Not only is the Sperry Gyro-Compass unaffected by magnetic conditions,
resulting from the heeling error, but before being placed upon the ship
it is tested for days under conditions simulating the motion of the
ship in the most severe storm.
A ship steered by the Gyro-Compass traverses a straight line course;
the Gyro-Compass does not oscillate with the rolling of the ship. It is
not necessary for the helmsman to use as much helm to keep the ship on
her course. A great saving is made in the use of the steering engine.
There is no “lag” in the Sperry Gyro-Compass, because it does not leave
the meridian, no matter which way or how quickly the ship may turn or
zig-zag. Exhaustive tests have been conducted on compasses installed on
torpedo boat destroyers. Even when zig-zagging at top speed in heavy
seas the Gyro-Compass shows no “lag.”
Traveling the straight line course instead of the sinuous course, ships
equipped with the Sperry Gyro-Compass have saved from one to ten per
cent in time over the average schedule time required to cover their
courses when steering by the magnetic compass.
[Illustration: The Savannah, first steamship to cross the ocean.]
[Illustration]