Re: 71B RAM Message #4 Posted by Steve S on 15 July 2004, 12:04 p.m., in response to message #2 by Rodger Rosenbaum
More properly, your module set likely contains equations to compute artillery shell trajectories and required propellent load, elevation and azimuth settings to account for range-reach and prevailing winds. The M114A was a 155mm towed howitzer that was used during the Viet Nam era. I think it was used by both the Army and the Marines.
The ballistic equations are pretty much straight text-book stuff (and therefore not sensitive), but the modules likely also contain tables of ballistic coefficients for various shells and tables of propellent load (powder) all of which would be sensitive, hence the private designation.
The HP-71B (with these modules) was likely used as a back-up computer for the primary computer system used to compute fire solutions. All the services had / have ruggedized, mil-Spec hardward as their primary systems. Systems like the HP were then provided as a fallback in the event of disaster, like having your command bunker hit by counter-artillery fire...
I'm sure that others here can provide more accurate information...
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