Lesson 6: Magnetic and

Gyrocompasses

Lesson 9: Magnetic and

Gyrocompasses

AGENDA:

Directional reference systems

The Magnetic Compass
Digital Flux Gate Magnetic Compass
Magnetic Error (Variation and Deviation)
Compass Conversion (T M)
The Gyrocompass
Gyrocompass Error

Applicable reading: Hobbs pg. 148-165.

Directional Reference Systems

Directional References
Relative Bearings (R) = bearings measured with reference
to the ships longitudinal axis
Magnetic Bearings (M) = bearings measured with respect
to magnetic north.
True Bearings (T) = bearings measured with respect to
true of geographic north.

Ships Head (or heading)

a special bearing denoting the direction in which the ship
is pointing.

000 T
270 T

090 T
180 T

270 R

000 R

180 R

090 R

Magnetic Compasses

Operation Magnets within the compass tend to align themselves

with the earths magnetic lines of force.

Construction The compass consists of a circular card, graduated with

360 degreed around the face.
A pair of magnets is attached to the underside of the
card, beneath the north-south axis.
The card floats in the fluid to reduce friction and
dampen the vibrations caused by ships movement.

Advantages of Magnetic
Compasses

Little maintenance required

No power source required
Durability

Disadvantages of Magnetic
Compasses

Does not seek True North

Affected by surrounding materials
Cannot be used near the poles

Magnetic Compass Error:

VARIATION

Variation: the angle between a magnetic

line of force and a geographic (true)
meridian at any location on the earth.
Causes:
Variation exists because the earths magnetic
and geographic poles are not co-located.
Magnetic anomalies in the earths crust also
contribute to variation.

True North Pole

Magnetic North Pole

Notice that the
two poles
arent together.
The magnetic
compass points
to the magnetic
pole, and this
gives us
VARIATION.

COMPASS ROSE
Used to Determine
Magnetic and True
Courses.
Outer ring is in True.
Inner Ring is in
Magnetic.

Variation for any given locality is shown on the

compass rose of the chart for that area, together
with the amount of annual increase or decrease.

Variation changes
from year to year as
the earths magnetic
poles tend to wander.

ALWAYS use the

compass rose nearest
your current DR
position.

2.2-8

Magnetic Compass Error:

DEVIATION

Deviation: the angle between

the actual magnetic meridian
and the north line on the
compass card.
Causes:
Deviation is caused by the
interaction of the ships
metallic structure and electrical
systems with the earths
magnetic field.

Magnetic Compass Error: Deviation

Deviation can be compensated for but

never eliminated.
A compass table is used, which provides
the value of deviation for every 15 degrees
of ships head.
Entering argument for the table is oM and
degaussing on or off (DG ON/DG OFF)

Magnetic
Compass Error:
Deviation

Digital Flux Gate

Digital Compass System
MV-103AC
Junction Box/
Control Unit

Remote
Display
2.3-26

Digital Flux Gate Compass:

Antennae is located at the top
of the mast to remove metallic
effects of the hull.
Allows Deviation to be Zeroed
by auto-compensation
Guides to Magnetic North
Variation may be manually or
automatically entered.

Can Dead Men Vote Twiceat Elections

ADD EAST (SUBRACT WEST)

C D M V T
ADD WEST (SUBRACT EAST)

Timely Vessels make Distance Countat War

Timely Vessels Make Distance Countat War

ADD WEST (SUBRACT EAST)

T V M D C
T
R
U
E

V
A
R
I
A
T
I
O
N

M
A
G
N
E
T
I
C

D
E
V
I
A
T
I
O
N

C
O
M
P
A
S
S

Can Dead Men Vote Twiceat Elections

ADD EAST (SUBRACT WEST)

C D M V T
C
O
M
P
A
S
S

D
E
V
I
A
T
I
O
N

M
A
G
N
E
T
I
C

V
A
R
I
A
T
I
O
N

T
R
U
E

Magnetic/Gyro Compass
Practical Problems
G

E
T
V
M
172 12E 160
#1 170.5 1.5E
1W
068 12E 056
#2 069
1W 338 12E
326
#3 339
#4 347.5 1.5E 349
12E 337
1.5E 031.5 12E 019.5
#5 030
Compass Error for #1= 12E
Compass Error for #2= 11.5E
Compass Error for #3= 13E
Compass Error for #4= 11E
Compass Error for #5= 13.5E

160
0
0.5W 056.5
1E
325
1W
338
1.5E

018

THE GYRO COMPASS

USS O'Flaherty DE 340 IC Room

Gyrocompasses

A true north-seeking gyroscope

The gyro spins at a very high velocity, and
its spin axis remains aligned with terrestrial
meridians.
The gyro has three axes:
spin axis
torque axis
precession axis

Gyroscope Theory

The
Gyrocompass
Repeater

Gyrocompass
Pros and Cons
Advantages:

Disadvantages

Seeks geographic (true) north

instead of magnetic.

Intricate electronic
instrument.

Can be used near the earths

magnetic poles, where
magnetic compass is useless.

Unaffected by surrounding
metals.

Requires a constant source

of electrical power and is
sensitive to power
fluctuations.

Requires periodic
maintenance by qualified
technicians.

Signal can be fed to other

systems (weapons, nav).

Terms
Compass course:
The heading indicated by the
magnetic compass toward where
the ship is traveling.

Compass Error (CE):

The Sum of Variation and Deviation

Compass Heading:
The Course That the Ship Is Steering,
Using the Ships Magnetic Compass

- This Heading Includes the Compass Error

Terms Associated With the

Gyro Compass

True North:
Direction referenced to True North,
measured clockwise from 000 to 359

Gyro Error (East or West):

The Difference between True North and the
Gyro Compass Reading

Gyro Repeater Error:

The Difference between the Gyro Compass
and Gyro Repeater

Gyrocompass Error

Although the gyrocompass is a very

accurate instrument, it normally has a
small error associated with its readings.
(normally less than 1o)
Like the magnetic compass, this error is
expressed as east or west.

Determining Gyro Error

Methods of determining gyro error:

Celestial Methods (to be discussed later)
Observing a visual range
Observing bearing to an object while at a known
location
Heading while pierside
Trial and error adjustment of
three or more simultaneous
LOPs
Compare to gyrocompass of
known error

Gyrocompass Error

To remember how to use the gyro error,

two memory aids are commonly used:
If Gyro is best (higher), error is west;
If Gyro is least (lower), error is east.

G.E.T. -- Gyro + East = True

Applying Gyro Error

Correcting (Gyro Compass to True)
+E / -W
#1
#2
#3

G
015
335
265

E
1.0E
1.0E
1.0E

T
016
336
266

Gyro Compass best = Error West

Gyro Compass least = Error East

Applying Gyro Error

Correcting (Gyro Compass to True)
+E / -W
#4
#5
#6

G
015
335
265

E
1.5W
1.5W
1.5W

T
013.5
333.5
263.5

Gyro Compass best = Error West

Gyro Compass least = Error East

REVIEW
Relative Bearings (R) = bearings measured
with reference to the ships longitudinal axis
Magnetic Bearings (M) = bearings
measured with respect to magnetic north.
True Bearings (T) = bearings measured
with respect to true of geographic north.
Be able to apply Gyro Error
Be able to compensate for variation and
deviation using C D M V T

QUESTIONS?