Admiralty Experimental Station: Difference between revisions
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1915 The first '''Admiralty Experimental Station''' was set up by the [[Admiralty]] at Granton, on the south of the Firth of Forth, but moved in June 1915 to Hawkcraig Point on the north side (near to Aberdour, Fife). The site was chosen because there was a deep-water channel protected by an anti-submarine boom. | 1915 The first '''Admiralty Experimental Station''' was set up by the [[Admiralty]] at Granton, on the south of the Firth of Forth, but moved in June 1915 to Hawkcraig Point on the north side (near to Aberdour, Fife). The site was chosen because there was a deep-water channel protected by an anti-submarine boom. | ||
The research station was set up to work on submarine detection methods. It | The research station was set up to work on submarine detection methods. It became the Navy’s main research and training base concerned with hydrophones (i.e. underwater microphones). The naval establishment was named HMS Tarlair. | ||
Captain Cyril Ryan, who | Captain Cyril Ryan, who had worked on wireless telegraphy pre-war, was recalled to active service and sent to Inchkeith, an island in the Firth of Forth, where he began experiments on the use of submerged hydrophones. Early in 1915 he had made such good progress that the Admiralty decided to support his work and commissioned a seagoing trials ship. | ||
The station attracted some of the top scientists of the day; [[Albert Beaumont Wood]] DSc worked on the Hawkcraig experiments from 1915 to 1917; [[Harold Gerrard]], a lecturer in electrical engineering, also worked on the experiments. | The station attracted some of the top scientists of the day; [[Albert Beaumont Wood]] DSc worked on the Hawkcraig experiments from 1915 to 1917; [[Harold Gerrard]], a lecturer in electrical engineering, also worked on the experiments. Non-scientists, especially musicians, also played an important part in the work. | ||
Ryan had fitted a pair of hydrophones to a submarine; someone with a trained ear was able to use them to indicate the approximate bearing of another ship, using the sound screening properties of the hull of the submarine. | |||
1916 Professor [[William Henry Bragg]] was appointed Resident Director of Research. | 1916 Professor [[William Henry Bragg]] was appointed Resident Director of Research. | ||
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1917 The experimental station was moved to Parkeston Quay, Harwich, Essex. By this time the scientists had learnt a number of important facts about the sea and the propagation of sound in it. For example, they had proved that the velocity of sound in the sea was approximately four and half times that in air and that wavelengths were increased in the same proportion; they were surprised to find how far sound could travel through water; they discovered ways of obtaining sound direction underwater using devices considerably smaller in linear dimensions than the wavelength of the incident sound. | 1917 The experimental station was moved to Parkeston Quay, Harwich, Essex. By this time the scientists had learnt a number of important facts about the sea and the propagation of sound in it. For example, they had proved that the velocity of sound in the sea was approximately four and half times that in air and that wavelengths were increased in the same proportion; they were surprised to find how far sound could travel through water; they discovered ways of obtaining sound direction underwater using devices considerably smaller in linear dimensions than the wavelength of the incident sound. | ||
Tarlair remained the Navy’s main hydrophone and research training base throughout the war. 1,090 officers and 2,731 ratings attended courses there or were trained by instructors from there. By the end of the war the Tarlair establishment numbered 650 ratings and 120 officers, manning 31 hydrophone stations at home and abroad. Ships were also attached to Tarlair. | |||
1919 The experimental station moved to Shandon on Gare Loch, Dumbartonshire. Hawkcraig establishment was closed. | 1919 The experimental station moved again, to Shandon on Gare Loch, Dumbartonshire. The Hawkcraig establishment was closed. | ||
1921 The station was established at Teddington, Middlesex, as the [[Admiralty Research Laboratory]] (ARL). | 1921 The experimental station was established at Teddington, Middlesex, as the [[Admiralty Research Laboratory]] (ARL). | ||
After the war Ryan continued to work on a range of technical problems, many of them associated with his work in Aberdour, filing at least 24 patents up to 1934. | After the war Captain Ryan continued to work on a range of technical problems, many of them associated with his work in Aberdour, filing at least 24 patents up to 1934. | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
Revision as of 17:37, 4 June 2021
1915 The first Admiralty Experimental Station was set up by the Admiralty at Granton, on the south of the Firth of Forth, but moved in June 1915 to Hawkcraig Point on the north side (near to Aberdour, Fife). The site was chosen because there was a deep-water channel protected by an anti-submarine boom.
The research station was set up to work on submarine detection methods. It became the Navy’s main research and training base concerned with hydrophones (i.e. underwater microphones). The naval establishment was named HMS Tarlair.
Captain Cyril Ryan, who had worked on wireless telegraphy pre-war, was recalled to active service and sent to Inchkeith, an island in the Firth of Forth, where he began experiments on the use of submerged hydrophones. Early in 1915 he had made such good progress that the Admiralty decided to support his work and commissioned a seagoing trials ship.
The station attracted some of the top scientists of the day; Albert Beaumont Wood DSc worked on the Hawkcraig experiments from 1915 to 1917; Harold Gerrard, a lecturer in electrical engineering, also worked on the experiments. Non-scientists, especially musicians, also played an important part in the work.
Ryan had fitted a pair of hydrophones to a submarine; someone with a trained ear was able to use them to indicate the approximate bearing of another ship, using the sound screening properties of the hull of the submarine.
1916 Professor William Henry Bragg was appointed Resident Director of Research.
1917 The experimental station was moved to Parkeston Quay, Harwich, Essex. By this time the scientists had learnt a number of important facts about the sea and the propagation of sound in it. For example, they had proved that the velocity of sound in the sea was approximately four and half times that in air and that wavelengths were increased in the same proportion; they were surprised to find how far sound could travel through water; they discovered ways of obtaining sound direction underwater using devices considerably smaller in linear dimensions than the wavelength of the incident sound.
Tarlair remained the Navy’s main hydrophone and research training base throughout the war. 1,090 officers and 2,731 ratings attended courses there or were trained by instructors from there. By the end of the war the Tarlair establishment numbered 650 ratings and 120 officers, manning 31 hydrophone stations at home and abroad. Ships were also attached to Tarlair.
1919 The experimental station moved again, to Shandon on Gare Loch, Dumbartonshire. The Hawkcraig establishment was closed.
1921 The experimental station was established at Teddington, Middlesex, as the Admiralty Research Laboratory (ARL).
After the war Captain Ryan continued to work on a range of technical problems, many of them associated with his work in Aberdour, filing at least 24 patents up to 1934.