Hello

[j.sabourn]

John as to 3 scanners that automatically assumes 3. Different independent sets, so can have 3 different ranges at the same moment in time. When in busy shipping lanes the likes of approaching the Singapore straits and if In Good visibility and daylight looking at the 48 mile range coild give you kittens, was usually a mass of shipping, well over a hundred targets on the screen. Was. Usually better to switch to a lower range and put on stand by, and deal with the shipping as it arose visually, that’s what I found and how I used to go. Also in the older type of radar before new developements the clutter and gain controls weren’t so modern and a lot of targets could be lost in the clutter. No matter how good a radar is, nothing beats the eyes if working correctly. Others may decry that , but Manys the timeI have put the Radar on stand by and go that way, the radar being too distracting. I think today the radar is an added safety factor only when one man is delegated to it. Today’s manning does not facilitate good watch keeping, jumping around from radar screen to wheelhouse window something is being lost somewhere and it’s usually the operators brain trying to keep two differing images in his mind as well as the next 150 just over the horizon. JWS

[John Arton]

On tankers regulations require two independent radar systems. Most owners will fit a X band system and a S band system. X band is better for navigation whilst S band is better for collision avoidance especially in rain and bad weather. You can tell the difference between the two systems by the size of the antenna, the S band one being much larger. Again on tankers, departing port with an inoperable radar set is a no-no. To avoid this problem, so long as both displays are operable we had an inter switching unit fitted so both displays could use either the X band or S band signal to generate the display. If one of the antenna motors went on the blink you could set one radar to be a slave of the other but they were still independent of each other with regards to range, head up or true notion etc.
Rgds.
J.A.

[j.sabourn]

#30 ... Ivan I assume you are not that long in the tooth that plotting on the ppi cursor was in vogue before you took up residence with the big whip putting the scares into us poor mariners about spending the guvnors money too indiscreetly. Most watchkeepers and me also used to use or misuse the radar depending on your views by just putting the cursor on a target and if the bearing didn’t change then she was on a collision course. Saved going on the monkey island if had no gyro repeaters on the wings to use. However when it came to numerous targets it was a bit hairy at times as only takes two to tango. There is no doubt the radar is extremely useful for many instances, but the same as the gyro compass is today a necessity to the modern navigator.we grew up at the wrong time as were taught to beware of all new fangled devices and do it the way our mentors had always done it. So today we are quick to disclaim most new things the boffins bring out. It’s just a pity that the old way of doing things wasn’t put there in the syllabus as well. It may be needed sooner than some think. How many today can remember TELC and CERT. True to compass easterly to the left, and Compass to true easterly to the right. No good going to sea with no gyro compass if didn’t know the basics. Cheers JWS.

[Ivan Cloherty]

#30 ... . It may be needed sooner than some think. How many today can remember TELC and CERT. True to compass easterly to the left, and Compass to true easterly to the right. No good going to sea with no gyro compass if didn’t know the basics. Cheers JWS.

Ah! memories John, The US Navy has realised the foolishness of foregoing old methods and two years ago re-introduced teaching of sextant/celestial navigation as they were having too many electrical shutdowns on their ships, wonder whatever happened to back up systems? however in one USN collision last year in which a number of sailors died and the Commander was trapped in his cabin, 90% of the command/navigation systems were put out of action. Useful information for a foe knowing where to direct their shells on that class of ship.

[j.sabourn]

They”ll just have to get solar panels up Ivan. Getting mine cleaned next week to see if it makes any difference . Been very poor lately. Although the days are shorter and more overcast recently. When you come to things Naval is a different world. Stood on the bridge with 4 naval officers during exercises off Lisbon. The only one who could read the lamp was myself, even our master was that old had forgotten. On exercises before changing to the white ensign in the Bristol Channel , the naval officers were quite happy to let the POs run the Bridge and I handed over to them. Mind there were 5 of them to just one of myself. 1 Radar watchkeepers, 1 communications man, 1 coxn, 1 yeoman of signals, and one general lookout. Had to leave there was no room for me. Luckily the bofors guns were sited slightly aft of the wheelhouse so didnt obstruct the forward view . When you got the two guns crews also on the wings and the guns started popping off, that’s when one thought the wings were going to fly., as per a previous post. Cheers JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

, the naval officers were quite happy to let the POs run the Bridge and I handed over to them. Mind there were 5 of them to just one of myself. 1 Radar watchkeepers, 1 communications man, 1 coxn, 1 yeoman of signals, and one general lookout. Had to leave there was no room for me. Cheers JS

Posted this some time way way back, Thames pilot taking a US Carrier up river said he counted 44 people on the bridge, it was hard to discern who was in command 'yes sir's flying about all over the place, but as long as his pilotage orders were obeyed he was quite happy even if they were repeated as left and right instead of port and starboard, showed they knew which was which!

[j.sabourn]

Going back to the North Sea and the English Channel areas is hard to believe when we first went to sea these areas were devoid of oil rigs, windmills, and such like and could easily lose ones way in the North Sea and many time had to rely on D/F bearings as a last resort. Today it is like cities on the seas with all the different structures. In the late 70s when working on the oil industry, I used to familiarise myself depending on which section was working of all the structures there and use them as signposts whenever possible. Today with GPS one knows where one is at any given moment , we soon forget it was not always so. HM coastguard was not always there to monitor the traffic flow through the straits. It’s good that they are now especially
of all the rogue shipping from time to time.
JWS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John S.
So much different when I was last on the coast there on the little Leadsman, The skipper used to bring his dhobing in a bucket onto the bridge, then say I'm going down for a little snooze, his cabin was behind the wheel house, being small we were closer in that the colliers running down to London. Lovely day calm sea lovely English countryside gliding past, what more could a man ask for.
Cheers Des.

LEADSMAN 1951-1964.jpg

[happy daze john in oz]

They”ll just have to get solar panels up Ivan. Getting mine cleaned next week to see if it makes any difference . Been very poor lately. Although the days are shorter and more overcast recently. When you come to things Naval is a different world. Stood on the bridge with 4 naval officers during exercises off Lisbon. The only one who could read the lamp was myself, even our master was that old had forgotten. On exercises before changing to the white ensign in the Bristol Channel , the naval officers were quite happy to let the POs run the Bridge and I handed over to them. Mind there were 5 of them to just one of myself. 1 Radar watchkeepers, 1 communications man, 1 coxn, 1 yeoman of signals, and one general lookout. Had to leave there was no room for me. Luckily the bofors guns were sited slightly aft of the wheelhouse so didnt obstruct the forward view . When you got the two guns crews also on the wings and the guns started popping off, that’s when one thought the wings were going to fly., as per a previous post. Cheers JS

John, I know what you mean about Singapore, doubt I have seen any port as crowded or as busy as that is.
As to your panels, remember the best time for them to produce at a maximum is spring and Autumn.
so they may not do so well just now but the sun is sinking in the West.
There is I am told also a variation in their efficiency depending on where they are positioned, ideally a NW facing, but also in some parts of the country they work better than others.
To do with the trajectory of the sun I am told.

[j.sabourn]

The first lot I have had up 9 years, but doubled up last year. And was making twice the kws. Then suddenly dropped away. Think I knew what the problem was as had cut out 4 years previously when a fuse went . How,ever with having the fairly new ones erected I didn’t want to touch in case lost the guarantee , however the bloke who sold them to me was keeping on promising and never turning up to look at, which made me suspicious. In the finish called an independent lecky in and told him what I thought , he checked and I was right just an 18 dollar fuse which had to come from the eastern states. The salesman who I was having doubts about have not told him have left him dangling , teach him to try and dodge the issues. Let him sweat he finally came up with the phone number of the installers and I had pleasure in saying he was too late, any trouble found in his panels and he would be getting a bill as per guarantee. Hope he’s still having bad dreams. Seem to be working ok now but still going to get cleaned as is nearly 10 years for some of them. Cheers JWS.