtures can be supplied if necessary.

A metal “non-reflection” cover is supplied which can be fitted to either the bridge or the after steering repeaters. The cover has adjustable doors and a hood. Its object is to exclude all light from the top glass of the repeater except at the lubber’s line. No light will be reflected into the eyes of the helmsman. The doors can be closed until a very small sector of the repeater dial appears at the lubber’s line. Experience has proved that it is easier to watch and concentrate when only a small portion of the dial is visible. A magnifying glass can be used in conjunction with the cover so that the repeater indication can be read at a distance.

The bridge and after steering repeaters are mounted on ad­just­able brack­ets. The position of the repeater can be changed so as to allow a full face view of the dial from almost any angle.

The bearing repeater is of great aid to the navigator. The repeater is mounted within the stand and, of course, shows the exact reading of the Master Compass. In taking a bearing on a distant object or a sun azimuth it is not necessary to first set the “dumb” compass to correspond with the main com­pass. A cons­tant true ind­i­ca­tion is af­ford­ed.

Installation of the bear­ing re­peat­er can be made in such a po­si­tion on the up­per bridge so that it may be used for steering from that position as well as for taking bearings. A special pelorus stand cover can be supplied with windows to allow steering with the cover on, so as to protect the repeater from spray and the weather.

An improved design of azimuth circle is furnished which fits directly over the top of the repeater. Figures 24 and 26, on page 30, show the azimuth circle and bearing repeater in use, taking a bearing on a distant object, and on the sun respectively. This azimuth circle is so constructed as to bring the object, the spirit level and dial within the field of vision concurrently. The bearing can be taken with great accuracy. There is no possibility of the Master Compass changing its position while the pelorus is in use. Such an occurrence is not uncommon when using the ordinary pelorus or “dummy” compass.

An additional graduated ring, Figure 25, is supplied for placing under the azimuth circle so that in case the Gyro-Compass is not operating such, for instance, as when the ship is at anchor, the pelorus can still be used as a “dumb” compass. The main compass setting is made upon the ring, and the azimuth circle used in the usual manner.

The bearing repeater can be furnished with any one of three kinds of azimuth circles. The Ritchie circle is usually supplied. The purchaser also has the option of choosing either the Sperry circle or the Kelvin Azimuth Mirror.

The compass control-panel provides a means for controlling the various electrical parts of the Gyro-Compass, the storage battery, motor-generator and ship’s supply current. It is very compact, neat, and of good appearance. It receives electrical power from the ship’s mains and distributes it to the motor-generator set, Master Compass and repeater.

The switch panel is made up of black ebony asbestos, mounted upon angle iron. The panel is usually mounted with its back near the bulkheads, but so hinged as to admit of access to its rear.

The Mot­or-Gen­er­a­tor sup­plied is an ef­fic­i­ent and ex­cep­tion­al­ly re­li­able piece of equip­ment. Its pur­pose is to con­vert the ship’s sup­ply cur­rent into elec­tric­i­ty of the char­ac­ter­is­tics used in spin­ning the gy­ro-wheels and op­er­a­ting the re­peat­ers.

The complete failure of the electrical plant aboard a modern ship is an event of rare occurrence. If, however, such a contingency should occur, provision has been made for it in the Gyro-Compass equipment by supplying a storage battery of sufficient capacity to operate the entire equipment for a period of two hours. The battery is so connected electrically as to keep itself in a charged condition while the compass is operating under normal conditions.

Figure 31.

An outstanding feature of the Gyro-Compass is that it makes possible the recording of the actual courses steered by a vessel. The recording compass is connected to the electrical circuits like a repeater and follows the movements of the Master Compass. It not only indicates the heading at any instant, but also makes a graphic record on a chart. Radial lines on the chart represent the various courses. Concentric circles represent time—each small division five minutes—each large division one hour.

The dial on which the chart is mounted turns with the movements of the master compass bringing the correct course under the marking point. As the time advances a line is marked on the chart showing the exact course steered at a definite time. On starting, the marking arm is at the inner edge, clockwork moves it toward the outer edge with uniform motion.

Figure 32.

The chart shown in Figure 32 forms a valuable record. It was taken on a ship at a time a radio call was received from a burning oil tanker. Being within the distance defined by law, the ship was legally, as well as morally bound to proceed to the distressed ship. The chart shows that the course was altered to go to the tanker’s aid. It also showed the exact time, thereby establishing proof as to the fulfillment of the obligation. A few minutes later another radio call advised that the fire aboard the tanker was extinguished. The chart shows that the course was again altered to bring the vessel back on her original given course.

The chart further shows the actual courses steered in holding the ship on its given course. It shows just how efficiently each helmsman handles the ship. It provides an excellent method of training helmsmen to use less helm, effecting a saving by less frequent use of the steering engine.

The recording compass is a great aid to the Captain and Navigator in improving the navigating efficiency of the ship.

The recording compass can be supplied as a part of the Gyro-Compass equipment—its additional cost is small when compared to the saving and benefits derived from its use.

The operation of the Sperry Gyro-Compass is made easy by making all parts as simple as possible.

In starting the equipment it is necessary to turn but one switch. The twin wheels immediately start spinning and will in a short time come up to the normal speed.

After the speed has been attained, a short time is allowed for the wheels to cause their axes to “settle,” or, in other words, to seek and hold the meridian.

In case of failure of the ship’s supply, or other trouble, an audible signal immediately gives indication that something is wrong. This is a decided improvement over the ordinary compass, as no indication is afforded of the presence of factors which cause errors in its reading.

All of the greatest commercial aids require some care, such, for instance, as the telephone, typewriter, adding machine, duplicating machine and so on.

The magnetic compasses aboard ship receive especially watchful attention, to see that they are not meddled or tampered with. As a rule the entire ship’s crew, including the youngest apprentice, knows that the compass must in no way be handled.

It should be remembered that the Sperry Gyro-Compass is a mechanical compass. Although the very best materials, design and skill enter into its construction, it is still liable to failure. Even with that possibility, it is so superior to the magnetic compass that it more than justifies its installation use. In the same way the electric light, although liable to failure, is vastly superior to the old oil lamp. The oil lamps are seldom used, yet they are carried aboard ships for the contingency which might happen. Similarly a failure of the electric or hydraulic steering gear may necessitate the temporary use of the inefficient hand-steering gear.

HEN a Gyro-Compass is sold the interest of The Sperry Gyroscope Company does not cease. Our interest in our customer is only beginning. An experienced service engineer installs every Sperry Gyro-Compass. This engineer is also available to make the first trip with the compass in order to assure its proper operation. After installation the Sperry Service Engineers are available in every large port in the world to come aboard and inspect, clean, repair and overhaul the Gyro-Compass equipment so as to keep it in first class operating condition. A radiogram sent to any of the Sperry Service Stations will bring a Service Engineer to meet your ship. During the first year there is no charge. After this period a reasonable charge is made for the service. Such a charge is similar to that at present made by compass-adjusters.

A list of the Sper­ry Rep­re­sen­ta­tives is giv­en on the tit­le page of this book.

The Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pass is an ins­tru­ment of pre­cision. From the work done by the Gy­ro-Com­pass and the ob­jects ac­comp­lished it would be natural to class it as a sci­en­tif­ic ins­tru­ment. It is, however, more than that for the reason that it has been made strong and sturdy for operation under the most severe conditions at sea. The most expert and skilled workmanship is required to combine strength and precision, such as found in the Gyro-Compass. The Sperry organization prides itself upon having the best workmen that can be obtained for their respective vocations.

The materials used are the very best obtainable. The rigid and inflexible set of purchasing specifications insures receiving the best materials.

A well organized inspection force passes upon all material upon its receipt, and through the various manufacturing stages to the final product.

Each Sperry Gyro-Compass is on test for several days. During this time it is put through every devisable test to simulate the conditions under which it will have to operate. Figures 38 and 39 show a compass mounted on a stand which is operated by means of motor driven gears, cams, etc., so as to reproduce the roll, pitch and yaw of a ship at sea. Absolute accuracy of the Master Compass and all repeaters while operating under this condition is required.

The purchaser is thereby assured that the compass to be installed upon his ship will have had all manufacturing inaccuracies or so-called “kinks” worked out. A record of the test accompanies each compass.

Special care is taken in packing the Gyro-Compass for shipment. Experience gained from the shipment of hundreds of compasses has devised means whereby to insure the safe arrival of all parts so that installation will not be delayed.

In order that no injury may result to any parts, the Gyro-Compass is unpacked under the supervision of the Sperry Service Engineer.

The Sperry Service Organization is one which serves in all parts of the world. A corps of Service Engineers, having special training at the factory in all departments relating to the Gyro-Compass, are available in nearly every large port of the world. These engineers are ready to come aboard your ship, to clean, adjust and overhaul the Gyro-Compass, thus relieving the navigator of all care other than the actual use of the Gyro-Compass.

During the war we had Service Engineers in every port where the ships of the Navy were likely to call. Our men have been in many of the naval actions and have been able to render very con­sid­er­able service on many un­usual oc­cas­ions. For example, it was desired to place an equipment on a British ship which was on her way to the Dardanelles. The Admiralty instructed us by telegram to have an equipment and a Service Engineer meet the ship at the British Naval Station at Malta in the Mediterranean. By sending the equipment with our Service Engineer via a passenger train to the south of Italy and via destroyer to Malta we were able to meet the ship there on the day she arrived. The ship was able to stay only twenty-four hours, and as it took about four days to install the equipment, our engineer remained on board and finished the work while the ship was enroute from Malta to the Dardanelles.

This ship, the Inflexible, arrived at the Dardanelles just in time to join in the first naval action directed against the land batteries. During the first part of the engagement our engineer remained with the Master Compass which was installed near the dynamo room. When he saw that it was functioning properly he left it to go on deck and view the action, the effects of which he had become aware of, as a number of shells from the land batteries had hit the ship. Almost immediately after he arrived on deck a torpedo struck the ship directly under the compartment where the Gyro-Compass was located, killing every man in that compartment. Although badly damaged the ship was able to get out of range of the land batteries and reach the naval base near the Dardanelles.

The Gyro-Compass was, of course, almost totally destroyed. Shortly after the action ended our engineer was enabled to get ashore on a Greek island via one of the British destroyers. This island had a telegraph station which he used to cable us that “Equipment No. 286 is under four feet of water,” and that we should have another equipment ready to replace it. We took this telegram to the Admiralty who authorized us to have another equipment prepared to meet this ship at Gibraltar. This we did, again sending a Service Engineer who met the ship at Gibraltar, on her way back to England to be repaired and refitted.

The Sperry Service Organization stands ready to help all ships equipped with a Gyro-Compass at all times, even in emergencies such as those experienced by naval vessels.

At the time of the battle of Coronel on the west coast of South America, H. M. S. In­vin­ci­ble was being over­hauled at the Ports­mouth Dock­yard in Eng­land. She was im­med­i­ate­ly ord­ered with one other large British ship to South American waters under the com­mand of Ad­mir­al Stur­dee, to re-enforce the British fleet, and then to find and destroy the German ships which had defeated the British at the battle of Coronel. When the overhaul of the Invincible was completed and she was ready to leave the docks, it was at first planned to delay sailing until the ship could be swung and the magnetic compasses compensated. It was decided, however, that although the compasses were badly in need of adjustment it was necessary to save every minute in order to reach South American waters before the German ships could find and destroy the British ships remaining in those waters. The Invincible therefore sailed without adjusting her magnetic compasses and navigated entirely by the Sperry Gyro-Compass from Portsmouth to the Falkland Islands. When an azimuth was finally taken the magnetic compass was found to be out about 22 degrees. The Invincible arrived at the Falkland Islands just in time to coal before the German fleet appeared. If H. M. S. Invincible had not had a Gyro-Compass the probabilities are that she would not have reached the Falkland Islands in time to win the battle which took place almost immediately upon her arrival.

Figure 49 shows a British submarine, a sister ship of the E-11, that entered the Sea of Marmora through the Dardanelles for the purpose of destroying Turkish and German shipping. The E-11 put a torpedo right into Constantinople harbor. The Second Officer of the E-11 in relating this exploit, stated that they steered by the “Sperry” all the way in and out. His remark was that, “It never let me down.”

In this exploit, and many others of a similar nature, the Gyro-Compass was used for all navigation. These extremely daring and hazardous operations would not have been possible without this instrument.

A similar British submarine left Harwich on the east coast of England, and during a period of three weeks made seven patrol trips, and without once seeing the sun, finally returned to Harwich and picked up the buoy at the mouth of the harbor without the least difficulty. The navigation in this case was carried out entirely by the Gyro-Compass.

Figure 54 is a pho­to­graph of H. M. S. Lion, the flag­ship of Ad­mir­al Beat­ty in the bat­tle of Jut­land. This ship was pro­vid­ed with the Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pass equip­ment early in the war. Dur­ing the Jut­land en­gage­ment a fire broke out in a mag­a­zine of the Lion im­med­i­ate­ly be­low the two Mas­ter Com­pas­ses which were lo­cat­ed in one com­part­ment. It be­came so hot that the lead sheath­ing was melt­ed off the elec­tric cab­les and one of the Gy­ro-Com­pas­ses was heat­ed until its parts fused. Notwithstanding this same heat the other compass functioned throughout the entire action. Of the ships engaged in the battle of Jutland practically all except the destroyers were equipped with the Gyro-Compass. Every one of them performed perfectly throughout the action except in the case of the Lion on which one was destroyed by fire.

Hundreds of Sperry Gyro-Compasses are veterans of many battles and encounters under heavy gunfire and adverse conditions.