Canadian Army "Nav Aid"
 

Hello

Purely a curiosity question.

Would anyone have a photo etc of the above device. From a description I have been given, it was a large mechanical computer type device intended for scouts (had to be mounted in a vehicle), that plotted location on a paper chart purely based on direction and speed of travel.
It does not sound like a proper inertial unit, more like something slaved
off a speedo drive shaft?

Thanks
Doug

What is the time period?

Douglas.

If it is what I am thinking of, it comes in a case about the size of an old portable phonograph. It was powered of the vehicle supply and was primarily designed for the MB/GPW and initially used in the US Army. A number of cables connected the machine to the vehicle (how I cannot recall).

It was basically an analog x/y plotter using an indelible ink pen. Think of an etch-a-sketch toy with the plotting pen on top of the glass rather than under it. A few years back, a place called Surplus City in Anaheim California was selling scads of them off. All NOS. It was a neat bit of kit but took up an entire rear wheel well to install. I think someone also did an article about them in Army Motors Magazine quite some time ago.

Hope this fuzzy recollection helps.

David

David

Many thanks for the info.

I tried googling for the place you said, but no hits. Do you know if they
are still in business?

Thanks
Doug

David

Please see attached pics and if you recognise what you see.

I think the units in the pics are 1970s era rather than anything designed for
an MB/GPW?

Thanks
Doug

The CDN NAVAID was 1960s era.

Could be mounted in an light vehicle, or in a tank. System comprised several elements including plotter and mechanical read-out for the tank crew commander and the driver, as per your image. 'Heart' of the system was the large gyro-compass.

Mike

Hi Douglas.

That equipment looks like a 'modern' version of the wartime kit. More individual components and probably a bit more compact.

Looks like Surplus City has both moved and possibly merged. Their new web site is as follows:

www.surplusjeep.com


The last time I dealt with them, the web was just a thread-like dream in someone's mind.

David

Doug,

See this thread:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ghlight=navaid

Should give you most of what you want to know. Have you located some 'bits' by any chance?

Mike

Mike
 

Thanks for posting that link. It was the wartime Odograph I was thinking of and there are some excellent articles about it on the web.

David