Cable length

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A cable length or cable's length is a nautical unit of measure, for which at least four definitions seem to exist:

Common definition: 1/10 nautical mile, i.e. 185.2 m for international nautical mile, was used with other precise definitions of the nautical mile as well.
"Ordinary" definition: 100 fathoms (600 feet), i.e. 182.88 m.
US Navy definition: 120 fathoms (720 feet), i.e. 219.456 m.
Royal Navy definition: 1/10 Admiralty nautical mile, 608 feet, i.e. 185.3184 m.

The unit is named after the length of a ship's "cable". The cable length is now almost unused.

In Finland, one tenth of a nautical mile (185.2 m) is called kaapelinmitta (cable's length). One thousandth of a nautical mile (1.852 m) is called syli (fathom), though it is only very rarely used.

Cable length

See also