The Sperry Gyro-Compass

by Sperry Gyroscope Company

Service Given to the World’s Navies by the Gyro-Compass

At the time of the battle of Coronel on the west coast of South America, H. M. S. In­vin­ci­ble was being over­hauled at the Ports­mouth Dock­yard in Eng­land. She was im­med­i­ate­ly ord­ered with one other large British ship to South American waters under the com­mand of Ad­mir­al Stur­dee, to re-enforce the British fleet, and then to find and destroy the German ships which had defeated the British at the battle of Coronel. When the overhaul of the Invincible was completed and she was ready to leave the docks, it was at first planned to delay sailing until the ship could be swung and the magnetic compasses compensated. It was decided, however, that although the compasses were badly in need of adjustment it was necessary to save every minute in order to reach South American waters before the German ships could find and destroy the British ships remaining in those waters. The Invincible therefore sailed without adjusting her magnetic compasses and navigated entirely by the Sperry Gyro-Compass from Portsmouth to the Falkland Islands. When an azimuth was finally taken the magnetic compass was found to be out about 22 degrees. The Invincible arrived at the Falkland Islands just in time to coal before the German fleet appeared. If H. M. S. Invincible had not had a Gyro-Compass the probabilities are that she would not have reached the Falkland Islands in time to win the battle which took place almost immediately upon her arrival.

The Coracle of ancient Britain, still used in Wales.

Figure 49 shows a British submarine, a sister ship of the E-11, that entered the Sea of Marmora through the Dardanelles for the purpose of destroying Turkish and German shipping. The E-11 put a torpedo right into Constantinople harbor. The Second Officer of the E-11 in relating this exploit, stated that they steered by the “Sperry” all the way in and out. His remark was that, “It never let me down.”

In this exploit, and many others of a similar nature, the Gyro-Compass was used for all navigation. These extremely daring and hazardous operations would not have been possible without this instrument.

A similar British submarine left Harwich on the east coast of England, and during a period of three weeks made seven patrol trips, and without once seeing the sun, finally returned to Harwich and picked up the buoy at the mouth of the harbor without the least difficulty. The navigation in this case was carried out entirely by the Gyro-Compass.

Figure 54 is a pho­to­graph of H. M. S. Lion, the flag­ship of Ad­mir­al Beat­ty in the bat­tle of Jut­land. This ship was pro­vid­ed with the Sper­ry Gy­ro-Com­pass equip­ment early in the war. Dur­ing the Jut­land en­gage­ment a fire broke out in a mag­a­zine of the Lion im­med­i­ate­ly be­low the two Mas­ter Com­pas­ses which were lo­cat­ed in one com­part­ment. It be­came so hot that the lead sheath­ing was melt­ed off the elec­tric cab­les and one of the Gy­ro-Com­pas­ses was heat­ed until its parts fused. Notwithstanding this same heat the other compass functioned throughout the entire action. Of the ships engaged in the battle of Jutland practically all except the destroyers were equipped with the Gyro-Compass. Every one of them performed perfectly throughout the action except in the case of the Lion on which one was destroyed by fire.

Hundreds of Sperry Gyro-Compasses are veterans of many battles and encounters under heavy gunfire and adverse conditions.

40. R. M. S Bergensfjord. 41. R. M. S. Aquitania. 42. S. S. Lenape. 43. S. S. Conneaut. 44. Yacht Lyndonia.

Ships Equipped with Sperry Gyro-Compass.

45. U.S.S. Pennsylvania—© E. Muller, Jr. 46. U.S.S. Bush. 47. H.M.S. Invincible—© Underwood & Underwood. 48. R. F. La Marsellaise—© Underwood & Underwood. 49. H.M. Submarine E-11—© Underwood & Underwood.

Ships Equipped with Sperry Gyro-Compass.

50. H. I. M. S. Kongo—© Underwood & Underwood. 51. H. M. S. Conte di Cavour—© Underwood & Underwood. 52. U. S. S. Delaware—First Ship to Carry Gyro-Compass. 53. H. M. S. Queen Elizabeth—© Western Newspaper Union. 54. H. M. S. Lion—© Underwood & Underwood.

Ships Equipped with Sperry Gyro-Compass.

Speedy Ice-boats provide thrilling winter sport.

• Telegrams
  • Inland: SPERIGYCO, Vic, London.
  • Foreign: SPERIGYCO, London.
• Telephone, 7398 VICTORIA.

THE SPERRY GYROSCOPE COMPANY, LTD.

NEW YORK ‐ LONDON ‐ MILAN ‐ PARIS ‐ PETROGRAD ‐ TOKIO ‐ COPENHAGEN STOCKHOLM ‐ LA HAGUE

15, VICTORIA STREET,

LONDON, S. W.

August 1st. 1916.

B-3909.

The Sperry Gyroscope Company,

NEW YORK.

Gentlemen,

It gives me very great pleasure to inform you that my Company has received from Their Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, under date 20th July, the following words of commendation:—

“I am to add an expression of Their Lordships’ appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered to the Admiralty by your Company since the outbreak of War, in your very prompt and efficient execution of the important work entrusted to you”.

I might mention that this was the first recommendation given to a private Firm by the British Admiralty for fifteen years, and had to be concurred in by no less than thirty-seven Government Officials.

Very truly yours,

THE SPERRY GYROSCOPE COMPANY LTD.

Managing Director.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Original spelling and grammar are generally retained. Illustrations are moved from inside paragraphs to between paragraphs.

Page [21]. The second and third list items under the heading "The Sperry Gyro-Compass Equipment" were incorrectly labeled "3." and "2.", in that order. These labels were corrected.