Module : Introduction to Navigation MA0536

Topic 3 : True and Gyro Directions

Objectives:
1. Define "true direction".
2. Define "true course".
3. Define "true bearing".
4. Define "gyro course".
5. Define "gyro bearing".
6. Define "gyro error".

Reference
Admiralty Manual of Navigation Vol. 1.

Introduction
On a navigational chart, directions are referenced from the true or geographic North Pole. When
steering a ship, directions are referenced from a compass. The direction of "north" according to
the compass, however, usually does not correspond to the direction of true north, unless the
compass is free from error, which is seldom the case. Hence it is usual that a mismatch occurs
between compass directions and true directions. Therefore, when we navigate the ship with the
help a compass and charts, we need to know the errors of the compass being used, so that we can
convert compass to true directions and vice versa.

Notes
True North True north is the northerly direction of the geographical meridian and is the
reference from which true directions are measured.

True Direction The true direction between two points on the Earth's surface is given by the great
circle between them. It is expressed in terms of the angle between the meridian and the great
circle. True directions can either be true bearings or true courses.

True Bearing True bearing of an object is the true direction in which the object is seen from the
observer. True bearings are measured clockwise from 000 to 360 from true north, and are
given the suffix T, for example 030T. In the figures below, angle PFT is the true bearing of
object T from the observer F. In one case it is 030T while in the other case it is 330T.

True Course True course is the true direction in which the ship is being steered. True courses
are also measured clockwise from 000 to 360 from true north, and given the suffix T, for
example 330T. In the figures below, angle PFT is, in this case, the true course from F to T.

Gyrocompass This electro-mechanical instrument is a rapidly spinning wheel or gyroscope, the

axis of which is made to point rigidly along the meridian towards true north. Directions, whether
courses or bearings, which are measured using the gyrocompass, are true, provided there is no
error in the compass.

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Gyro Direction is referenced from gyro north, the northerly direction in which gyroscope axis
points. Gyro courses and bearings are measured clockwise from 000 to 360, and given the
suffix G, for example 115G.

Gyro Error For a number of reasons, the axis of the gyrocompass will not always point exactly
towards true north, that is, gyro north will not always coincide with true north. There could be a
small error of up to 3. Any error must be known before the gyrocompass may be used as an
accurate reference. Gyro error is named high or low.

Gyro error is named high (H) when gyro north lies to the west (left) of true north. In this case,
for any particular direction, the gyrocompass will indicate a reading that is "higher" than the
true direction. It is named low (L) when gyro north lies to the east (right) of true north. In this
case, for any particular direction, the gyrocompass will indicate a reading that is "lower" than the
true direction.

In the left-hand figure below, the gyro error is 2H and the compass gives a gyro bearing of
077G. In the right-hand figure however, the gyro is 2L and the compass gives a gyro bearing of
073G. Note that the true bearing is the same in both cases.

Exercise:
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Topic 3 : True and Gyro Directions

Instructions: a) Show clearly and neatly all step by step working.

b) Draw neat-labelled sketches to assist your working

1. Define the following using your own words and appropriate sketches:
a) True north
b) True bearing
c) True course
d) Gyro north
e) Gyro bearing
f) Gyro course
g) Gyro error

2. Draw a sketch and show the following clearly on it:

a) True north (TN)
b) Gyro error (GE) = 5L
c) Gyro north (GN)
d) True course (TCo) = 120T
e) Gyro course (GCo) =?
f) Gyro bearing (GBrg) = 277G
g) True bearing (TBrg) =?

3. Find gyro error

a) True Bearing = 168T Gyro Bearing = 166G (2L)
b) True Bearing = 358T Gyro Bearing = 002G (4H)
c) True Bearing = 001T Gyro Bearing = 359G (2L)

4. Convert from true to gyro

a) True Course = 061T Gyro Error = 3L (058G)
b) True Bearing = 259T Gyro Error = 1H (260G)
c) True Course = 358T Gyro Error = 3H (001G)

5. Convert from gyro to true

a) Gyro Bearing = 147G Gyro Error = 2H (145T)
b) Gyro Course = 300G Gyro Error = 1L (301T)
c) Gyro Bearing = 000G Gyro Error = 1H (359T)

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