Open bridge rangefinder question

[Kevin Denlay]

An armament question folks.

On some of the heavy cruisers with open bridges one oft sees, on the port and starboard side of the open a bridge, a 'smallish' rangefinder on a pedestal, (the ‘pedestal’ base being somewhat conically shaped and somewhat larger than what I have seen as a base on US 25mm gun mountings). The optical arm itself is about, probably, 8ft our more across, and I am guessing about 6” diameter. The arms themselves stand several feet or more higher than the edge of the open bridge.

An example of this apparatus can be seen in some photos of HMS Exeter’s bridge, and I think on York and Kent, although I don’t have as 'good' an angled photo to look at of those.

In one of the pics below of Exeter (#1) I have circled what i am refering to, but they are only JUST visble so have also put in an identical 'clean' image so you can see better what you are looking at. (And sorry, thats the best res I can get.)

Can anyone tell me what guns that type of rangefinder was for? I assume the poms poms, but……………..that’s just an assumption and assumptions can get you into serious trouble at times.

TIA.

K

[Harley]

If I've got this right, If it's on the bridge, then it'll be a nine foot base length rangefinder used for navigation and probably for ranging the enemy where necessary. All fire-control rangefinders would be localised in the DCT, HACT and turrets on the heavy cruisers if memory serves.

Harley

[Kevin Denlay]

Thanks Harley,

If you look at the back of, or 'above', the bridge there are two separate enclosed 'directors' or range finders as it were, one I believe for the 8" main guns and one for the 4" dual AA, would that be correct? If so, what about the pom poms then, both 4 and 8 barrelled, were they director controlled or just controlled 'locally'?

Kevin