[Milsurplus] Let's ask A.I. !

[Michael Hanz]

It doesn't seem completely plausible to me for a minesweeper to be 
overly concerned with compass disturbance. You can usually compensate 
for that in other ways.  It is, however, a convenient mask for a more 
critical reason - to reduce the size of the boat's magnetic signature 
that would set off any mines as the minesweeper passed overhead.  That 
means lowering that signature below the threshold of any mine's usual 
detection criteria - I seem to recall they were normally set to target 
larger ships, and setting it too low resulted in too many premature 
detonations.  There were mentions of it in a classified annex to 
equipment that escaped the purge of vintage WWII documents years ago.

Mike  KC4TOS

On 3/20/2026 8:38 AM, Nick England via Milsurplus wrote:
> The Navy built a series of wooden-hulled minesweepers in the early 
> 1950s. They used aluminum block diesel engines (and TCS sets with 
> aluminum or stainless steel cabinets).
>
> Does anyone have a copy of Field Change 10 for TCS???
>
> I also found reference to several shipboard DF sets with aluminum 
> parts to minimize compass disturbance.
>
> AI answers are usually plausible and sometimes correct. YMMV.
>
> Nick England K4NYW
> Chapel Hill NC
> www.navy-radio.com <http://www.navy-radio.com>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 9:26 PM Brenda Gentry via Milsurplus 
> <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
>     Were TCS rigs ever used in aircraft, or backpacked ashore where
>     light weight would be welcome?  On a PT boat a non-magnetic
>     cabinet might reduce interference with the magnetic compass, but
>     the three V-12 Packard engines would probably have a thousand
>     times the influence on the compass. The AI answer is almost
>     comical if it were not for some  people believing it.
>
>          B. Gentry, KA2IVY
>
>     On 3/19/26 9:05 PM, Charlie L. via Milsurplus wrote:
>>     So, took the bull by the horns and asked AI why the Navy would
>>     want a radio cabinet made out of non magnetic material:
>>
>>     */The US Navy would prefer a radio cabinet made from aluminum or
>>     stainless steel for its non-magnetic properties to minimize
>>     interference with sensitive electronic equipment and to enhance
>>     the effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding. These materials
>>     help ensure that radio signals are transmitted clearly without
>>     distortion from magnetic fields.
>>     /*
>>     */
>>     /*
>>     So, there you go...must be the truth since it came from the
>>     internet.   Let's see what the consensus is in all 57 states.
>>
>>     Charlie W4MEC in NC
>
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