III.

Gyrocompass

This device, incorporating one or more gyroscopes, is used in the navigation of all large vessels. Unaffected by magnetism and pointing to true north, the gyrocompass is not subject to the inherent errors of deviation and variation of the magnetic compass. It is equipped with correction devices for easterly drift resulting from the motion of the earth and for speed and course errors. In most oceangoing vessels the gyrocompass is connected electrically to a gyropilot, a device that automatically steers the ship, keeping it on course in accordance with signals from the gyrocompass.