Ship gun fire-control system
Ship gun fire-control systems (GFCS) are analogue fire-control systems that were used aboard naval warships prior to modern electronic computerized systems, to control targeting of guns against surface ships, aircraft, and shore targets, with either optical or radar sighting. Most US ships that are destroyers or larger employed gun fire-control systems for 5-inch (127 mm) and larger guns, up to battleships, such as Iowa class.
Mark 68 GFCS director with AN/SPG-53 radar antenna on top.
Mark 37 Director c1944 with Mark 12 (rectangular antenna) and Mark 22 "orange peel"
Barr & Stroud 1.5–metre rangefinder, on display on Mikasa, Yokosuka, Japan
Cut-away view of a RN K-class destroyer Director Control Tower with Type 285 radar. The below decks Fuze Keeping Clock is shown in the centre of the drawing and is labelled "Gunnery Calculating Position", with the deflection operator seated.
A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a human gunner firing a weapon, but attempts to do so faster and more accurately.
A German anti-aircraft 88 mm Flak gun with its fire-control computer from World War II. Displayed in the Canadian War Museum.
Admiralty Fire Control Table in the transmitting station of HMS Belfast.
Ford Mk 1 Ballistic Computer. The name rangekeeper began to become inadequate to describe the increasingly complicated functions of rangekeeper. The Mk 1 Ballistic Computer was the first rangekeeper that was referred to as a computer. Note the three pistol grips in the foreground. Those fired the ship's guns.
Accurate fire control systems were introduced in the early 20th century. Pictured, a cut-away view of a destroyer. The below deck analog computer is shown in the centre of the drawing and is labelled "Gunnery Calculating Position".
