British gyro gun sight Mk 5A? - Aircraft of World War II

twoeagles · 10-23-2006, 09:16 AM

I have had sitting in a musty box for several years a British Mk 5A gyroscopic gun sight, planning at some point to do a good model of the aircraft from which it originated and mounting them together. Trouble is, I can find no Mk 5 references, and I am only guessing it is from a late model Spitfire such as a Mk 21 or FR 46, and maybe even an early British jet, but as I said, I am guessing. Part of me wishes, naturally, that it is from a Spit. Anyway, attached are two photo's, and if any of the members can help give a more positive ID, I would be most grateful.

Tom

PETERTHEEATER · 12-23-2006, 01:21 AM

Hello Twoeagles.

The Mk5A was a post war development and was installed in early RAF Meteors and Vampires. The unit received signals from the aircraft radar (where installed) and gave automatic control of the range to target.

From your picture, I see that the silica gel dessicator is 'pink' which indicates moisture. Silca gel used in RAF instruments was ''blue' when activated and dry.

regards,

Peter

Stiglr · 01-15-2007, 01:47 PM

What units do the range ticks register? That can't be yards or meters, can it??? The high range there would be just over 160 yards, and planes of that time might fire out to 500 with a fairly realistic chance of connecting. In fact, wasn't about 250 to 300 meters/yards seen as something of a sweet spot for gunnery at that time?

Hmmm...looking at it now maybe it's yards/meters x10. That would give it a 250 to 1600 yard range, which makes much more sense.

twoeagles · 01-15-2007, 02:05 PM

Thank you both for the insights! Not many around apparently who remember
this Mk....Not much info out there. Might it have seen service in the
the Supermarine Attacker?

Stiglr · 01-15-2007, 02:08 PM

I don't know about that plane, but I'm doing a 3D model of the Gloster Meteor, and those photos are proving invaluable! I'm improving the gunsight model as we speak!!!

12-23-2006, 01:21 AM	#2
PETERTHEEATER Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hua Hin, Thailand Posts: 10	Mk 5A RAF Gyro Gunsight Hello Twoeagles. The Mk5A was a post war development and was installed in early RAF Meteors and Vampires. The unit received signals from the aircraft radar (where installed) and gave automatic control of the range to target. From your picture, I see that the silica gel dessicator is 'pink' which indicates moisture. Silca gel used in RAF instruments was ''blue' when activated and dry. regards, Peter

01-15-2007, 01:47 PM	#3
Stiglr Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4	What units do the range ticks register? That can't be yards or meters, can it??? The high range there would be just over 160 yards, and planes of that time might fire out to 500 with a fairly realistic chance of connecting. In fact, wasn't about 250 to 300 meters/yards seen as something of a sweet spot for gunnery at that time? Hmmm...looking at it now maybe it's yards/meters x10. That would give it a 250 to 1600 yard range, which makes much more sense. Last edited by Stiglr; 01-15-2007 at 01:51 PM.

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01-15-2007, 02:05 PM	#4
twoeagles Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chambersburg Posts: 673	Thank you both for the insights! Not many around apparently who remember this Mk....Not much info out there. Might it have seen service in the the Supermarine Attacker?

01-15-2007, 02:08 PM	#5
Stiglr Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4	I don't know about that plane, but I'm doing a 3D model of the Gloster Meteor, and those photos are proving invaluable! I'm improving the gunsight model as we speak!!!