What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms measurements from the UK nautical mile, historically used on Admiralty charts, to the US survey fathom, a unit commonly applied in hydrographic and maritime contexts. It is designed to support accurate interpretation of legacy maritime documents and survey data.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the numerical value in nautical miles (UK) you wish to convert
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Select 'nautical mile (UK)' as the from-unit and 'fathom (US survey)' as the to-unit
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Click the convert button to obtain the equivalent measurement in fathoms
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Review the result which applies the exact conversion rate defined for these units
Key Features
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Converts length units between historical UK nautical miles and US survey fathoms
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Supports maritime navigation, hydrographic survey, and legacy data applications
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Uses exact conversion rate of 1 NM (UK) = 1013.3313066667 fathoms (US survey)
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Browser-based and user-friendly interface for quick conversions
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Suitable for interpreting historical maritime charts and legal records
Examples
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1 nautical mile (UK) equals approximately 1013.33 fathoms (US survey)
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0.5 nautical mile (UK) converts to about 506.67 fathoms (US survey)
Common Use Cases
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Interpreting distances on historical UK Admiralty maritime charts and navigation logs
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Converting legacy hydrographic survey data involving US fathoms to metric units
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Analyzing or restoring old navigation instruments or maritime datasets using traditional UK and US units
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Supporting legal or historical research involving differing nautical unit standards
Tips & Best Practices
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Verify unit definitions when working with legacy maritime or hydrographic documents
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Use this converter for consistent interpretation of historical data sets
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Be mindful of slight differences between UK nautical miles, US fathoms, and their international equivalents
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Cross-check conversions when precision is critical due to rounding or historical measurement variances
Limitations
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The UK nautical mile is slightly longer than the international nautical mile, which affects exact equivalences
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The US survey fathom differs marginally from the international fathom, potentially impacting precise calculations
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Historical or legacy data may involve rounding errors or instrument limitations that affect conversion accuracy
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This tool does not handle conversions involving other units beyond NM (UK) and fath (US survey)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is the UK nautical mile different from the international nautical mile?
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The UK nautical mile was defined historically as exactly 6,080 feet (1,853.184 metres), making it slightly longer than the international nautical mile of exactly 1,852 metres.
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What is the US survey fathom used for?
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The US survey fathom, equal to 6 US survey feet, is mainly used in nautical and hydrographic contexts to measure water depths and line lengths.
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Can I use this converter for international nautical miles?
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This tool specifically converts between UK nautical miles and US survey fathoms; it does not support conversions involving international nautical miles.
Key Terminology
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Nautical mile (UK) [NM (UK)]
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A historical UK-based nautical mile defined as exactly 6,080 feet or 1,853.184 metres, longer than the international nautical mile.
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Fathom (US survey) [fath]
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A non-SI length unit equal to 6 US survey feet, commonly used in nautical and hydrographic measurements for depth and line lengths.
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US survey foot
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A unit of length used in the US survey system forming the basis for the US survey fathom measurement.