This 1953 U.S. Navy training film discusses the mechanisms used by the fire control computers. Yes, mechanical computers calculating fire control for big-ass guns—though 70 years ago, men were still needed to move the dials. [via Hacker News]
The ship's location, direction, speed, and the enemy ship's location, direction, and speed—in a matter of seconds so that the ship's guns may fire accurately and effectively. Though the computer processes the information in seconds, it cannot do its job without the work of Navy men. Men operate the director (01:34), which provides target range and bearing information that is then entered into the computer (01:38). Part 1 of the film uses graphics to show the mechanical operations of shafts, gears, cams, and differentials, all vital mechanisms inside the computer (02:20). Shafts are used to carry values throughout the computer, where a revolution of a shaft corresponds to a numerical value (03:00). Gears are used to transfer values from one shaft to another (04:30); different sizes in gears can change the value of the ratio of shafts for more complex computations. Cams (04:55) are used as computing mechanisms in the computer. They have a working surface and a follower (05:25; 07:25). The film reviews the function of cams and the different types, including a reciprocal cam, square cam, tangent cam, time of flight cam, and barrel cam (10:36). The latter is used to calculate trajectory for firing guns. Differentials (12:50) are the final mechanisms covered in Part 1. They are used in computers to continuously obtain the algebraic sum of two quantities, keeping up with the rapid changes of inputs of two quantities. A bevel gear differential (13:23) is commonly used in Fire Control Computers. The film discusses how this differential functions with its spider gears, spider shaft, and end gears. Simplifying the concept of a bevel gear differential, the film concludes with graphics that explain how the bevel gear differential works using two racks and a pinion.
The Periscope Film archive is full of similar delights, such as "how to get killed."
U.S. NAVY BASIC MECHANISMS OF FIRE CONTROL COMPUTERS MECHANICAL COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONAL FILM 27794 [YouTube]
