cable: A cable length or length of cable is a nautical unit of measure equal to one tenth of a nautical mile or approximately 100 fathoms. Due to anachronisms and varying techniques of measurement, a cable length can be anywhere from 169 to 220 metres, depending on the standard used. The unit is named after the length of a ship’s anchor cable in the Age of Sail.
The definition varies:
- International: 185.2 m, equivalent to 1⁄10 nautical mile
- Imperial (Admiralty): 185.32 m, or 1⁄10 Admiralty mile, about 101 fathoms
