U.S. NAVY “Screened Speed Light” controller

U.S. NAVY SCREENED SPEED LIGHT CONTROLLER

Extremely Rare!

Still in original USN Paint over aluminum

Red Dial

Handle works

This is an incredible find! For this particular one, this is not a “Telegraph” but instead a “Screened Speed Light” controller.

At night, the screened speed light let other ships behind you in a WW2 convoy how fast you were going without breaking radio silence. Otherwise, if you slowed down and the guy behind you didn’t know it…uh oh!

The controller you have was originally located right next to the engine order telegraph (between that and the helm wheel) and was operated by the Lee Helmsman, changing the speed light setting whenever a change to the ship’s engines was ordered. The screened speed light was actually two lights, one white for ahead operation, and one astern for backing bells.