Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] tank periscope optics

[Dan h <machine@epix.net>]

Why would you want to use periscope optics in a sub?  I don't understand
the advantage in using prisms to look around corners with when all you
need is a piece of acrylic to keep the water out.  Even using cameras
seems like over kill.  If the view ports are kept to a small diameter
there not expensive.  Say, keep them to the size of plasma TV monitor
and forget the electronics!
One thing about acrylic, as long as you use the proper thickness for
the depth your diving to, it always works.  No matter if you have
a power failure, an equipment failure or an operator failure.  It's
almost fool proof!  Isn't that one of the most important criteria
in designing anything like a sub.  When life and limb could be hanging
in the balance, simplicity and safety are usually the number issues in
a good design.  Cameras and optics are fine as extras, but a hole
in the hull filled with an acrylic disk as the main way to see out makes
good sense to me.

I spent many years designing mechanical systems. Several rules of thumb that kept me out of trouble (most of the time) were:
Be efficient. Do many functions with one part rather than one function with many parts.
Keep it simple. 
Where safety is a consideration, cover all the bases and take no chances.  Design in redundancies, if allowable.
And lastly, design in some "wiggle room" to accommodate revisions and up dates.

Remember K. I. S. S. !!!!!!

Dan H.

AndrePevestorf@aol.com wrote:

Hi,

I yust remember the special periscope optic in a tank (BMP-1 or T-55)
my recollection says that this prism are very heavy but also easy to change... so I wondering if it could be possible to use some of that for a sub...

but the first question is:

are there any legal ways to get such army stuff second hand ?
( I know in former times it was possible to get a russian gun for a bottle of wisky but thats not the kind of deals I´m looking for..)

A.