Gyro Checks

BR 45 (2) Chapter 5

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 Lesson will cover:
• Methods of calculating the azimuth angle
or bearing of any heavenly body.
• True amplitudes at True Sunrise/set
• Mathematical formulae which can be
used.
• Use of Weirs Azimuth Diagram and
Nories Tables (A, B and C)

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RN Style of Azimuth Circle

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Checking the Gyro – cross level
error if azimuth circle not level

Correct Incorrect
Bearing Bearing

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 True Amplitudes using Sun
• Checking the gyro at sunrise/sunset is:
– accurate because the sun is on the horizon
– easy to check using True Amplitudes.
• Bearing is taken when the lower limb is seen
a semi-diameter above the visible horizon.
• (Moon’s centre lies practically on visible
horizon at true rising/setting.)
• The true amplitude table is entered with
ship’s latitude and the declination of the Sun.
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 True and Visible Rise/set
True Sunrise
Sunset
Celestial Horizon

34’

Visible Horizon
6 deg
Visible Sunrise
Sunset

Civil Twilight

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 Declination/Amplitude North
Pole
Equator

East

North South

West

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 Declination/Amplitude South
Pole
Equator

East

North South

West

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 Effect of Latitude
North
Pole
South
Pole
East
North
Pole
North
North South

West

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 Elements of Calculation

• Convert time to UT(GMT)

• Look up the declination of the sun
rounding up/down to the nearest hour.
• Note latitude (given in the question)
• Find true amplitude using table
• Apply amplitude to East/West in
direction of declination.
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 Example B23 (Working)

Time: 152000(-11) JUN

GMT: 150900Z JUN
Dec: N23o 18.9’ or 23.3o
Lat: 48o 50’N or 48.8º

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 Declination

Latitude

Amplitude
Table page
4B-17

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 Example B23 (Working)

Time: 152000(-11) JUN

GMT: 150900Z JUN
Dec: N23o 18.9’ or 23.3o (page 4A-19)
Lat: 48o 50’N or 48.8º
Amp: W 37o N
Bearing: 270o + 37o = 307o
Error: 309oG/307oT = 2º HIGH
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 Amplitude Diagram
N
307º
Declination
North

37º
W E

Declination
South
S
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 Calculator Formula

Sine Amplitude = Sine Declination

Cosine Latitude

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 Spherical Triangle
Z Azimuth
The Celestial Sphere
P Q’

H H’

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Azimuth - Data Required

Declination
Local Hour Angle
Latitude

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 NAVPAC Programme
• Bearings can be calculated by entering
the correct date, time and position and
using either:
• Using the Find It Page and read off the
correct bearing of the body (Sun)
• Using the Astro Page and reading the
Azimuth shown at the top of the
calculated data.
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 A,B&C Table - Example
B26. At 0915(+3) precisely on 24 Oct 97 in
DR position 58o 15’N 038o 30’W, the gyro
bearing of the sun was 150o. What was
the gyro error?
Time 0915(+3) = 1215Z
GHA (1200) 3o 57.3’
Increment (15min) 3o 45.0’
GHA (1215) 7o 42.3’
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 Example - Continued
Tab Declination 11º 51.6’S
d = +0.9’
Correction 0.2’
Declination 11º 51.8’S (11.85º)
Latitude 58º 15’ (58.25º)
LHA (GHA-LongW) 367º 42’-38º 30’
LHA 329º 12’ (329.2º)

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 A, B and C Tables (Nories)
Table A

• Table A entered with LHA and Latitude

(named opposite to Latitude except when
Hour Angle is between 90o and 270o)
• Formula A = tan lat x 1/tan LHA

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Nories
Table A
LHA 329.2º
Latitude 58.25º

Named opposite
to latitude 2.71S
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 A, B and C Tables (Nories)
Table B

• Table B entered with LHA and

Declination (Always named the same as
Declination)
• Formula B = tan dec x 1/sin LHA

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Nories
Table B
LHA 329.2º
Dec 11.85º

Named same as
declination 0.41S
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 Obtaining Azimuth from C

• Combine A and B algebraically to obtain C

• Enter with value of C and Latitude
• Azimuth takes the name of C (South or
North) using West if LHA less than 180o
and East if LHA more than 180o.
• Example azimuth S31ºE = 149º
• Formula Tan azimuth = 1/C x 1/cos lat

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Nories
Table C
C combined
value of A & B
3.12S
Latitude 58.25º
Azimuth S31.3ºE

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 Resumé of Calculation
A (329.2/58.25) = 2.71 S
B (329.2/11.85) = 0.41 S
C (Combine A & B) = 3.12 S
C (3.12/58.25) = S 31.3o E
True bearing = 180o - 31.3o = 148.7o
Gyro bearing = 150o
Gyro Error = 1.3º HIGH
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 Wier’s Azimuth Diagram
Local Hour
Angle (LHA) Bearing Ring

Latitude Declination
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 Marking the Declination

Point A Declination
12o South
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 Plotting LHA & Latitude
Enter with LHA
Black figures for Lat N
LHA 329º Green figures for Lat S

Latitude
Ellipse 58¼º

Point B

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 Finding the Bearing

Centre Ruler
B

Align Ruler in Read off

direction B-A NTU, HMS COLLINGWOOD 31
bearing
 Using Navaid Receiver
• QYF, Loran, SNAPS, etc.
• Use spare waypoint
• Enter declination as latitude
• Enter GHA as longitude (if GHA is greater
than 180º, subtract from 360º and enter as
Easterly longitude)
• Read off Initial Great Circle Course from
Own Ship (same as GC bearing)
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GC Calculation

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 Azimuth of Heavenly Body
• Use reflector and shades to take bearing of
the sun (keep repeat level).
• Requires accurate time of observation to
calculate LHA.
• True bearing can be worked out using
Norie’s (A, B & C Tables), Wier’s Azimuth
Diagram, Total Tide or GC Course
calculation on Navaid Receiver.
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Alignment of Gyro Repeaters

Correct
Bearing

Bearing
Low

Same Reading

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 Summary
• Gyro should be checked regularly at sea
(every watch in merchant ships).
• Simplest check is at True Sunrise/set using
table of True Amplitude (or formula).
• There are occasions when gyro checks are
required at other times.
• Check is actually the repeat so results may
vary between different repeats.
• Any Questions?
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