Comprehensive Service Guide for the Anschütz Standard 20 Gyro Compass

1. Introduction & System Philosophy

The Anschütz Standard 20 is a north-seeking, free-gyro compass using a liquid-supported, pendulous gyrosphere. Unlike its predecessor (Standard 14), the Standard 20 features an automatic latitude error compensation and a quick alignment mode. Service intervals are critical due to the spinning mass (20,000 RPM) and the conductive liquid suspension.

Settling Time Bridge-over: The manual describes a "settling time bridge-over" procedure, a specialized service function likely used to maintain heading references during brief power interruptions or for technical adjustments without a full 3-to-5-hour restart.

Even with newer fiber-optic gyros (FOGs) on the market, thousands of vessels still rely on the Standard 20 because of its robustness, proven accuracy (within 0.5° of true north), and relative insensitivity to rapid changes in latitude and vessel motion.

Step 1 – Pre-Reading

• Skim the “Safety Precautions” chapter. Note high-voltage areas (inside the power supply) and moving parts (gyrosphere can cause injury if handled improperly).

• Raytheon Anschütz GmbH (Kiel, Germany) – direct purchase (PDF or hardcopy).
• Marine service hubs (e.g., Imtech Marine, Wilhelmsen Ships Service) – licensed access.
• Technical libraries of classification societies (DNV, LR, ABS) for surveyor reference.