UNIVAC 418

UNIVAC 1218 Military Computer

The UNIVAC 418 , called UNIVAC 1218 and UNIVAC 1219 in the military sector , is a mainframe computer and was developed by Sperry Rand in 1963–1969 . One goal was to make the machine as small as possible so that it can be placed on a normal office desk. The system was based on transistors and a machine word length of 18 bits . The name 418 was formed from the characteristics that the machine had a cycle time of four microseconds and an 18-bit word length.

A total of three different models (418-I, 418-II and 418-III) were designed and a total of 392 machines were produced. Some machines were in use until the end of 1990.

• The first UNIVAC 418-I or UNIVAC 1218 was delivered in 1963. She was about 1.8 m high and weighed 352 kg.
• The successor, the UNIVAC 418-II , also called UNIVAC 1219 , was delivered in 1964. The clock cycle was reduced from 4 µs to 2 µs. The UNIVAC 1219 was used by the Japanese Navy to control their fire control system based on MFCS MK-74 (Missile Fire Control System) and GFCS MK-68 Systems (Gun Fire Control System) . The US Navy also used the UNIVAC 1219 in their fire control system based on MFCS MK-76, as well as to control the AN / SPG-55 radar system.
• With the UNIVAC 418-III , the clock cycle has been further reduced to 750 nanoseconds and the instruction set has been expanded.

See also

• UNIVAC

Web links

• George Gray: The UNIVAC 418 Computer . In: Unisys History Newsletter , Volume 4, Number 2 August 2000 (English)
• Department of the Army, Ballistic Research Laboratories - Maryland, A third survey of domestic electronic digital computing systems, Report No 1115, 1964
• Japanese Navy Projects

Individual evidence

1. ^ Mark S. Haynes: Liberty Call 1991.