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 ship’s longitudinal axis
– Magnetic Bearings (M) = bearings measured with
respect to magnetic north.
– True Bearings (T) = bearings measured with
respect to true of geographic north.

 Ship’s Head (or heading)

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

270 T 090 T
270 R
180 T

000 R
180 R

090 R
 Magnetic Compasses

 Operation -
– Magnets within the compass tend to align
themselves with the earth’s 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 ship’s 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 earth’s magnetic
and geographic poles are not co-located.
– Magnetic anomalies in the earth’s crust also
contribute to variation.
True North Pole Magnetic North Pole
Notice that the
two poles
aren’t 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 earth’s 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 ship’s
metallic structure and electrical
systems with the earth’s
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 ship’s head.
 Entering argument for the table is oM
and degaussing on or off (DG ON/DG
OFF)
 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 Twice…at Elections”

ADD EAST (SUBRACT WEST)

C D M V T
ADD WEST (SUBRACT EAST)

“Timely Vessels make Distance Count…at War”

“Timely Vessels Make Distance Count…at War”

ADD WEST (SUBRACT EAST)

T V M D C
T V M D C
R A A E O
U R G V M
E I N I P
A E A A
T T T S
I I I S
O C O
N N
“Can Dead Men Vote Twice…at Elections”

ADD EAST (SUBRACT WEST)

C D M V T
C D M V T
O E A A R
M V G R U
P I N I E
A A E A
S T T T
S I I I
O C O
N N
 Magnetic/Gyro Compass
Practical Problems
G E T V M D C
#1 170.5 1.5E 172 12E 160 0 160
#2 069 1W 068 12E 056 0.5W 056.5
#3 339 1W 338 12E 326 1E 325
#4 347.5 1.5E 349 12E 337 1W 338
#5 030 1.5E 031.5 12E 019.5 1.5E 018
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
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
 Gyrocompass
Pro’s and Con’s
Advantages:
 Seeks geographic (true)
north instead of magnetic.
 Can be used near the earth’s
magnetic poles, where
magnetic compass is
useless.
 Unaffected by surrounding
metals.
 Signal can be fed to other
systems (weapons, nav).
Disadvantages
 Intricate electronic
instrument.
 Requires a constant source
of electrical power and is
sensitive to power
fluctuations.
 Requires periodic
maintenance by qualified
technicians.
 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 Ship’s 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
G E T
#1 015 1.0E 016
#2 335 1.0E 336
#3 265 1.0E 266

Gyro Compass best = Error West

Gyro Compass least = Error East

 Applying Gyro Error
Correcting (Gyro Compass to True)
+E / -W
G E T
#4 015 1.5W 013.5
#5 335 1.5W 333.5
#6 265 1.5W 263.5

Gyro Compass best = Error West

Gyro Compass least = Error East

 REVIEW
– Relative Bearings (R) = bearings measured
with reference to the ship’s 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?