Lecture Notes: USS New Jersey Fire Control Systems

Introduction

• Host Introduction: USS New Jersey's forward plotting room in dry dock.
• Focus: Detailed look into Fire Control Systems specific to USS New Jersey and by extension, similar systems on US fast battleships of WWII.
• Guest: Dr. John Skols, an expert on naval fire control systems.

Dr. John Skols' Background

• Experience: Over 30 years of volunteering on historic naval ships like USS Massachusetts and USS Salem.
• Interest: Big gun ships, naval gunnery, and fire control systems.
• Collaboration: Worked with experts like Gunners Mate Tom Lowney and Chris Nardy.

Purpose of Fast Battleships

• Built primarily to support the 16-inch guns.
• Entire ship design (armor, engines, crew) revolves around supporting these guns.

The Challenge of Naval Gunnery

• Targets: Enemy battleships at sea.
• Complexity: Involves over two dozen variables, many of which change continuously.
• Analogy: Hitting a moving target from another moving platform is extremely challenging.

Fire Control System Components

1. Mark 38 Gun Director

   • Role: Establish and track range and bearing of targets.
   • Location: Forward and aft fire control towers.

2. Mark 8 Range Keeper (Analog Computer)

   • Role: Predicts course, speed, and future position of targets.
   • Location: Main battery plotting rooms.
   • Capabilities: Applies ballistic calculations, compensates for variables like deck tilt, trunion tilt, and more.

3. Stable Vertical (Mark 41/43)

   • Purpose: Corrects for ship motion (roll, pitch, yaw).
   • Role: Maintains true vertical, critical for accuracy.

4. Advanced Radars (Mark 13 & Mark 8)

   • Role: Provides initial target acquisition and precise fire control.

Fire Control System Operations

• Synthetic vs. Analytical Systems: Synthetic systems provide continuous solutions and allow for ship maneuverability.
• Automatic and Indicating Modes: Guns can be controlled automatically or through manual following of indicators.

Achievements and Case Studies

1. USS Massachusetts (Operation Torch):

   • Hit a moving target at significant ranges.
   • Utilized indicator mode due to equipment limitations.

2. USS Washington (Naval Battle of Guadalcanal):

   • Achieved high hit rates in rapidly changing battle conditions.

Impact of Fire Control Innovations

• Applications Beyond Naval Warfare:
  • Influenced tank fire control systems (e.g., M1 Abrams).
  • Contributed to calculations needed for lunar landings.

Further Resources

• Videos: Recommend those by Dra NFL and Inside the History.
• Books: "Naval Firepower" by Norman Friedman.
• Websites: Jean Slow's US Navy Ordinance Publications.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to visit memorial ships to see fire control systems firsthand.

Wrap-Up

• Invitation for Comments: Suggestions for ship reviews and questions in the comments below.