A NOTE FROM YOUR TOUR GUIDE: These images are not copyrighted or restricted in any way. But I do put a lot of time into collecting, curating, scanning, describing, and posting them to my website. I have no problem with these images being used but PLEASE site the source if you do.
Sailor in foul weather gear at his post with a rangefinder in a battleship cage mast. Note the pelorus in the foreground, used to measure the bearing to targets in battle practice and to points on land in navigation.
Battleship; cage mast; rangefinder; pelorus
An aft turret on an Illinois-class battleship, ca. 1910-20. Note the sailor atop the turret putting a foul weather cover on the rangefinder, just in front of the cage mast. The rangefinder and cage masts were key parts of improved American battleship fire control just prior to World War I.
Also note the 3″ field gun and limber lashed on deck under the turret’s guns and the sub-caliber devices on the gun barrels.
Illinois class battleship; turret; 13 inch gun; sub-caliber device; gunnery; rangefinder; 3 inch gun; field artillery; cage mast
Battleship turrets with rangefinder atop the upper turret, ca. 1915-1920. The rangefinder is turned 90-degrees to the camera.
Battleship; turret; rangefinder; cage mast
Forward rangefinder in foul weather cover on a Nevada Class battleship, ca. 1910-1920. Note the seat and footrests for rangefinder operator in the foreground.
Nevada class battleship; rangefinder
This photo is misidentified as sighting in rangefinders, but the sailors are actually sighting in either rifle-style sub caliber devices or rifle barrels out of their stocks. Note the officer and sailor are sitting on ditty boxes.
Battleship; sub-caliber device; gunnery