Canadian Army "Nav Aid"

[Douglas Greville]

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

[Frank v R]

What is the time period?

[David Dunlop]

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

[Douglas Greville]

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

[Douglas Greville]

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

[Mike Cecil]

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

[David Dunlop]

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

[Mike Cecil]

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

[David Dunlop]

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