Hi all,
Reading
Code Name:Mulberry
by Guy Hartcup (ISBN 1844154343)
which is the history of the Mulberry harbours built & used on
D-day in WW2, I came across the following:
Ellsberg (Cmdre US Navy salvage officer)was on the beachhead and
was asked by Clark (Capt. A. D. USN) if it would be possible to
to use a lighter float, intended to carry a 25-ton load, for the
Sherman tanks weighing 38 tons. Or would they submerge under the
strain? Ellsberg, who had a slide rule with him, set to work to
measure a float and then spent most of the night in Clark's
headquarters ship working out the problem. He was able to
reassure Clark, "The 25-ton pontoons would remain afloat, though
only by an eyelash, under a 38-ton load, but I guarantee they
would remain afloat."
Ellsberg himself, walking backwards over the half-mile to the
shore, supervised the passage of the leading tank on 16 June.

That's really trusting a slide rule calculation & accuracy!

Graeme

Caudwell's Mill Trust, Arkwright Society, Derbyshire Archaeological Society, Moulton bicycles, Heage windmill, SPAB Mills Section, Cromford Canal, IA, water & wind power & Risc OS computing are all interests of Graeme Walker.
Robotics information can be found at http://www.shadowrobot.com

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