The original Mk XI were not field watches. They were pilots watches.
If you read the BiH article it included that fast jet pilots would likely have received the Smiths W10 (or equivalent) as their limited flight time and likely return to base didn’t merit the cost of providing, maintaining and servicing Mk XI accuracy.
In contrast the Mk XI were issued for navigation on long distance flights, hence why they were also issued to BOAC crew.
They had minimal water resistance because if you ditched you’d have other concerns! The anti magnetism wasn’t because they were “”field watches”” but to prevent the instrumentation in the cockpit from affecting the accuracy of what was primarily a navigation instrument.
I do find the history of the Mk XI fascinating as I have an interest in vintage civil aviation, the VC10 and BOAC in particular.
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