The Gala-Borletti is a 1937 fire control system for a heavy anti-aircraft battery. In addition to the calculator table, the system included a San Giorgio rangefinder. Data from the rangefinder was transmitted to the calculator by telephone or electrically. The data was displayed on a lamp system, and the crew had to be careful to enter the correct values into the system. The table was covered with a wax cloth on which were drawn time-distance plots at different elevation angles on a 1:40,000 scale. A handwheel was used to rotate the cloth. Denatured alcohol was used to wipe the cloth clean so that the markings could be changed to match different cannon designs.

The calculators and rangefinders arrived in Finland at the end of the Winter War. During the so-called interim peace and the early stages of the Continuation War, they were used extensively with the Breda artillery batteries obtained from Italy. At the end of 1944, the Italian calculators and rangefinders were replaced by the German Malsi 43 equipment. Our air defence had at its disposal a total of three Gala-Borletti calculators and San Giorgio rangefinders.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Elevation: 0–1200 mrad
• Traverse: Unlimited
• Target distance: from 1000 m
• Charge-up time: 3–10 seconds
• Free corrections: Distance -500 to +500, traverse and elevation -50 to +50
• Crew: Calculator 1+9, Rangefinder 1+6

References: Vehviläinen Raimo et al., Itsenäisen Suomen Ilmatorjuntatykit 1917–2000, Sotamuseo, Helsinki 2005; Palmu Pentti, Yön yli päivään – Suomen ilmatorjunnan vaiheita 1925–1990, Ilmatorjuntaupseeriyhdistys Ry, Helsinki 1989; Ilmatorjuntajoukot 1925–1960, Ilmatorjuntaupseeriyhdistys Ry, Helsinki 1963