Training Center for Maneuvering on Manned Model Ships

The Navy requisitioned excursion boats to train pilots in WW2 and somehow this is not a more well known story.

grumblepeet 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Tom Scott visited a similar facility in Poland, Port Iława, where he got to pilot one of the scale models there under the guidance of the instructor. https://youtu.be/jplrbxI5GN8

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mazokum 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Tom Scott made a video about a similar facility: https://youtu.be/jplrbxI5GN8?is=kytaMgjccGpJfypr

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ashwinnair99 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Did not know this existed. Makes sense though, port accidents are expensive enough that even a niche training facility pays for itself fast.

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ok_dad 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Training on models provides experience that could never be gained on real ships for the simple reason that neither shipowners nor local authorities would allow such risks to be taken.

I was trained onboard a real ship. It took about a year to become qualified as officer of the deck. There are also sims now which are probably better.

	▲	dmurray 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I don't understand your point. Are you saying that it's possible to get adequate training on a real ship, and using the fact that you managed to do it as an example? Of course it's possible to train on a real ship. But the sailors who trained on models have certain specific experience that you will hope never to get. As for the things you experienced and they didn't, they can catch up with those during their first year on a real ship.