COMPASS ERROR ABC METHOD
REFERENCE NORIES NAUTICAL TABLE PAGE 339 - 396
These table can be used :
1. In all Latitudes between 80ºN and 80º S.
2. For all Declinations between 75º N and 75º S
3. For all Local Hours Angles in degrees or degrees and minutes where necessary for easily
interpolation.
Table A – is entered with the arguments L.H.A. and the observer’s Latitude. It is named
opposite to the Latitude, Except when the L.H.A. is between 90º and 270º.
Table B – is entered with the arguments the L.H.A. and Declination and is always named
the same as the Declination.
Table C – is entered with the arguments the observer’s Latitude and ( A +/- B . = Azimuth
If the body is West of the meridian its L.H.A. is between 0º and 180º
If the body is East of the meridian its L.H.A. is between 180º and 360º
COMPASS ERROR ABC METHOD
Example 1
L.H.A. 50º , Latitude 48º N, Declination 20º N.
Table A = 0.93 S -- LHA 50 , Latitude 48 N.. Named opposite to the Latitude .
Table B = 0.48 N --LHA 50, Declination 20 N.. Named always the same as the declination.
Table C = 0. 45 S -- diff. named subtract , same named add .
True Azimuth = S 73.2ºW -- ( C =0.45 S , lat. 48 N, -- Named S because C is South and W
because the LHA is between 00 and 180
Example 2
L.H.A. 244º , Latitude 41º S, Declination 05º S
Table A = 0.42S -- LHA 244º, Lat. 41º S , named opposite to the latitude except when the
L.H.A is between 90 and 270º
COMPASS ERROR ABC METHOD
Example 2
L.H.A. 244º , Latitude 41º S, Declination 05º S
Table A = 0.42S -- LHA 244º, Lat. 41º S , named opposite to the latitude except when
the L.H.A is between 90 and 270º
Table B = 0.10 S ---LHA 244, Dec. 05 S , named the same as the declination
Table C = 0.52 S -- add same name
True Az = S 68.6 E– named S because C is S and E because the LHA is between 181 n 360
= 180 – 68.6
= 111.4º true azimuth
COMPASS ERROR ABC METHOD
Example ; 3
L.H.A. 108º , Latitude 61º N, Declination 20º N
Table A = 0.59 N -- LHA 108 and Latitude 61 N ( named opposite to the latitude , except
when the LHA is between 90º and 270º
Table B = 0.38 N ---LHA 108 and declination 20 N ( always named the same as the decl.
Table C = 0.97 N ---the same name add, diff name subtract.
True Azimuth = N 64.8 W ( named N because C is N and W because the LHA is between
000º and 180º.
COMPASS ERROR ABC METHOD
Example 4
Date: Dec.8, 2010 ship position Lat. 35º 14.9 N, Long.119º 41.1 E , Gyro course 024º, magnetic course 032º variation
6.3º W at 23 03 25 Gmt, observed bearing at sunrise or gyro bearing 119º. LHA =287, Declination S 22º 44.7. Req true
bearing ABC method , gyro error, etc.
Solution: GB = 119 Gyro Course = 024 Gyro course = 024 Compass. Crs = 032
A = 0.21 S - TB = 118 Gyro Error = - 1 W Magnetic Course = 032 Deviation = 2.7W
B = 0.44 S + - GE = 1W True Course = 023 Difference = 8 + Mag. Crs = 029.3
C = 0. 65 S Magnetic Crs = 032- Gyro bearing = 119 Variation = 6.3 W
Az = S 62.0 E - Magnetic Err = 9.0 W Magnetic bearing= 127 True course= 023
180.0 - Variation = 6.3 W True bearing = 118 CAN
T/Az=118 Deviation = 2.7 W Magnetic Error = 9W DIED
Variation = 6.3 W MAN
Rule : Compass best Error is West . Deviation = 2.7 W VOTE
Compass less Error is East TWICE
COMPASS ERROR ABC METHOD
Example 5 : Date 17 Nov. 2010 Lat. 33º 15.7’ S, Long. 065º 48.4E , gyro crs 073º , Mag. Course 103º,
variation 36º, gyro observe bearing 247.0ºat 141718 gmt, LHA 104, dec.S 19º 02.6’ Reg: True Bearing by
ABC method , Compass Error, TC, Variation.. Solution:
A= 0.16 S Gyro bearing = 247.0º Gyro Crs = 073.0º Gyro Crs = 073
B = 0. 35 S T/Azimuth = 246.8º Gyro Err = -0.2º Mag Crs = 103
C= 0.51 S Gyro Error = 0.2 ºW True Crs = 072.8 difference = 30 +
AZ = S 66.8 W Mag Crs = 103.0 Gyro bearing = 247
+ 180.0 Mag Err = 30.2 W Mag. Bearing = 277’0
T/Az= 246.8 Variation = 36.8 W True bearing = 246.8
Deviation = 6.6 E Magnetic Err = 30.2 W
Compass Error Rule : Variation = 36.8W
Compass Best Error West / Compass Less Error East Deviation = 6.6 E
• NE - 1st quadrant boxing
• NW 4th quadrants
• SE - 2nd quadrant
• SW - 3rd quadrant
• new form:
• suffix:
• nav 1- plotting
• nav 2 - great sailing
• nav3 -
• nav4 - chart
• nav5 - radar ecdis
COMPASS ERROR BC METHOD
Example 6; Date Dec. 04, 2010 Lat.32º 13.5 N, Long. 124º 02.4 E, ship course 350º , Magnetic course
355º, Variation 6.5º w, Star Aldebaran observation / Gyro bearing 077ºat 093920 UT, LHA of star was
273º , Dec.N 16º 31.9 . Solve gyro Error by ABC method:
Solution: GB = 077.0º GC =350º GC = 350 CORRECTING COMPASS
A = 0.03 S TB = 077.1º GE =+0.1 E MC =355 Can, Died, Man , Vote, Twice
B = 0.30 N GE = 0.1 E TC =350.1 diff = 5+ COMPASS COURSE = 355
C = 0.27 N MC = 355.0 GB =077º DEVIATION = + 1.6 E
Az = N 77.1º E ME = 4.9 W MB= 082.0 MAGNETIC COURSE= 356.6
VAR= 6.5 W TB= 077.1 VARIATION = - 6.5 W
DEV= 1.6 E ME = 4.9 W TRUE COURSE = 350.1
Var= 6.5 W
Dev = 1.6 E
RULE : COMPASS ERROR NAMING -- Compass Best Error West / compass less Error East
COMPASS ERROR BC METHOD
Example 7 : Date Nov.28, 2010 Lat. 03º 52.9 N, Long. 108º 57.9 E, gyro heading 027º and 025º as per
magnetic, var. 0.2 E at 112310 gmt observed celestial body Vega gyro bearing 309º LHA 067 , dec.N 38
47.8 . Solve the gyro error A.B.C. method.
Solution:
A = 0.03 S GB = 309.0 GC = 027.0 GC = 027 Correcting Compass
B = 0.87 N TB = 309.8 GE = 0.8 E MC = 025 Can, Died, Man, Vote, Twice
C = 0.84 N GE = 0.8 E TC = 027.8 diff = 2- CC = 025
Az= N 50.2 W MC = 025.0 GB =309 DEV= 2.6 E
- - 360.0 ME = 2.8 E MB = 307.0 MC = 027.6
T/Az=309.8 Var = 0.2 E TB = 309.8 VAR= 0.2 E
Dev= 2.6 E ME = 2.8 E TC = 027.8
Var = 0.2 E
Dev = 2.6 E
