Talk:Mark I Fire Control Computer
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The Mark 1 was used briefly during the 1991 Persian Gulf war during a USS Missouri 5" fire mission against Iraqis in northern Saudi Arabia. I do not recall the extent or duration of this mission, but I know it occurred because I was there. Therefore, the proposition that the use of the Mark 1 fire control computer ended in 1969 is incorrect. All four Iowa battleships used their Mk 1a's for training throughout the late 1980's and the Missouri briefly used hers in combat operations in 1991.
Also incorrect is the final statement "Digital fire control computers were not introduced until the age of minicomputers in the mid-1970s." The tartar guided missile systems used on 1960's era destroyers implemented digital fire control systems, complete with paper tape drives for loading the operational program.
Since I didn't personally work on either of these systems and my knowledge of them is very limited, I am choosing not to edit the main article. Perhaps someone with more knowledge of these systems would care to contribute? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Billgx (talk • contribs) 13:26, 22 November 2009 (UTC)