The post-war era
The post-war era, and the
advent of the Cold War, saw
the submarine periscopes
increasingly optimised for
surveillance and intelligence
gathering. However, the
opto-mechanical technology
used in these systems was
not so very different from that
used in the preceding 50 years,
although basic night vision
and electronic warfare sensors
were introduced.
With the advent of the
electronic age, during the
late 1970s Thales introduced
thermal imaging sensors
and laser rangefinders to
RN periscopes in 1978 and
1979 respectively.
The use of electronics in periscope
design architecture facilitated
a transition to limited remote
control, followed by full remote
control systems such as those
introduced to service on the
Royal Australian Navy Collins-
class boats in the 1990s.
SA Artillery