other Finnish Army compass

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alpinoinMT
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other Finnish Army compass

#1

Post by alpinoinMT » 05 Apr 2020, 04:16

I am posting photos of two Suunto compass' from WW2.
I have heard them called "officers compass" & "artillery compass"
I do know their great difference from the M/34 compass.
I am also including a photo of one of my two M/34s.
Different than most I've seen, with a brass ring with elevated "sights" on it,
as opposed to the standard grooves cut into the aluminum ring.
What does PVT mean?


I know this is the place to ask! Kiitos/Thanks

suunto.jpg
suunto clin.jpg
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a reporter once asked me, after an awards ceremony
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JTV
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#2

Post by JTV » 05 Apr 2020, 07:21

alpinoinMT wrote:
05 Apr 2020, 04:16
I am posting photos of two Suunto compass' from WW2.
I have heard them called "officers compass" & "artillery compass"
I do know their great difference from the M/34 compass.
I am also including a photo of one of my two M/34s.
Different than most I've seen, with a brass ring with elevated "sights" on it,
as opposed to the standard grooves cut into the aluminum ring.
What does PVT mean?
When it comes to items in two bottom photos artillery compass is much more correct term. To be exact they are bussoli (käsisuuntakehä) - artillery hand compass used for getting rough bearing for guns and mortars.

Compass m/34 was the standard compass model issued to all ranks. My observation is that versions with brass ring were early production. These compasses have serial number (visible in left lower corner) and left upper corner "SA T" is Finnish Army property marking with "T" indicating that it belonged to ordnance materials. Right upper corner is Depot marking (probably indicating repair in there at some point). As far I know Pv T (Defence Forces Ordnance) was more modern equivalent of "SA T" marking. There were two manufacturers - Suunto being the main manufacturer, while Physica manufactured the compass only briefly before the war.

Some info about Tuomas Vohlonen, who developed the compass and history of compass m/34 (commercial model: M-311):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuomas_Vohlonen

Compass m/34 was the first product of company founded by Vohlonen - Suunto Oy:
https://www.suunto.com/en-gb/


Mangrove
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#3

Post by Mangrove » 05 Apr 2020, 10:03

JTV wrote:
05 Apr 2020, 07:21
These compasses have serial number (visible in left lower corner) and left upper corner "SA T" is Finnish Army property marking with "T" indicating that it belonged to ordnance materials. Right upper corner is Depot marking (probably indicating repair in there at some point). As far I know Pv T (Defence Forces Ordnance) was more modern equivalent of "SA T" marking.
According to a 1942 document by the Ministry of the Interior, the "crossed cannons" (with a number or letter) marking is an inspector and not a depot or manufacturer marking. PM T (Puolustusministeriö | Taisteluvälineosasto, circa until 1940) and PV T (Puolustusvoimain pääesikunta | Taisteluvälineosasto, c. 1940-1942) predate [SA] T marking (1942-1969).

Seppo Koivisto
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#4

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 05 Apr 2020, 10:52

Käsisuuntakehä was also used by artillery forward observers.
The one in the top photo is in degrees and looks what Suunto is still making today for civilian use. If I remember right the blunt one was called käsisuuntakehä m/40.

veeteetee
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#5

Post by veeteetee » 05 Apr 2020, 16:51

The rectangular model was known as "TM 301 Käsisuuntakehä, mallia 40, jako 6000" i.e. it is model 40, indeed.

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alpinoinMT
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#6

Post by alpinoinMT » 05 Apr 2020, 20:06

KIITOS Thank you all very much!
In these viral days
this site is as much enjoyment
as classic NHL hockey games
& long range two hour dog walks
a reporter once asked me, after an awards ceremony
"are purple hearts for soldiers & bronze stars for officers?'

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#7

Post by Juha Tompuri » 06 Apr 2020, 08:08

Hi!

Finnish language discussion about the march compass:
http://pkymasehist.fi/phpBB2/viewtopic. ... 4861&hilit
Sadly the photos seem to have gone lost.

Regards, Juha

Seppo Koivisto
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#8

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 06 Apr 2020, 17:25

The cover of this issue of Finnish artillery magazine shows how the hand-held precision compass is kept in front of the eye (though I was instructed to keep it differently in hand). http://doczz.net/doc/7025253/lehti-2-20 ... ikomentoja

Suunto KB-14 User guide: https://ns.suunto.com/Manuals/KB-14/Use ... 1586074126

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#9

Post by Juha Tompuri » 06 Apr 2020, 22:22

Seppo Koivisto wrote:
06 Apr 2020, 17:25
The cover of this issue of Finnish artillery magazine shows how the hand-held precision compass is kept in front of the eye
Yes.
You look "through" the Bussoli/käsisuuntakehä, and so can read the angulr mils/degrees there.

Regards, Juha

charette1796
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Re: other Finnish Army compass

#10

Post by charette1796 » 07 Apr 2020, 15:40

Hi
I am new and would like to salute all of you ...
Then i am interested in the ww 2 finnish army ...
Started with a question : i just bought a suunto compass but there is no leather strap. Can you tell me about a shop where i could order one.
Regards

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