Canadian Centurion tanks intercom system?

[Dan Martel]

Originally Posted by David Wilkinson

Most command tanks were equipped with the Canadian NavAid. I had one for three years and it never worked.

David,

Can you tell us more about NAVAID?

Thanks,
Dan.

[Ed Storey]

See this thread on NAVAID.

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

[David Wilkinson]

I couldn't get the link to work.

Navaid was a Canadian development in the 1960's. It was way ahead of its time but frought with mechanical and electronic problems. Plus, it took up alot of space even in the tank (saw it mounted in the Ferret-not much room for crew!). The gyro was a Sperry ship's unit. Very large and occupied a turret floor ammo bin directly behind the driver. The turret stowage was reconfigured to allow for the electronics and a large mechanical map board which was horizontal and mounted between the loader and comd. The map board had a ball resolver and a lighted arrow. This would crawl along under the 1/50k map and project an arrow through the map sheet with the location and direction of the tank. The ball was driven by the speedometer and the gyro compass. The technical limitations of the system were extensive.

The best use of the map board was as a work space for the loader to make peanut butter sandwiches for the crew! We used to say that we got the Brits back for selling us the agony wagon, by selling them Navaid. They were the only foreign sale.

[Ed Storey]

Of course there is always the Forum search function, just type in NAVAID.

[David Wilkinson]

True Just checked and good info there. Cheers

[Mike Cecil]

Navaid: Australia came ... saw ... and said No Thanks!

Mike