The Scherenfernrohr stereotube is an optical device consisting of two periscopes, connected together at the eyepieces and spread apart at the objectives, for observing distant objects with both eyes. The German army trumpet in a case (Scherenfernrohr mit Kasten), nicknamed "rabbit ears" by the troops, was intended to monitor enemy positions, target designation and determine distances. It found its main application at the command and observation posts of artillery and infantry. The optics was characterized by the ratio
10x50, i.e. 10x magnification with 50mm objective lenses. Periscopic optical system
located in steel pipes about 37 cm long. To obtain a good stereo effect, which is necessary for accurate determination of distances, the pipes were moved apart at an angle of about 90 degrees. The design included adjusting screws for adjusting the optical system and aligning the rangefinder marks, a level, a rechargeable battery, a light bulb, and a tripod mount. The kit included yellow filters, a spare light bulb, covers for lenses and eyepieces, and other little things.

In the stowed position, the pipes were reduced to contact and the entire structure was placed in a special, often leather, case with dimensions: 44.5 cm - height, 17.5 cm - width and from 21.5 cm to 11 cm - depth (narrower at the base) . The stereo tube could be equipped with a tripod and some additional devices.
The movable joints of the German stereotube structure were lubricated with a cold-resistant grease designed for a temperature of -20 °C. The main surfaces were painted in olive green tones, but in winter the pipes right on the front line could be repainted in White color(In 1942, on the Elbrus passes, the Germans painted white not only binoculars, rangefinders and skis, but even donkeys used to transport equipment).
The main manufacturer of these instruments (and, perhaps, the only one) was Carl Zeiss Jena. The manufacturer's code, serial number was affixed to the case
(for example, 378986), army order code (for example, "H / 6400"), designation
lubricants (e.g. "KF") and some other markings on individual units (e.g.
"S.F.14. Z.Gi." - Scherenfernrohr 14 Zielen Gitter - telescopic marking
pipes).

Stereo tube mesh Scherenfernrohr 14

GERMAN RANGEFINDER

Stereo telescopic rangefinder, had a base distance of 1 meter. Its interesting feature was a special tripod for the shoulders, which made it possible to carry out observations and measurements of the straight arm. The rangefinder itself and all its components were stored in an oblong metal box, and the parts of the tripod were stored in a small aluminum trapezoid case.
forms.

Rangefinder mod.34 (model 1934) standard army mechanical optical rangefinder.
Entfernungsmesser 34 - the rangefinder itself
Gestell mit Behaelter - tripod with case
Stuetzplatte - base plate
Traghuelle - transport case
Berichtigungslatte mit Behaelter Alignment rail with cover (this is the "adjustment plate")
Serves to determine the distance between the gun and the target, as well as any other distances on the ground or to air targets.
It is mainly used to determine distances for heavy mortars and heavy machine guns, if the distance to the target is more than 1000 meters, as well as in combination with other means of artillery guidance.

The design, device and appearance are almost identical to its predecessor, the rangefinder mod. 1914 (Entfernungsmesser 14).
The length of the range finder is 70 cm. The measurement range is from 200 to 10,000 meters. Has a field of view of 62 meters at a distance of 1000 meters.

The rangefinder is very simple and easy to use, moreover, it has a relatively small error in determining the distance, for example:
at 4500 meters, theoretical error = +/- 131 meters, and practical = +/- 395 meters.
(For example, at the same time, the Soviet easel, very bulky and multi-piece stereoscopic rangefinder has only half the error.)
To find out the distance to one or another object, you just need to combine the visible image in the main window with the image in the small one.
The rangefinder also has two rollers for changing the range scale (they have different scale change rates).

For the initial, rough "picking" on the object on the body of the rangefinder there is a special front sight and sight.
In addition, the rangefinder lenses, if necessary, and in the stowed position, are protected from contamination and mechanical damage by metal cylindrical plates. And the eyepiece is protected by a special cover on a spring fastener.

The rangefinder kit includes:
- the rangefinder itself with a shoulder strap
- carrying case for rangefinder
- a tripod stand for a rangefinder with a case for a belt and a base plate, for wearing around the neck.
-correction plate with cover
The entire kit was carried by one person, but as a rule, not all of it was always on the rangefinder (in German, Messmann [messman]).

In accordance with the plans for further building up the power of the armed forces of the capitalist states, weapons and Combat vehicles created on the basis of the latest achievements of science.

At present, units of the infantry, mechanized and armored divisions of many capitalist countries are equipped with artillery laser rangefinders.

In the work of laser rangefinders of foreign armies, a pulse method is used to determine the distance to the target, that is, the time interval between the moment the probing pulse is emitted and the moment the signal reflected from the target is received is measured. By the delay time of the reflected signal relative to the probing pulse, the distance is determined, the value of which is digitally projected on a special display or in the field of view of the eyepiece. The angular coordinates of the target are determined using goniometers.

The artillery rangefinder equipment includes the following main parts: a transmitter, a receiver, a range counter, a display device, and a built-in optical sight for pointing the rangefinder at the target. The equipment is powered by rechargeable batteries.

The transmitter is based on a solid-state laser. As an active substance, ruby, yttrium-aluminum garnet with an admixture of neodymium and neodymium glass are used. The pumping sources are high-power gas-discharge flash lamps. The formation of laser radiation pulses of megawatt power and a duration of several nanoseconds is provided by modulation (switching) of the quality factor of the optical resonator. The most common mechanical method of Q-switching with a rotating prism. Portable rangefinders use electro-optical Q-switching using the Pockels effect.

The rangefinder receiver is a direct amplification receiver with a photomultiplier or photodiode type detector. The transmitting optics reduces the divergence of the laser beam, while the receiver optics focuses the reflected laser radiation signal onto the photodetector.

The use of artillery laser rangefinders allows solving the following tasks:

• determination of target coordinates with automatic output of information to the fire control system;
• fire adjustment from a forward observation post by measuring and issuing the coordinates of targets via communication channels to the command post (PU) of artillery units (subdivisions);
• conducting reconnaissance of the terrain and enemy targets.

One person is enough to carry and maintain the rangefinder. It takes several minutes to deploy and prepare the equipment for operation. The observer, having found the target, points the rangefinder at it with the help of an optical sight, sets the required range strobe and turns on the transmitter in the radiation mode. The measured range displayed on the digital display, as well as the readings of the azimuth and elevation of the target on the goniometer scales, the observer transmits to the CP (PU).

Artillery laser rangefinders are being developed and mass-produced in Great Britain, France, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and other capitalist countries.

In the United States, AN / GVS-3 and AN / GVS-5 artillery laser rangefinders have been developed for the ground forces.

The AN/GVS-3 range finder is designed primarily for forward field artillery observers. Within the line of sight, it provides measurement of the range and angular coordinates of the target with an accuracy of ± 10 m and ± 7 ", respectively. and elevation) For combat work, the rangefinder is mounted on a tripod.

The AN / GVS-3 rangefinder transmitter is made on a ruby ​​laser, Q-switching is carried out using a rotating prism. A photomultiplier is used as a detector. The power supply of the rangefinder equipment is provided by a 24 V battery, which is mounted on the bipod of the tripod in the working position.

The AN/GVS-5 rangefinder is intended for field artillery forward observers (like the AN/GVS-3). In addition, American experts believe that it can be used in the Air Force and Navy. In appearance, it resembles field binoculars (Fig. 1). It was reported that by order of the US Army, the Radio Corporation of America would manufacture 20 sets of such rangefinders for testing. With the help of the AN/GVS-5 rangefinder, range can be measured with an accuracy of ±10 m within the line of sight. The measurement results are highlighted by LEDs and displayed in the eyepiece of the rangefinder optical sight as a four-digit number (in meters).

Rice. 1. American rangefinder AN / GVS-5

The rangefinder transmitter is made on the basis of yttrium-aluminum garnet with an admixture of neodymium. The quality factor of the optical resonator of the laser (its size is comparable to the size of a cigarette filter) is electro-optically modulated using a dye. The detector of the receiver is a silicon avalanche photodiode. The optical part of the rangefinder consists of a transmitting lens and receiving optics, combined with a sight and a device for protecting the observer's organs of vision from laser radiation damage during measurements. The power supply of the rangefinder is carried out from the built-in cadmium-nickel battery. The AN / GVS-5 rangefinder will enter service with US troops in the coming years.

In the UK, several models of rangefinders have been developed.

The company's range finder is intended for use by advanced observers of field artillery, as well as target designation of aviation in solving problems of direct support of ground forces. A feature of this rangefinder is the ability to illuminate the target with a laser beam. The rangefinder can be combined with a night vision device (Fig. 2). The results of measuring angular coordinates when working with a rangefinder depend on the accuracy of the scales of the goniometric platform on which it is installed.

Rice. 2. English rangefinder from Ferranti, combined with a night vision device

The rangefinder transmitter is made on the basis of yttrium-aluminum garnet with an admixture of neodymium. The quality factor of the optical resonator is electro-optically modulated using a Pockels cell. The laser transmitter is water-cooled for operation in target designation mode with a high pulse repetition rate. In the range measurement mode, the pulse repetition rate can be changed depending on the operating conditions and the requirements for the rate of issuing target coordinates. A photodiode is used as a receiver detector.

The rangefinder equipment allows you to measure the distances to three targets located in the laser beam alignment (the distance difference between them is about 100 m). The measurement results are stored in the memory device of the range finder, and the observer can view them sequentially on a digital display. The rangefinder equipment is powered by a 24 V battery.

The Bar and Stroud range finder is portable, it is intended for advanced observers of field artillery, as well as reconnaissance units, in appearance it resembles field glasses (Fig. 3). To accurately read the angular coordinates, it is mounted on a tripod, it can be paired with night vision devices or optical tracking systems for air and ground targets. Admission to the troops is expected in the coming years.

Rice. 3. English portable rangefinder by Bar and Stroud

The rangefinder transmitter is made on the basis of yttrium-aluminum garnet with an admixture of neodymium. The quality factor of the laser optical resonator is modulated using a Pockels cell. A silicon avalanche photodiode is used as a receiver detector. In order to reduce the effect of interference at short ranges, the receiver provides range gating with the measurement of the gain of the video amplifier.

The optical part of the rangefinder consists of a monocular trailer (it also serves to transmit laser radiation) and a receiving lens with a narrow band filter. The rangefinder provides special protection for the observer's eyes from damage by laser radiation during the measurement process.

The range finder works in two modes - charging and range measurement. After turning on the power of the rangefinder and aiming it at the target, the transmitter power button is pressed. As a result of the first pressing of the button, the capacitor of the laser pumping circuit is charged. After a few seconds, the observer presses the button a second time, turning on the transmitter for radiation, and the rangefinder is switched to the range measurement mode. The rangefinder can be in the charging mode for no more than 30 s, after which the pump circuit capacitor is automatically discharged (if it is not switched on to the range measurement mode).

The range to the target is displayed on a digital LED display for 5 s. The rangefinder is powered by a built-in 24 V rechargeable battery, the capacity of which makes it possible to make several hundred range measurements. The entry into the troops of this laser rangefinder is expected in the coming years.

The Netherlands has developed a laser artillery rangefinder LAR, designed for reconnaissance units and field artillery. In addition, Dutch experts believe that it can be adapted for use in naval and coastal artillery. The rangefinder is manufactured in a portable version (Fig. 4), as well as for installation on reconnaissance vehicles. A characteristic feature of the rangefinder is the presence of a built-in electro-optical device for measuring the azimuth and elevation of the target, the accuracy of operation is 2-3 ".

Rice. 4. Dutch rangefinder LAR

The rangefinder transmitter is based on a neodymium glass laser. The quality factor of the optical resonator is modulated by a rotating prism. A photodiode is used as a receiver detector. To protect the observer's eyesight, a special filter is built into the optical sight.

Using the LAR rangefinder, you can measure the distances simultaneously to two targets located in the laser beam and at a distance of at least 30 m from each other. The measurement results are displayed on digital displays in turn (range to the first and second targets, azimuth, elevation) when turned on relevant authorities. The rangefinder interfaces with automated artillery fire control systems, providing information about the target's coordinates in binary code. The portable rangefinder is powered by a 24 V battery, the capacity of which is sufficient for 150 measurements in summer conditions. When placing the rangefinder on reconnaissance vehicle power is supplied from the on-board network.

In Norway, forward field artillery observers use PM81 and LP3 laser rangefinders.

The RM81 rangefinder can be interfaced with automated artillery fire control systems. In this case, information about the range is given automatically in binary code, and the angular coordinates of the targets are read from the goniometer scales (measurement accuracy up to 3 ") and entered into the system manually. For combat work, the rangefinder is mounted on a special tripod.

The rangefinder transmitter is based on a neodymium laser. The quality factor of the optical resonator is modulated using a rotating prism. The detector of the receiver is a photodiode. The optical sight is combined with a receiving lens; a dichroic mirror is used to protect the observer's eyes from damage by laser radiation, which does not transmit the reflected laser beam.

The range finder provides distance measurement for three targets located in the laser beam range. The influence of interference from local objects is eliminated by strobing the range within 200-3000 m.

The LP3 rangefinder is mass-produced for the Norwegian army and purchased by many capitalist countries. For combat work, it is mounted on a tripod (Fig. 5). The angular coordinates of the target are read from the goniometer scales with an accuracy of about 3", the limits of operation in the elevation angle of the target are ± 20 °, and in azimuth 360 °.

Rice. 5. Norwegian rangefinder LP3

The rangefinder transmitter is made on the basis of a neodymium laser, the Q-switching of the optical resonator is carried out by a rotating prism. A photodiode is used as a receiver detector. Interference from local objects is eliminated by strobing the range within 200-6000 m. Thanks to a special device, the observer's eyes are protected from the damaging effects of laser radiation.

The range board is made on LEDs, it displays in the form of a five-digit number (in meters) the results of measuring distances simultaneously to two targets. The rangefinder is powered by a standard 24 V battery that provides 500-600 range measurements in summer conditions and at least 50 measurements at an ambient temperature of -30°.

In France, there are rangefinders TM-10 and TMV-26. The TM-10 range finder is used by artillery observers of field artillery posts, as well as by topographic units. Its characteristic feature is the presence of a gyrocompass for precise orientation on the ground (referencing accuracy is about ± 30 "). The optical system of the periscope-type range finder. Ranges can be measured simultaneously on two targets. Measurement results, including range and angular coordinates, are read by the observer from the range display and scales goniometer through the eyepiece indicator.

The TMV-26 range finder is designed for use in fire control systems of 100 mm naval artillery mounts. The rangefinder transceiver is installed on the antenna system of the ship's fire control radar station. The rangefinder transmitter is based on a neodymium laser, and a photodiode is used as a receiver detector.

19

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Dear colleagues, since the main hero “is an artillery officer, your humble servant had to figure out a little about the issues of fire control in the period shortly before the start of WWI. As I suspected, the question turned out to be f-ski complicated, but still I managed to collect some information. This material does not in any way claim to be complete and comprehensive, it is only an attempt to bring together all the facts and conjectures that I now have.

Let's try "on the fingers" to understand the features of artillery fire. In order to aim the gun at the target, you need to set it with the correct sight (vertical pointing angle) and rear sight (horizontal pointing angle). In essence, the installation of the correct sight and rear sight comes down to all the artful science of artillery. However, it is easy to say, but difficult to do.

The simplest case is when our gun is stationary and stands on level ground and we need to hit the same stationary target. In this case, it would seem that it is enough to point the gun so that the barrel looks directly at the target (and we will have the correct rear sight), and find out the exact distance to the target. Then, using the artillery tables, we can calculate the elevation angle (sight), give it to the gun and boom! Let's hit the target.

In fact, this, of course, is not the case - if the target is far enough away, you need to take corrections for the wind, for air humidity, for the degree of gun wear, for gunpowder temperature, etc. etc. - and even after all this, if the target is not too large, you will have to gouge it properly from the cannon, since slight deviations in the shape and weight of the projectiles, as well as the weight and quality of the charges, will still lead to a known spread of hits (ellipse scattering). But if we fire a certain number of projectiles, then in the end, according to the law of statistics, we will definitely hit the target.

But we will put the problem of corrections aside for now, and consider the weapon and the target as such spherical horses in a vacuum. Suppose shooting is carried out on an absolutely flat surface, with always the same humidity, not a breeze, the gun is made of material that does not burn out in principle, etc. etc. In this case, when firing from a stationary gun at a stationary target, it will really be enough to know the distance to the target, which gives us the angle of vertical aiming (sight) and the direction to it (sight)

But what if the target or weapon is not stationary? For example, how is it in the navy? The gun is located on a ship that is moving somewhere at a certain speed. His goal, disgusting, also does not stand still, it can go at absolutely any angle to our course. And with absolutely any speed that only comes into her captain's head. What then?

Since the enemy is moving in space and taking into account the fact that we are shooting not from a turbolaser, which instantly hits the target, but from a gun, the projectile of which needs some time to reach the target, we need to take a lead, i.e. shoot not where the enemy ship is at the time of the shot, but where it will be in 20–30 seconds, by the time our projectile approaches.

It seems to be also easy - let's look at the diagram.

Our ship is at point O, the enemy ship is at point A. If, while at point O, our ship shoots at the enemy from a cannon, then while the projectile is flying, the enemy ship will move to point B. Accordingly, during the flight of the projectile, the following will change:

1. Distance to the target ship (was OA, will become OB);
2. Bearing to the target (there was an S angle, but it will become a D angle)

Accordingly, in order to determine the correction of the sight, it is enough to know the difference between the length of the segments OA and OB, i.e. the amount of distance change (hereinafter - VIR). And in order to determine the correction of the rear sight, it is enough to know the difference between the angles S and D, i.e. the value of the bearing change

1. Distance to the target ship (OA);
2. Target bearing (angle S);
3. Target course;
4. Target speed.

Now let's consider how the information needed to calculate the VIR and VIP was obtained.

1. Distance to the target ship - obviously, according to the rangefinder. And even better - several rangefinders, preferably at least three. Then the most deviant value can be discarded, and the arithmetic mean can be taken from the other two. Determining the distance using several rangefinders is obviously more efficient.

2. Target bearing (heading angle, if you like) - with the accuracy of "half-finger-ceiling" is determined by any goniometer, but for a more accurate measurement it is desirable to have a sighting device - a device with high-quality optics, capable of (including) very accurately determining the heading angle goals. For sights intended for central aiming, the position of the target ship was determined with an error of 1-2 divisions of the rear sight of an artillery gun (i.e. 1-2 thousandths of a distance, at a distance of 90 kbt, the position of the ship was determined with an accuracy of 30 meters)

3. Target course. For this, arithmetic calculations and special artillery binoculars, with divisions applied to it, were already required. It was done like this - first it was necessary to identify the target ship. Remember its length. Measure the distance to it. Convert the length of the ship to the number of divisions on the artillery binoculars for a given distance. Those. calculate: "Sooo, the length of this ship is 150 meters, for 70 kbt a ship 150 meters long should occupy 7 divisions of artillery binoculars." After that, look at the ship through artillery binoculars and determine how many divisions it actually occupies there. If, for example, the ship occupies 7 spaces, this means that it is turned to us with its entire side. And if it is less (let's say - 5 divisions) - this means that the ship is located towards us at some angle. Calculating, again, is not too difficult - if we know the length of the ship (i.e. the hypotenuse AB, in the example it is 7) and we determined the length of its projection with the help of artbinoculars (i.e. the leg AC in the example is length 5), then to calculate the angle S is a matter of life.

The only thing I would like to add is that the role of artillery binoculars could be performed by the same sight

4. Target speed. Now that was more difficult. In principle, the speed could be estimated “by eye” (with appropriate accuracy), but it can, of course, be more accurate - knowing the distance to the target and its course, you can observe the target and determine its angular displacement speed - i.e. how quickly the bearing to the target changes. Further, the distance traveled by the ship is determined (again, nothing more complicated than right-angled triangles will have to be considered) and its speed.

Here, however, one can ask - why, for example, do we need to complicate everything so much, if we can simply measure the changes in VIP by observing the target ship in the sight? But here the thing is that the change in the VIP is non-linear, and therefore the data of current measurements quickly become obsolete.

The next question is what do we want from a fire control system (FCS)? But what.

The SLA should receive the following data:

1. Distance to the enemy target ship and bearing to it;
2. Course and speed of own ship.

At the same time, of course, the data must be constantly updated as quickly as possible.

1. The course and speed of the enemy target ship;
2. Convert the course/velocities into a model of the movement of ships (own and enemy), with the help of which you can predict the position of the ships;
3. Firing lead taking into account VIR, VIP and projectile flight time;
4. Sight and rear sight, taking into account lead (taking into account all kinds of corrections (gunpowder temperature, wind, humidity, etc.)).

The FCS must transfer the sight and rear sight from the giving device in the conning tower (central post) to the artillery pieces so that the functions of the gunners with the guns are minimal (ideally, the guns' own sights are not used at all).

The SLA must ensure salvo firing of the guns selected by the senior artilleryman at the time chosen by him.

Artillery fire control devices arr 1910 of N.K. Geisler & K

They were installed on Russian dreadnoughts (both Baltic and Black Sea) and included many mechanisms for various purposes. All devices can be divided into giving (into which data was entered) and receiving (which gave out some data). In addition to them, there were many auxiliary devices that ensured the operation of the rest, but we will not talk about them, we will list the main ones:

Instruments for transmitting rangefinder readings

Givers - located in the rangefinder cabin. They had a scale that allows you to set the distance from 30 to 50 kbt with an accuracy of half a cable, from 50 to 75 kbt - 1 cable, and from 75 to 150 kbt - 5 cables. The operator, having determined the range using a range finder, set the appropriate value manually

The receivers - located in the conning tower and the CPU, had exactly the same dial as the givers. As soon as the operator of the giving device set a certain value, it was immediately reflected on the dial of the receiving device.

Devices for transmitting the direction of targets and signals

Pretty funny devices, the task of which was to indicate the ship on which to fire (but by no means the bearing on this ship), and orders were given on the type of attack "shot / attack / zeroing / volley / quick fire"

The giving devices were located in the conning tower, the receiving ones were at each casemate gun and one for each tower. They worked similarly to instruments for transmitting rangefinder readings.

Entire devices (devices for transmitting a horizontal sight)

This is where the ambiguities begin. Everything is more or less clear with the giving devices - they were located in the conning tower and had a scale of 140 divisions corresponding to the divisions of the gun sights (i.e. 1 division - 1/1000 of the distance) The receiving devices were placed directly on the sights of the guns. The system worked like this - the operator of the giving device in the conning tower (CPU) set a certain value on the scale. Accordingly, the same value was shown on the receiving devices, after which the gunner's task was to turn the sighting mechanisms until the horizontal aiming of the gun coincided with the arrow on the device. Then - it seems to be openwork, the gun is pointed correctly

There is a suspicion that the device did not give out the angle of the horizontal sight, but only a correction for lead. Not verified.

Devices for transferring the height of the sight

The most complex unit

Giving devices were located in the conning tower (CPU). Data on the distance to the target and VIR (the amount of change in distance, if anyone forgot) was manually entered into the device, after which this device began to click something there and give out the distance to the target in the current time. Those. the device independently added / subtracted the VIR from the distance and transmitted this information to the receiving devices.

The receiving devices, as well as the receiving whole devices, were mounted on the sights of the guns. But it was not the distance that appeared on them, but the sight. Those. devices for transmitting the height of the sight independently converted the distance into the angle of the sight and gave it to the guns. The process was running continuously, i.e. at each moment of time, the arrow of the receiving device showed the actual sight at the current moment. Moreover, it was possible to make corrections in the receiving device of this system (by connecting several eccentrics). Those. if, for example, the gun was heavily shot and its firing range fell, say, by 3 kbt compared to the new one, it was enough to install the appropriate eccentric - now, to the angle of the sight transmitted from the giving device, specifically for this gun, an angle was added to compensate for the three-cable undershoot These were individual corrections for each gun.

Exactly on the same principle, it was possible to introduce adjustments for the temperature of gunpowder (it was taken the same as the temperature in the cellars), as well as adjustments for the type of charge / projectile "training / combat / practical"

But that's not all.

The fact is that the accuracy of the sight installation was “plus or minus a tram stop adjusted for the azimuth of the North Star.” It was easy to make a mistake both with the range to the target and with the size of the VIR. Special cynicism also consisted in the fact that the range from the rangefinders always came with a certain delay. The fact is that the rangefinder determined the distance to the object at the time the measurement began. But in order to determine this range, he had to perform a number of actions, including “combining the picture”, etc. All this took some time. It took some more time to report a certain range and set its value on the giving device to transmit the rangefinder readings. Thus, according to various sources, the senior artillery officer saw on the receiving device for transmitting rangefinder readings not the current range, but the one that was almost a minute ago.

So, the giving device for transmitting the height of the sight gave the senior artilleryman the widest opportunities for this. At any time during the operation of the device, it was possible to manually enter a correction for the range or for the size of the VIR, and the device continued to calculate from the moment the correction was entered, already taking it into account. It was possible to turn off the device altogether and set the sight values ​​manually. And it was also possible to set the values ​​\u200b\u200bin a “jerk” - i.e. if, for example, our device shows a sight of 15 degrees, then we can fire three volleys in a row - at 14, at 15 and at 16 degrees, without waiting for the shells to fall and without introducing range / VIR corrections, but the initial setting of the machine does not got lost.

And finally

Howlers and calls

Giving devices are located in the conning tower (CPU), and the howlers themselves - one for each gun. When the fire manager wants to fire a volley, he closes the corresponding circuits and the gunners fire shots at the guns.

Unfortunately, it is absolutely impossible to talk about the Geisler of the 1910 model as a full-fledged SLA. Why?

1. Geisler's OMS did not have a device to determine the bearing to the target (there was no sight);
2. There was no instrument that could calculate her course and the speed of the target ship. So having received the range (from the device for transmitting rangefinder readings) and determining the bearing to it with improvised means, everything else had to be calculated manually;
3. There were also no instruments to determine the course and speed of their own ship - they also had to be obtained by "improvised means", that is, not included in the Geisler kit;
4. There was no device for automatic calculation of VIR and VIP - i.e. having received and calculated the courses / speeds of their own ship and targets, it was necessary to calculate both the VIR and the VIP, again manually.

Thus, despite the presence of very advanced devices that automatically calculate the height of the sight, Geisler's OMS still required a very large amount of manual calculations - and this was not good.

Geisler's SLA did not exclude, and could not exclude, the use of gun sights by gunners. The fact is that the automatic sight height calculated the sight ... of course, for the moment when the ship is on an even keel. And the ship experiences both pitch and roll. And Geisler's SLA did not take it into account at all and in no way. Therefore, there is an assumption, very similar to the truth, that the task of the gunner of the gun included such a “twisting” of the tip, which would make it possible to compensate for the pitching of the ship. It is clear that it was necessary to "twist" constantly, although there are doubts that the 305-mm guns could be "stabilized" manually. Also, if I am right that Geisler's FCS did not transmit the horizontal aiming angle, but only the lead, then the gunner of each gun independently aimed his gun in the horizontal plane and only took the lead on orders from above.

Geisler's SLA allowed salvo fire. But the senior artilleryman could not give a simultaneous volley - he could give the signal to open fire, it is not the same. Those. imagine a picture - four towers of "Sevastopol", in each gunners "twist" the sights, compensating for pitching. Suddenly - howler! Someone has a normal sight, he shoots, and someone has not screwed it up yet, he twists it, fires a shot ... and a difference of 2-3 seconds greatly increases the dispersion of shells. Thus, giving a signal does not mean receiving a one-time salvo.

But here's what Geisler's OMS did really well - it was with the transfer of data from the giving devices in the conning tower to the receiving devices at the guns. There were no problems here, and the system turned out to be very reliable and fast.

In other words, the Geisler devices of the 1910 model were not so much an OMS, but a way of transmitting data from the glavart to the guns (although the presence of an automatic calculation of the height of the sight gives the right to attribute Geisler to the OMS).

A sighting device appeared in Erickson's MSA, while it was connected to an electromechanical device that gave out the horizontal aiming angle. Thus, apparently, the rotation of the sight led to the automatic displacement of the arrows on the sights of the guns.

There were 2 central gunners in Erickson's MSA, one of them was engaged in horizontal aiming, the second - vertical, and it was they (and not the gunners) who took into account the pitching angle - this angle was constantly measured and added to the aiming angle on an even keel. So the gunners had only to twist their guns so that the sight and rear sight corresponded to the values ​​​​of the arrows on the sights. The gunner no longer needed to look into the gunsight.

Generally speaking, trying to “keep up” with the pitching by manually stabilizing the gun looks strange. It would be much easier to resolve the issue using a different principle - a device that would close the circuit and fire a shot when the ship was on an even keel. In Russia, there were pitching control devices based on the operation of the pendulum. But alas, they had a fair amount of error and could not be used for artillery fire. To tell the truth, the Germans had such a device only after Jutland, and Erickson still gave results that were not worse than "manual stabilization".

Volley fire was carried out according to a new principle - now, when the gunners in the tower were ready, they pressed a special pedal, and the senior gunner closed the circuit by pressing his own pedal in the conning tower (CPU) as the towers were ready. Those. volleys became really one-time.

Whether Erickson had devices for automatic calculation of VIR and VIP - I do not know. But what is known for certain - as of 1911-1912. Erickson's OMS was tragically unprepared. The transmission mechanisms from the giving devices to the receiving ones did not work well. The process took much longer than in Geisler's OMS, but mismatches constantly occurred. The roll control devices worked too slowly, so that the sight and rear sight of the central gunners "did not keep up" with the roll - with corresponding consequences for the accuracy of fire. What was to be done?

The Russian Imperial Navy followed a rather original path. The Geisler system, model 1910, was installed on the newest battleships. And since of the entire FCS there was only sight height calculation devices, it was apparently decided not to wait until Erickson's FCS was brought to mind, not to try to buy a new FCS (for example, from the British) entirely, but to acquire / bring to mind the missing devices and simply supplement the Geisler system with them.

An interesting sequence is given by Mr. Serg on Tsushima: http://tsushima.su/forums/viewtopic.php?id=6342&p=1

On January 11, MTK decided to install the Erickson system at Sevakh.
12 May Erickson is not ready, a contract is signed with Geisler.
On September 12, a contract was signed with Erickson for the installation of additional instruments.
September 13 Erickson completed the Pollen and AVP Geisler instrument.
January 14, installation of a set of Pollen's instruments on the PV.
June 14, tests of Pollen's devices on PV were completed
December 15th conclusion of a contract for the development and installation of a central heating system.
On 16th autumn, the installation of the central heating was completed.
17g shooting with CN.

As a result, the SLA of our "Sevastopol" has become that even a hodgepodge. The VIR and VIP calculation machines were supplied by English ones bought from Pollan. The sights are at Erickson. The machine for calculating the height of the sight was at first Geisler, then replaced by Erickson. To determine the courses, a gyroscope was installed (but not the fact that in WWI, maybe later ...) In general, around 1916, our Sevastopol received a completely first-class central aiming system for those times.

And what about our sworn friends?

It seems that the best way to Jutland was with the British. The guys from the island came up with the so-called "Dreyer Table", which automated the processes of developing vertical and horizontal sights as much as possible.

The British had to take the bearing and determine the distance to the target manually, but the course and speed of the enemy ship was automatically calculated by the Dumaresque device. Again, as far as I understood, the results of these calculations were automatically transmitted to the “Dreyer table”, which received data on its own course / speed from some analogue of a speedometer and gyrocompass, built a model of the movement of ships, calculated VIR and VIP. In our country, even after the appearance of the Pollan device, which calculated the VIR, the transfer of the VIR to the machine for calculating the height of the sight took place as follows - the operator read Pollan's readings, then entered them into the machine for calculating the height of the sight. With the British, everything happened automatically.

I tried to bring the data on the LMS into a single table, this is what happened:

Alas for me - probably the table sins with many errors, the data on the German LMS are extremely lapidary: http://navycollection.narod.ru/library/Haase/artillery.htm

And in English - in English, which I do not know: http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Dreyer_Fire_Control_Table

How the British solved the issue with compensation of longitudinal / transverse rolling - I do not know. But the Germans did not have any compensating devices (they appeared only after Jutland).

Generally speaking, it turns out that the SLA of the Baltic dreadnoughts was still inferior to the British, and was approximately on the same level with the Germans. True, with one exception.

On the German "Derflinger" there were 7 (in words - SEVEN) rangefinders. And they all measured the distance to the enemy, and the average value got into the machine for calculating the sight. At the domestic "Sevastopol" initially there were only two rangefinders (there were also the so-called Krylov rangefinders, but they were nothing more than improved Lujols-Myakishev micrometers and did not provide high-quality measurements at long distances).

On the one hand, it would seem that such rangefinders (of much better quality than those of the British) just provided the Germans with a quick sighting in Jutland, but is this so? The same "Derflinger" shot only from the 6th volley, and even then, in general, by accident (in theory, the sixth volley was supposed to give a flight, the leader of the "Derflinger" Hase tried to take the British into the fork, however, to his surprise, there was a cover ). "Goeben" in general also did not show brilliant results. But it must be taken into account that the Germans nevertheless shot much better than the British, probably there is some merit of the German rangefinders in this.

But I believe that the best accuracy of the German ships is by no means the result of superiority over the British in the material part, but a completely different system for training gunners.

Here I will allow myself to make some excerpts from the book Hector Charles Bywater and Hubert Cecil Ferraby Strange intelligence. Memoirs of Naval Secret Service. Constable, London, 1931: http://militera.lib.ru/h/bywater_ferraby/index.html

Under the influence of Admiral Thomsen, the German navy began experimenting with long-range shooting in 1895... ...The newly created navy can afford to be less conservative than navies with old traditions. And therefore, in Germany, all innovations capable of enhancing the combat power of the fleet were guaranteed official approval in advance ....

The Germans, having made sure that shooting at long distances was feasible in practice, immediately gave their side guns the largest possible aiming angle ...

... If the gun turrets of the Germans already in 1900 allowed the guns to raise their barrels by 30 degrees, then on the British ships the angle of elevation did not exceed 13.5 degrees, which gave the German ships significant advantages. If war had broken out at that time, german navy significantly, even to a decisive extent, would surpass us in accuracy and range of fire ....

... The centralized fire control system "Fire-director", installed, as already noted, on the ships of the British fleet, the Germans did not have for some time after the Battle of Jutland, but the effectiveness of their fire was confirmed by the results of this battle.

Of course, these results were the fruit of twenty years of intensive work, persistent and meticulous, which is generally characteristic of the Germans. For every hundred pounds that we allotted in those years for research in the field of artillery, Germany allocated a thousand. Let's take just one example. Secret Service agents learned in 1910 that the Germans allot a lot more shells for exercises than we do for large-caliber guns - 80 percent more shots. Live firing exercises against armored target ships were a constant practice among the Germans, while in the British Navy they were very rare or even not carried out at all ....

... In 1910, important exercises were held in the Baltic using the Richtungsweiser device installed on board the Nassau and Westfalen ships. A high percentage of hits on moving targets from distances up to 11,000 meters was demonstrated, and after certain improvements, new practical tests were organized.

But in March 1911, accurate and much explaining information was received. It dealt with the results of firing exercises carried out by a division of German warships equipped with 280-mm guns at a towed target at a distance of an average of 11,500 meters with fairly heavy seas and moderate visibility. 8 percent of the shells hit the target. This result was far superior to anything we had been told before. Therefore, the experts showed skepticism, but the evidence was quite reliable.

It was quite clear that the campaign was undertaken to test and compare the merits of target designation and guidance systems. One of them was already on the battleship Alsace, and the other, experimental, was installed on the Blucher. The shooting site was 30 miles southwest of the Faroe Islands, the target was a light cruiser that was part of the division. It is clear that they did not shoot at the cruiser itself. He, as they say in the British Navy, was a “shifted target”, that is, aiming was carried out at the target ship, while the guns themselves were shifted to a certain angle and fired. The check is very simple - if the instruments are working correctly, then the shells will fall exactly at the calculated distance from the stern of the target ship.

The fundamental advantage of this method, invented, according to their own statements, by the Germans, is that, without compromising the accuracy of the results obtained, it makes it possible to replace conventional targets in firing, which, due to heavy engines and mechanisms, can only be towed at low speed and usually in good weather.

The "shift" estimate could only be called approximate to a certain extent, because it lacks the final fact - holes in the target, but on the other hand, and the data obtained from it are accurate enough for all practical purposes.

During the first experiment, Alsace and Blucher fired from a distance of 10,000 meters at a target that was represented by a light cruiser traveling at a speed of 14 to 20 knots.

These conditions were unusually harsh for the era, and it is not surprising that the report of the results of these shootings caused controversy, and even its veracity was refuted by some British experts on naval artillery. However, these reports were true, and the test results were indeed incredibly successful.

From 10,000 meters, Alsace, armed with old 280-mm cannons, fired a three-gun volley in the wake of the target, that is, if the guns were not aimed “with a shift”, the shells would hit right on target. The battleship easily managed the same when firing from a distance of 12,000 meters.

"Blucher" was armed with 12 new 210 mm guns. He also easily managed to hit the target, most of the shells hit close proximity or directly into the wake left by the target cruiser.

On the second day, the distance was increased to 13,000 meters. The weather was fine, and a little swell rocked the ships. Despite the increased distance, "Alsace" shot well, that before the "Blucher", he exceeded all expectations.

Moving at a speed of 21 knots, the armored cruiser "forked" the target ship, traveling at 18 knots, from the third salvo. Moreover, according to the estimates of experts who were on the target cruiser, one could confidently state the hit of one or more shells in each of the eleven volleys that followed. Given the relatively small caliber of the guns, the high speed with which both the “shooter” and the target, and the state of the sea, the result of firing at that time could be called phenomenal. All of these details, and much more, were contained in a report sent by our agent to the Secret Service.

When the report reached the Admiralty, some old officers considered it erroneous or false. The agent who wrote the report was called to London to discuss the matter. He was told that the information on the test results indicated by him in the report was “absolutely impossible”, that not a single ship would be able to hit a moving target on the move at a distance of more than 11,000 meters, in general, that all this was fiction or a mistake.

Quite by accident, these results of the German shooting became known a few weeks before the first test by the British Navy of Admiral Scott's fire control system, nicknamed "Fire-director". HMS Neptune was the first ship on which this system was installed. He conducted a firing practice in March 1911 with excellent results. But official conservatism slowed down the introduction of the device on other ships. This position lasted until November 1912, when comparative tests of the Director system installed on the Thunderer ship and the old system installed on the Orion were carried out.

Sir Percy Scott described the teachings in the following words:

“The distance was 8200 meters, the “shooter” ships were moving at a speed of 12 knots, the targets were towed at the same speed. Both ships simultaneously opened fire immediately after the signal. The Thunderer shot very well. Orion sent its shells in all directions. Three minutes later, the signal "Cease fire!" was given, and the target was checked. As a result, it turned out that the Thunderer made six more hits than the Orion.

As far as we know, the first live firing in the British Navy at a distance of 13,000 meters took place in 1913, when the ship "Neptune" fired at a target from such a distance.

Those who followed the development of the tools and techniques of artillery fire in Germany knew what we should expect. And if anything turned out to be a surprise, it was only the fact that in the Battle of Jutland the ratio of the number of shells that hit the target to total number fired shells did not exceed 3.5%.

I will take the liberty of asserting that the quality of German shooting was in the artillery training system, which was much better than that of the British. As a result, the Germans compensated for some superiority of the British in the LMS with professionalism.

In the hands of the advanced observer of the Italian army, the Elbit PLDRII reconnaissance and target designation device, which is in service with many customers, including the Marine Corps, where it has the designation AN / PEQ-17

Looking for a purpose

In order to generate target coordinates, the data acquisition system must first know its own position. From it, she can determine the range to the target and the angle of the latter relative to the true pole. A surveillance system (preferably day and night), an accurate positioning system, a laser rangefinder, a digital magnetic compass are typical components of such a device. It is also a good idea in such a system to have a tracking device capable of identifying a coded laser beam to confirm the target to the pilot, which, as a result, increases safety and reduces communication exchange. Pointers, on the other hand, are not powerful enough to aim weapons, but allow the target to be marked for ground or airborne (airborne) designators, which, ultimately, direct the semi-active laser homing head of the ammunition to the target. Finally, artillery position radars allow you to accurately determine the position of enemy artillery, even if (and most often it happens) they are not in line of sight. As said, only manual systems will be considered in this review.

In order to understand what the military wants to have in their hands, let's look at the requirements published by the US Army in 2014 for their LTLM (Laser Target Location Module) II laser reconnaissance and target designation device, which should eventually replace the armed with the previous version of the LTLM. The Army expects a device weighing 1.8 kg (ultimately 1.6 kg), although the entire system, including the device itself, cables, tripod and lens cleaning kit, can raise the bar to 4.8 kg at best to 3.85 kg. By comparison, the current LTLM module has a base weight of 2.5 kg and a total weight of 5.4 kg. Target location error threshold is defined as 45 meters at 5 kilometers (same as LTLM), practical circular error probable (CEP) of 10 meters at 10 kilometers. For daytime operations, the LTLM II will have a minimum magnification of x7 optics, a minimum field of view of 6°x3.5°, an eyepiece scale in 10 mil increments, and a daytime color camera. It will provide streaming video and a wide field of view of 6°x4.5°, guaranteeing a recognition rate of 70% at 3.1 km and identification at 1.9 km in clear weather. The narrow field of view should be no more than 3°x2.25°, preferably 2.5°x1.87°, with appropriate recognition ranges of 4.2 or 5 km and identification ranges of 2.6 or 3.2 km. The thermal imaging channel will have the same target fields of view with a probability of 70% recognition at 0.9 and 2 km and identification at 0.45 and 1 km. Target data will be stored in the UTM/UPS coordinate unit, and data and images will be transmitted via RS-232 or USB 2.0 connectors. Power will be provided by L91 AA lithium batteries. The minimum ability to establish communication should be provided by a lightweight high-precision PLGR (Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver) GPS receiver and an advanced military DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver) GPS receiver, as well as developed GPS systems. However, the Army would prefer a system that could also interface with the Pocket Sized Forward Entry Device, Forward Observer Software/System, Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below, and the Network Soldier System. Net Warrior.

BAE Systems offers two reconnaissance and target designation devices. The UTB X-LRF is an evolution of the UTB X device, to which a Class 1 laser rangefinder has been added with a range of 5.2 km. The device is based on an uncooled thermal imaging matrix of 640x480 pixels with a pitch of 17 microns, it can have optics with a focal length of 40, 75 and 120 mm with the corresponding magnification x2.1, x3.7 and x6.6, diagonal fields of view 19°, 10.5 ° and 6.5° and x2 electronic zoom. According to BAE Systems, the ranges of positive (80% probability) detection of a NATO standard target with an area of ​​0.75 m2 are 1010, 2220 and 2660 meters, respectively. The UTB X-LRF is equipped with a GPS system with an accuracy of 2.5 meters and a digital magnetic compass. It also includes a Class 3B laser pointer in the visible and infrared spectra. The instrument can store up to one hundred images in uncompressed BMP format. Power is provided by four L91 lithium batteries providing five hours of operation, although the instrument can be connected to an external power source via the USB port. The UTB X-LRF is 206mm long, 140mm wide and 74mm high, weighing 1.38kg without batteries.

In the US Army, BAE Systems' Trigr is known as the Laser Target Locator Module, it includes an uncooled thermal imaging array and weighs less than 2.5 kg.

The UTB X-LRF device is a further development of the UTB X, it has added a laser rangefinder, which made it possible to turn the device into a full-fledged reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation system

Another product from BAE Systems is the Trigr (Target Reconnaissance Infrared GeoLocating Rangefinder) laser reconnaissance and target designation device, developed in collaboration with Vectronix. BAE Systems provides the instrument with an uncooled thermal imager and a state-of-the-art selective availability GPS receiver, while Vectronix provides x7 magnification optics, a 5 km range fiber laser rangefinder and a digital magnetic compass. According to the company, the Trigr device guarantees a CEP of 45 meters at a distance of 5 km. The recognition range during the day is 4.2 km or more than 900 meters at night. The device weighs less than 2.5 kg, two sets guarantee round-the-clock operation. The entire system with tripod, batteries and cables weighs 5.5 kg. In the US Army, the device received the designation Laser Target Locator Module; in 2009, she was signed to a five-year, unspecified contract, plus two more in August 2012 and January 2013, worth $23.5 million and $7 million, respectively.

Northrop Grumman's Mark VII handheld laser reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation device has been replaced by an improved Mark VIIE device. This model received a thermal imaging channel instead of the image brightness enhancement channel of the previous model. The uncooled sensor significantly improves visibility at night and in difficult conditions; it features a field of view of 11.1°x8.3°. The daytime channel is based on forward-looking optics with an x8.2 magnification and a field of view of 7°x5°. The digital magnetic compass is ±8 mil accurate, the electronic clinometer is ±4 mil accurate, and positioning is provided by a built-in GPS/SAASM selective anti-jamming module. Laser rangefinder Nd-Yag (laser neodymium yttrium-aluminum garnet) with optical parametric generation provides a maximum range of 20 km with an accuracy of ±3 meters. The Mark VIIE weighs 2.5 kg with nine commercial CR123 cells and is equipped with an RS-232/422 data interface.

The newest product in Northrop Grumman's portfolio is the HHPTD (Hand Held Precision Targeting Device), which weighs less than 2.26 kg. Compared to its predecessors, it has a daytime color channel, as well as a non-magnetic celestial navigation module, which significantly improves the accuracy to the level required by modern GPS-guided munitions. A $9.2 million contract to develop the device was awarded in January 2013 in collaboration with Flir, General Dynamics and Wilcox. In October 2014, the device was tested at the White Sands missile range.

The Hand Held Precision Targeting Device is one of the latest developments Northrop Grumman; its comprehensive tests were carried out at the end of 2014

The main channel of the Flir Recon B2 family is a cooled thermal imaging channel. Device B2-FO with an additional daytime channel in the hands of an Italian commando (pictured)

Flir has several handheld targeting devices in its portfolio and works with other companies to provide night vision devices for such systems. The Recon B2 features a main thermal imaging channel operating in the mid-IR range. The 640x480 cooled indium antimonide sensor provides a 10°x8° wide field of view, a 2.5°x1.8° narrow field of view, and x4 continuous electronic zoom. The thermal imaging channel is equipped with autofocus, automatic brightness gain control and digital data enhancement. The auxiliary channel can be equipped with either a day sensor (model B2-FO) or a far infrared channel (model B2-DC). The first one is based on a color 1/4" color CCD camera with a 794x494 matrix with x4 continuous digital zoom and two same fields of view as the previous model. magnification x4.The B2 has a GPS C/A code (Coarse Acquisition code) module (however, a military standard GPS module can be built in to improve accuracy), a digital magnetic compass and a laser range finder with a range of 20 km and an 852nm Class 3B laser pointer.The B2 can store up to 1000 jpeg images that can be uploaded via USB or RS-232/422, NTSC/PAL and HDMI are also available for video recording. The instrument weighs less than 4 kg, including six D-batteries for four hours of continuous operation or more than five hours in an energy-saving mode. The Recon B2 can be equipped with a remote control kit that includes a tripod, pan/tilt head, power and communications box, and control box.

Flir offers a lighter version of the Recon V surveillance and targeting device, which includes a thermal sensor, a range finder and other typical sensors packed in a 1.8 kg case.

The lighter model Recon B9-FO features an uncooled thermal imaging channel with a 9.3°x7° field of view and x4 digital zoom. The color camera has x10 continuous zoom and x4 digital zoom, while the GPS receiver, digital compass and laser pointer features are the same as the B2. The main difference lies in the rangefinder, which has a maximum range of 3 km. The B9-FO is designed for shorter range operation; it also weighs significantly less than the B2, less than 2.5 kg with two D batteries that provide five hours of continuous use.

With no day channel, the Recon V weighs even less, at just 1.8 kg with batteries that provide six hours of hot-swappable operation. Its 640x480 indium antimonide cooled matrix operates in the mid-IR region of the spectrum, it has optics with x10 magnification (wide field of view 20°x15°). The rangefinder device is designed for a range of 10 km, while the gyroscope based on microelectromechanical systems provides image stabilization.

The French company Sagem offers three binocular solutions for day/night target detection. They all feature the same color daylight channel with a 3°x2.25° field of view, an eye-safe 10 km laser rangefinder, a digital magnetic compass with 360° azimuth and ±40° elevation angles, and a GPS C/S module with accuracy up to three meters (the device can be connected to an external GPS module). The main difference between the devices lies in the thermal imaging channel.

Topping the list is the Jim UC multifunctional binoculars, which have an uncooled 640x480 sensor with identical night and daytime fields of view, while the wide field of view is 8.6°x6.45°. Jim UC is equipped with digital zoom, image stabilization, built-in photo and video recording; optional image fusion function between day and thermal imaging channels. It also includes an eye-safe 0.8µm laser pointer plus analog and digital ports. Without batteries, the binoculars weigh 2.3 kg. The rechargeable battery provides more than five hours of continuous operation.

The multifunctional binoculars Jim Long Range of the French company Sagem were supplied to the French infantry as part of the Felin combat equipment; in the photo, the binoculars are mounted on the Sterna target designation device from Vectronix

Next comes the more advanced Jim LR multifunctional binoculars, from which, by the way, the UC device “budded”. It is in service with the French army, being part of the combat equipment of the French soldier Felin. Jim LR features a thermal imaging channel with a 320x240 pixel sensor operating in the 3-5 µm range; the narrow field of view is the same as the UC model, and the wide field of view is 9°x6.75°. A more powerful laser pointer that increases the range from 300 to 2500 meters is available as an option. The cooling system naturally increases the mass of Jim LR devices to 2.8 kg without batteries. However, the cooled thermal imaging module significantly improves performance, the ranges of detection, recognition and identification of a person are respectively 3/1/0.5 km for the UC model and 7/2.5/1.2 km for the LR model.

The range is completed by Jim HR multifunctional binoculars with even higher performance, provided by a high-resolution VGA 640x480 matrix.

Vectronix's Sagem division offers two surveillance platforms that, when connected to systems from Vectronix and/or Sagem, form extremely accurate, modular targeting tools.

The digital magnetic compass included with the GonioLight Digital Observation Station is accurate to 5 mils (0.28°). Connecting a true (geographic) pole gyroscope improves accuracy to 1 mil (0.06°). A 4.4 kg gyroscope is installed between the station itself and the tripod, as a result, the total weight of the GonioLight, gyroscope and tripod tends to 7 kg. Without a gyroscope, such accuracy can be achieved through the use of built-in topographic referencing procedures using known landmarks or celestial bodies. The system has a built-in GPS module and an access channel to an external GPS module. The GonioLight station is equipped with an illuminated screen and has interfaces for computers, communications equipment and other external devices. In the event of a malfunction, the system has auxiliary scales to determine the direction and vertical angle. The system allows you to accept a variety of day or night surveillance devices and rangefinders, such as the Vector family of rangefinders or the Sagem Jim binoculars described above. Special mounts in the upper part of the GonioLight station also allow the installation of two optoelectronic subsystems. The total weight varies from 9.8 kg in the GLV configuration, which includes the GonioLight plus the Vector rangefinder, to 18.1 kg in the GL G-TI configuration, which includes the GonioLight, Vector, Jim-LR and gyroscope. The GonioLight observation station was developed in the early 2000s and since then more than 2000 of these systems have been delivered to many countries. This station was also used in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Vectronix's experience helped them develop the ultra-light, non-magnetic Sterna target designation system. If GonioLite is designed for ranges over 10 km, then Sterna for ranges of 4-6 km. Together with the tripod, the system weighs about 2.5 kg and is less than 1 mil (0.06°) accurate at any latitude using known landmarks. This allows you to get a target location error of less than four meters at a distance of 1.5 km. In the event that landmarks are not available, the Sterna system is equipped with a hemispherical resonant gyroscope jointly developed by Sagem and Vectronix, which provides an accuracy of 2 mils (0.11°) in determining true north up to a latitude of 60°. Set-up and orientation time is less than 150 seconds, and a rough alignment of ±5° is required. The Sterna is powered by four CR123A cells providing 50 orientations and 500 measurements. Like GonlioLight, the Sterna system can accept various types of optoelectronic systems. For example, Vectronix's portfolio includes the lightest instrument at less than 3 kg, the PLRF25C, and the slightly heavier (less than 4 kg) Moskito. For more complex tasks, Vector or Jim devices can be added, but the weight increases to 6 kg. The Sterna system has a special attachment point for installation on the vehicle trunnion, from which it can be quickly removed for dismounted operations. To evaluate these systems in large quantities were supplied to the troops. The U.S. Army ordered Vectronix handheld systems and Sterna systems as part of the Handheld High Precision Targeting Device Requirements issued in July 2012. Vectronix is ​​confident about the continued growth in sales of the Sterna system in 2015.

In June 2014, Vectronix showed the Moskito TI surveillance and target designation device with three channels: daytime optical with x6 magnification, optical (CMOS technology) with brightness enhancement (both with a 6.25 ° field of view) and uncooled thermal imaging with a 12 ° field of view. The device also includes a 10 km rangefinder with an accuracy of ±2 meters and a digital compass with an accuracy of ±10 mils (±0.6°) in azimuth and ±3 mils (±0.2°) in elevation. The GPS module is optional, although there is a connector for external civilian and military GPS receivers, as well as Galileo or GLONASS modules. It is possible to connect a laser pointer. The Moskito TI device has RS-232, USB 2.0 and Ethernet interfaces, Bluetooth wireless communication is optional. It is powered by three batteries or CR123A batteries, providing over six hours of uninterrupted operation. And finally, all the above systems are packed in a 130x170x80 mm device weighing less than 1.3 kg. This new product is a further development of the Moskito model, which, with a mass of 1.2 kg, has a daytime channel and a channel with brightness enhancement, a laser rangefinder with a range of 10 km, a digital compass; optional integration of civil standard GPS or connection to an external GPS receiver is possible.

Thales offers a complete range of reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation systems. The 3.4 kg Sophie UF system has an optical day channel with x6 magnification and a 7° field of view. The range of the laser rangefinder reaches 20 km, the Sophie UF can be equipped with a GPS P (Y) code (encrypted code for the exact location of an object) or C / A code (coarse location code for objects), which can be connected to an external DAGR / PLGR receiver. A magnetoresistive digital compass with 0.5° azimuth accuracy and a gravity sensor inclinometer with 0.1° accuracy complete the sensor package. The device is powered by AA cells providing 8 hours of operation. The system can operate in the modes of correcting the fall of shells and reporting data about the target; for exporting data and images, it is equipped with RS232/422 connectors. The Sophie UF system is also in service with the British Army under the designation SSARF (Surveillance System and Range Finder).

Moving from simple to complex, let's focus on the Sophie MF device. It includes a cooled 8-12 µm thermal imager with wide 8°x6° and narrow 3.2°x2.4° fields of view and x2 digital zoom. As an option there is a color day channel with a field of view of 3.7°x2.8° along with a laser pointer with a wavelength of 839 nm. The Sophie MF system also includes a 10 km laser rangefinder, a built-in GPS receiver, a connector for connecting to an external GPS receiver, and a magnetic compass with an accuracy of 0.5° in azimuth and 0.2° in elevation. Sophie MF weighs 3.5 kg and runs on a set of batteries for more than four hours.

The Sophie XF is almost identical to the MF model, the main difference is the thermal imaging sensor, which operates in the mid-wave (3-5 µm) IR region and has a wide 15°x11.2° and narrow 2.5°x1.9° field of view, optical magnification x6 and electronic magnification x2. Analog and HDMI outputs are available for video data output, because Sophie XF is capable of storing up to 1000 photos or up to 2 GB of video. There are also RS 422 and USB ports. The XF model is the same size and weight as the MF model, although the battery pack lasts just over six or seven hours.

The British company Instro Precision, specializing in goniometers and panoramic heads, has developed a modular reconnaissance and target designation system MG-TAS (Modular Gyro Target Acquisition System), based on a gyroscope, which allows high-precision determination of the true pole. Accuracy is less than 1 mil (not affected by magnetic interference) and the digital goniometer offers 9 mil accuracy depending on the magnetic field. The system also includes a lightweight tripod and a rugged handheld computer with a full set of targeting tools for calculating target data. The interface allows you to install one or two target designation sensors.

Vectronix has developed a light non-magnetic Sterna reconnaissance and target designation system with a range of 4 to 6 kilometers (installed on a Sagem Jim-LR in the photo)

The latest addition to the family of targeting devices is the Vectronix Moskito 77 model, which has two daylight and one thermal imaging channel.

The Sophie XF device from Thales allows you to determine the coordinates of the target, and for night vision there is a sensor operating in the mid-IR region of the spectrum

The Airbus DS Nestor system with a cooled thermal imaging matrix and a mass of 4.5 kg was developed for the German mountain infantry troops. It is in service with several armies

Airbus DS Optronics offers two Nestor and TLS-40 reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation devices, both manufactured in South Africa. The Nestor device, whose production began in 2004-2005, was originally developed for German mountain rifle units. The biocular system weighing 4.5 kg includes a day channel with x7 magnification and a 6.5° field of view with an increment of 5 mil reticle, as well as a thermal imaging channel based on a cooled matrix of 640x512 pixels with two fields of view, narrow 2.8°x2.3° and wide (11.4°x9.1°). The distance to the target is measured by a Class 1M laser range finder with a range of 20 km and an accuracy of ± 5 meters and adjustable strobing (pulse repetition frequency) in range. The direction and elevation of the target is provided by a digital magnetic compass with an accuracy of ±1° in azimuth and ±0.5° in elevation, while the measurable elevation angle is +45°. The Nestor has a built-in 12-channel GPS L1 C/A receiver (coarse definition), and external GPS modules can also be connected. There is a CCIR-PAL video output. The device is powered by lithium-ion batteries, but it is possible to connect to an external DC power source at 10-32 Volts. The cooled thermal imager increases the mass of the system, but at the same time increases the night vision capabilities. The system is in service with several European armies, including the Bundeswehr, several European border forces and unnamed buyers from the Middle and Far East. The company expects several large contracts for hundreds of systems in 2015, but new customers are not named there.

Using the experience gained from building the Nestor system, Airbus DS Optronics developed the lighter Opus-H system with an uncooled thermal imaging channel. Deliveries began in 2007. It has the same daylight channel, while the 640x480 microbolmetric array provides an 8.1°x6.1° field of view and the ability to save images in jpg format. Other components have been left unchanged, including the monopulse laser rangefinder, which not only extends measurement range without the need for tripod stabilization, but also detects and displays up to three targets at any range. The USB 2.0, RS232 and RS422 serial connectors are also retained from the previous model. Eight AA elements provide power supply. The Opus-H weighs about one kg less than the Nestor and is also smaller at 300x215x110mm compared to 360x250x155mm. Buyers of the Opus-H system from the military and paramilitary structures were not disclosed.

Airbus DS Optronics Opus-H system

Due to the growing need for lightweight and low-cost targeting systems, Airbus DS Optronics (Pty) has developed a series of TLS 40 devices that weigh less than 2 kg with batteries. Three models are available: TLS 40 with daylight only, TLS 40i with image enhancement, and TLS 40IR with uncooled thermal imaging sensor. Their laser rangefinder and GPS are the same as the Nestor. The digital magnetic compass operates over a range of ±45° vertical angles, ±30° cross-slope angles, and provides ±10 mil azimuth and ±4 mil elevation accuracy. Common with the previous two models, the biocular daytime optical channel with the same reticle as in the Nestor device has an x7 magnification and a field of view of 7°. The TLS 40i image enhancement variant has a monocular channel based on the Photonis XR5 tube with x7 magnification and a 6° field of view. Models TLS 40 and TLS 40i have the same physical characteristics, their dimensions are 187x173x91 mm. With the same weight as the other two models, the TLS 40IR is larger in size, 215x173x91 mm. It has a monocular day channel with the same magnification and a slightly narrower field of view of 6°. The 640x312 microbolometer array provides a 10.4°x8.3° field of view with x2 digital zoom. The image is displayed on a black and white OLED display. All TLS 40 models can optionally be equipped with a 0.89°x0.75° daytime camera for capturing images in jpg format and a voice recorder for recording voice comments in WAV format at 10 seconds per image. All three models are powered by three CR123 batteries or from an external 6-15 Volt power supply, have USB 1.0, RS232, RS422 and RS485 serial connectors, PAL and NTSC video outputs, and can also be equipped with an external GPS receiver. The TLS 40 series has already entered service with unnamed customers, including African ones.

Nyxus Bird Gyro differs from the previous Nyxus Bird model with a true pole gyroscope, which significantly improves the accuracy of determining the position of the target at long distances

The German company Jenoptik has developed the Nyxus Bird day-night reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation system, which is available in medium and long-range versions. The difference lies in the thermal imaging channel, which for the variant medium range equipped with a lens with a field of view of 11°x8°. The ranges of detection, recognition and identification of a standard NATO target are 5, 2 and 1 km, respectively. The long range variant with 7°x5° field of view optics provides longer ranges of 7, 2.8 and 1.4 km respectively. The matrix size for both options is 640x480 pixels. The daytime channel of the two variants has a field of view of 6.75° and a magnification of x7. The Class 1 laser rangefinder has a typical range of 3.5 km, the digital magnetic compass provides an accuracy of 0.5° in azimuth in the 360° sector and in elevation of 0.2° in the 65° sector. The Nyxus Bird features multiple measurement modes and can store up to 2000 infrared images. With built-in GPS, however, it can be connected to a PLGR/DAGR system to further improve accuracy. For transferring photos and videos, there is a USB 2.0 connector, wireless Bluetooth is optional. With a 3 Volt lithium battery, the device weighs 1.6 kg, without the eyecup, the length is 180 mm, the width is 150 mm and the height is 70 mm. The Nyxus Bird is part of the German Army's IdZ-ES modernization program. The addition of a Micro Pointer tactical computer with an integrated geographic information system significantly increases the ability to localize targets. The Micro Pointer is powered by internal and external power supplies, has RS232, RS422, RS485 and USB connectors and an optional Ethernet connector. This small computer (191x85x81 mm) weighs only 0.8 kg. Another optional system is the non-magnetic true-pole gyroscope, which provides very accurate heading and precise target position at all ultra-long distances. A gyro head with the same connectors as the Micro Pointer can be connected to an external PLGR/DAGR GPS system. Four CR123A elements provide 50 orientations and 500 measurements. The head weighs 2.9 kg, and the whole system with a tripod 4.5 kg.

The Finnish company Millog has developed a Lisa manual target designation system, which includes an uncooled thermal imager and an optical channel with detection, recognition and vehicle identification ranges of 4.8 km, 1.35 km and 1 km, respectively. The system weighs 2.4 kg with batteries that provide a runtime of 10 hours. After receiving the contract in May 2014, the system began to enter service with the Finnish army.

Developed several years ago for the Soldato Futuro Italian Army soldier modernization program by Selex-ES, the Linx multifunctional handheld day / night reconnaissance and target designation device has been improved and now has an uncooled 640x480 matrix. The thermal imaging channel has a field of view of 10°x7.5° with optical magnification x2.8 and electronic magnification x2 and x4. The day channel is a color camera with two magnifications (x3.65 and x11.75 with corresponding fields of view 8.6°x6.5° and 2.7°x2.2°). The programmable electronic reticle is built into the color VGA display. Range measurement is possible up to 3 km, location is determined using the built-in GPS receiver, while a digital magnetic compass provides bearing information. Images are exported via USB. Further refinement of the Linx instrument is expected during 2015 with the introduction of miniature cooled sensors and new features.

In Israel, the military is seeking to increase its ability to fire cooperation. To this end, each battalion will be assigned an air strike coordination and ground fire support group. The battalion is currently assigned one artillery liaison officer. The national industry is already working to provide tools for this task.

The device Lisa of the Finnish company Millog is equipped with uncooled thermal imaging and daylight channels; with a mass of only 2.4 kg, it has a detection range of just under 5 km

The Coral-CR device with a cooled thermal imaging channel is part of the line of target designation systems of the Israeli company Elbit

Elbit Systems is very active in both Israel and the United States. Its Coral-CR surveillance and reconnaissance device has a 640x512 cooled medium-wavelength indium antimonide detector with optical fields of view from 2.5°x2.0° to 12.5°x10° and x4 digital magnification. The black-and-white CCD camera with fields of view from 2.5°x1.9° to 10°x7.5° operates in the visible and near-IR spectral region. Images are displayed on a high-resolution color OLED display through adjustable binocular optics. An eye-safe Class 1 laser rangefinder, built-in GPS, and a digital magnetic compass with 0.7° accuracy in azimuth and elevation complete the sensor suite. Target coordinates are calculated in real time and can be transmitted to external devices, the device can store up to 40 images. CCIR or RS170 video outputs are available. The Coral-CR is 281mm long, 248mm wide, 95mm high, and weighs 3.4kg including the rechargeable ELI-2800E battery. The device is in service with many NATO countries (in America under the designation Emerald-Nav).

The uncooled Mars thermal imager is lighter and cheaper, based on a 384x288 vanadium oxide detector. In addition to the thermal imaging channel with two fields of view 6°x4.5° and 18°x13.5°, it has a built-in color day camera with fields of view 3°x2.5° and 12°x10°, a laser rangefinder, a GPS receiver and a magnetic compass. The Mars instrument is 200 mm long, 180 mm wide and 90 mm high, and weighs only 2 kg with battery.

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An optical rangefinder is an optical instrument used to measure distances to objects. According to the principle of operation, rangefinders are divided into two main groups, geometric and physical types. The first group consists of geometric rangefinders. The measurement of distances with a range finder of this type is based on determining the height h of an isosceles triangle ABC (diagram 10), for example, using the known side AB \u003d I (base) and the opposite acute angle .. One of the values, I or., is usually constant, and the other is variable ( measurable). On this basis, rangefinders with a constant angle and rangefinders with a constant base are distinguished. A fixed angle rangefinder is a telescope with two parallel filaments in the field of view, and a portable rail with equidistant divisions serves as the base. The distance to the base measured by the rangefinder is proportional to the number of divisions of the staff visible through the telescope between the threads. Many geodetic instruments (theodolites, levels, etc.) work according to this principle. The relative error of the filament rangefinder is 0.3-1%. More complex optical rangefinders with a fixed base are built on the principle of superimposing images of an object constructed by beams that have passed through various optical systems of the rangefinder. Alignment is performed using an optical compensator located in one of the optical systems, and the measurement result is read on a special scale. Monocular rangefinders with a base of 3-10 cm are widely used as photographic rangefinders. The error of optical rangefinders with a constant base is less than 0.1% of the measured distance. The principle of operation of a physical type rangefinder is to measure the time it takes the signal sent by the rangefinder to travel the distance to an object and back. The ability of electromagnetic radiation to propagate at a constant speed makes it possible to determine the distance to an object. Distinguish pulse and phase methods of distance measurement. With the pulse method, a probing pulse is sent to the object, which starts a time counter in the rangefinder. When the pulse reflected by the object returns to the rangefinder, it stops the counter. Based on the time interval (delay of the reflected pulse), using the built-in microprocessor, the distance to the object is determined: L= ct/2, where: L is the distance to the object, c is the speed of radiation propagation, t is the time it takes the pulse to reach the target and back. 10. The principle of operation of a geometric type rangefinder AB - base, h - measured distance In the phase method, the radiation is modulated according to a sinusoidal law using a modulator (an electro-optical crystal that changes its parameters under the influence of an electrical signal). The reflected radiation enters the photodetector, where the modulating signal is extracted. Depending on the distance to the object, the phase of the reflected signal changes relative to the phase of the signal in the modulator. By measuring the phase difference, the distance to the object is measured. The most common civilian electro-optical ranging devices are portable laser rangefinders, which can measure the distance to any object on the ground, which is in line of sight, with an error of about one meter. The maximum range for determining the distance is individual for each model, usually from several hundred to one and a half thousand meters and strongly depends on the type of object. It is best to measure the distance to large objects with high reflectivity, the worst of all - to small objects that intensely absorb laser radiation. The laser rangefinder can be made in the form of a monocular or binoculars with a magnification of 2 to 7 times. Some manufacturers integrate rangefinders into other optical instruments, such as optical sights. In the field of view of the rangefinder is a special mark, which is combined with the object, after which the range is measured, usually by simply pressing a button. The result of the measurement is displayed on the indicator panel located on the body of the device, or reflected in the eyepiece, which allows you to get information about the range without taking your eyes off the rangefinder. Many models can display measurement results in different metric units (meters, feet, yards).