NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Hughes Tables
From: Robert Eno
Date: 2007 Jun 3, 00:30 -0400
From: Robert Eno
Date: 2007 Jun 3, 00:30 -0400
Thanks NS. I take it that they were more than just sight reduction tables? I am reading a book about air navigators (mostly from the old days when they still relied on sextants) and several of the men who related their stories expressed a preference for the Hughes Tables because they are/were compact and fast. 400 plus pages doesn't seem very compact to me but I guess it is all relative. I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a copy on the 'net but the $85. price tag is deterring me. I may yet break down..... cheers, Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: "n s gurnell"To: Cc: Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 7:23 PM Subject: [NavList 2932] Re: Hughes Tables > > Hi Robert. > I was a Navigator in the '40's and 50's and used them. > Here are quotations from my 1943 copy:- > "Compiled by L. J. COMRIE, M.A., PH.D., Late Superintendent, H.M. > Nautical > Almanac Office. > > Preface These tables came into being as the result of suggestions put > forward by Lt. Com. P.V.H. Weems, U.S.N. (Retired during his visit to > England > in 1936... > One particular source of encouragement was the fact that a chapter of > thee > new edition of THE ADMIRALTY NAVIGATION MANUAL was devoted entirely to a > description of the tables. ... > It must be made clear that the only originality claimed in the three > main > tables (I, ii and iii) is that of arrangement, typography, accuracy and > explanation. These same figures can in other places, but not in one place > , or > with a single latitude on each page. not exceding the ALMANAC in bulk, > inexpensive , and yet affording equally well the saving that follows the > use of > an assumed position or the advantages of a dead reckoning position when > required. ... > it has proved fortunate that the requirements of sea and air navigation > have > not conflicted, and so can be met in a single volume, without detriment to > either. .. the U.S. NAVY, who generously gave permission to utilise > material > in U.S. HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE PUBLICATIONS Nos. 208 and 211." > > On a nice morning in the tropics I could usually manage to take five or > six > sights before sunrise and have a position on the chart and down for a > shower > before 7am.. Of course in those days there was nothing but pencil or pen > and > paper and we didn't get too fancy with a cocked hat. They gave you all > your > information and were good for all seas from Milford Sound N.Z. to > Yokohama, L.A > . Villefranche and Oslo wthout crushing too many crabs. I bought my > present > copy in Halifax, N.S. about 1978, after presenting my original to a > yachting > lawyer in lieu of his fee. Cheers, nsg --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to NavList@fer3.com To , send email to NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---