Description

The U.S. Navy Type 8L Periscope is a general-purpose search periscope, serving as a modification of the earlier Type 8. It is deployed exclusively on Trident submarines in conjunction with the Type 15L Mod T as part of a shipset. This periscope is positioned to starboard and known as periscope No. 1, with the Type 15L mounted to port.

The Type 8L includes the periscope assembly, an electrical and electronic (E&E) adapter assembly, a traveling slide connector assembly, a junction box, an indicator and control box, an RF interconnection box, and a speaker/amplifier assembly. It also supports antennas including the ST range-only periscope radar.

Development

Check Type 15L Periscope for Trident Periscope development.

Operational Status

Operational in the following Platforms:

• SSBN 730-743
• SSGN 726-729

Contractor

• Originally, it was the Electro-Optical Division of Kollmorgen Corporation of Northampton, Massachusetts.
• Currently, L3Harris KEO of Northampton, Massachusetts.

Specification

Type: General-purpose search periscope
Functions:
– Optical instrument Antenna mast
– Equipped with omnidirectional and direction-finding antennas
– Supportd the ST range – only periscope radar 
Field of View:
– 32° at 1.5x magnification
– 8° at 6x magnification
Line-of-Sight Elevation Range: +60 to -10 degrees
Overall Length: 48 feet 11 1/2 inches
Optical Length: 46 feet (from the center of the eyepiece to the zero elevation line of sight at the head prism)

Gallery

Further reading

• Ohio-Class (SSBN-726) Ballistic Missile Submarines
• Ohio-Class (SSBN-726) Submarine Technical Specification
• Type 15L Periscope

Bibliography

• Friedman, N. (1989). The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapons systems. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
• Opticalman 1 & C. (1991). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Jane’s Weapon Systems. (1988). United Kingdom: F. Watts.
• Jane’s Major Warships Volume 1. (1997). United Kingdom: Jane’s Information Group.