There is a lot of info that is so casually given as to be almost silly. Like this "fact":
"Even without digital computers, the Iowa could fire 2,700-pound “dumb” shells nearly 30 miles inland with deadly accuracy, within a circle of probable error of around 80 meters. Some of its shells had circles of destruction larger than that."
Here is the huge problem with that statement. The above is true IF and ONLY IF the ship can SEE the target. North Carolina and Iowa class BBs had radar controlled guns which were decently accurate for water battles because the ocean is usually flat. Yes the mechanical computers were accurate if they were fed accurate target info....but that is the problem as happened in Lebenon in 1982 when the New Jersey fired 11 16 in shells that did no damage to anything except dirt. The Navy could not spot the shells that far inland and the powder was so old that the tragectories were seriously changed by the deteriorated powder. Since they could not see the fall of shot they had to assume the fire was accurate. The modern GPS 5in gun is accurate because it can "see" the fall of shot, even without having spotting planes or drones in the target area.
And the old mechanical analog computers were complete nightmares to repair at sea if they became damaged.
"And while they’re generally reliable, their greatest enemies are friction and mechanical fatigue. Keeping a fire control computer properly lubricated and watching for gear wear is a bit more of a chore than dropping by the local garage for an oil change. Then there’s the issue of “reprogramming” an analog computer. If you want to change the range of inputs they handle or modify the output to account for new variables, that requires the equivalent of a transmission rebuild."
"These electronic computing systems weren’t digital, and they performed the same sorts of functions as gears and cams with analog electronic components. But the electronic parts were lighter and easier to maintain than full-on mechanical systems, and they could integrate with mechanical systems through signal outputs similar to the synchros used to integrate other sensors."
The real conclusion to be drawn is that yes, the old analog computers were in fact amazing, for the time, and got the job done. But the truth is so obvious: Modern digital fire control computers have literally millions of functions that the old mechanical analog computers do not. Just like turntables can and do sound nice, the old analog computers got a job done, although a LOT slower and with a lot more labor and maintenance.
There is really no comparison.
