WWII Cole pattern sun compass, Mark I, circa 1939.

20cm diameter.

For similar Cole MK I pattern sun compass dials see the collection of:

National Maritime Museum, object ID: ACO0640

The Royal Institute of Navigation, London.

The Cole pattern sun compass is a specialised navigation device designed by J. H. Cole during World War II. It was used by British military on armoured vehicles in the North African desert, where iron vehicles rendered magnetic compasses unreliable, instead of using Earth’s magnetic field, the Cole solar compass uses the position of the sun to determine true North. The Cole pattern sun compass was used by the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) and the SAS.