History of the Sperry 1412 Computer and its Applications

Introduction

Sperry Gyroscope 1412 series computers played a central role in a number of important military systems during the period 1970 to 2002. Those projects were the Exocet MM38 pre-launch fire control system for the British and French Navy, the Sea Archer gunnery system for British Type 23 frigates, and project Chevaline. Chevaline was a secret British upgrade to American Polaris Nuclear missiles, giving them the ability to evade anti-ballistic missile defences around Moscow..

The computer’s design was first postulated at Sperry Gyroscope’s Bracknell R & D department in 1967. The first prototypes appeared in 1969. Its applications were initially thought to be in the aerospace industry where a fast, general-purpose digital computer of shoe-box dimensions and low weight would appeal to system designers. In fact, the majority of applications were in Naval systems.

To be continued.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_gun_fire-control_system#British_Royal_Navy_systems

https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/the-electro-optical-director-eyes-of-the-royal-navy-fleet

https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=869&

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevaline

Flight International Magazine 10th July 1975 Page 41

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