Thread: Tradition in the world Navies.

Originally Posted by jonesfam

So they kept it simple then??

Of course. It has to be simple for the likes of you & me Paul .

I get your point 4bee

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I get your point 4bee

I very much doubt it.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

Because the earth is basicially a sphere so with 360 degrees around the equator - and north south lines of longitude and great circles - so putting aside the slight bulges in the earth etc - all lines of longitude and the equator 0 latitude have the same anglular distance - 360 degrees - each degree is then broken down to minutes - 60 to the degree - so 1 minute of arc is 1nm making 1 degree of arc 60nm.

So all based on the standard diameter of the earth - so if you travel 60 nm (or an angular distance of 1 degree) in one hour you are doing 60 knots, while there are slight errors due to bulges etc, it is close enough for government work.

Clear as mud but straight forward for the nautical and aeronautical types.

That is fine if you are dealing in Metric Minutes.

Or you could use gradians (also called gons, 400 to a circle) instead of degrees to measure angles, and a kilometre is equal to a centigon or 1/100th of a gradian on the surface of the earth to sufficient accuracy for navigation.

But I have never run across anyone actually using this, although I have seen a compass calibrated in gradians.

6400 mils on a military compass card....if I recall there are 17.8 radians to a degree, which is why the mil is used as a more accurate measurement on a compass card.

Submarines have been in the news a bit. AIP technology rocks my boat as it uses Hydrogen


It has some limits of course. A gent who doesn't like Nuclear ( I do) and I were just chattering about Type 212 AIP subs V nuclear on range.
A little cut and paste time


"Range is a issue in the fuel cell subs They are running now as "Air-independent propulsion (AIP)" Type 212A and 212CD subs are AIP now or shortly as the 212CD is yet to launch. Range suggest for the 212A is 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) for the 212A

Submerged time is outstanding!!! Fuel cell by products water and oxygen are the cool bits for long dives or sitting and spying

Nuclear powered propulsion is not as quiet as battery running, AIP is effectively battery running noise level.

Interesting topic for a former Sonar Operator on Ships called targets by Submariners Range for a SSN may be crew/food related as nuclear fuel "Refueling required after 30 years" I suspect the crew would like some shore leave of course!

Room for Hydrogen and Nuclear power in both the Navy and C02 reduction for me.



I have finished payroll and Super payments honest- not just wasting time !

James, a question without notice!

Is the Executive Officer/First Officer still referred to as 'Number 1', or is it now 'XO'?