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In the early 1900s, two inventors figured out how to align the spin to the Earth's north-south axis, giving us the gyrocompass.

Ellis M. Johnston III, Ghahreman's lawyer in San Diego, said the gyrocompasses and other items were for commercial use.

Prosecutors said Mr. Ghahreman conspired to use a Dubai-based front company to help supply the Iranians, including with gyrocompasses used for swift boat navigation and electron tubes used for military airborne radar.

"This is the gyrocompass - it steers the ship - you can see it starting to fail," says Mr Bransby.

The Nautilus became one of history’s great explorers, traversing the dark, frigid waters of the North Pole and relying on a basic gyrocompass to prevent an underwater disaster.