Operations Fundamentals Flashcards
Operations Officer:
CDR Brogren
Combat Direction Center Officer:
CDR Buell
Primary Mission CDC
GATHERING, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, competent EVALUATION, and rapid DISSEMINATION
Secondary Mission CDC
CONTROL and/or ASSIST in specific operations as such as Air Control, SAR, NSFS, STRIKE and other operations as directed.
5 Functions of CDC
“Gather, Process, Display, Evaluate, Disseminate”
GATHERING
Collecting of combat information from various sources. Many sources are available, but CDC must use at least those listed below to attain maximum effectiveness.
PROCESSING
Processing” consists of sorting, inspecting, appraising, and correlating all information so the resulting filtered information may be displayed and disseminated as necessary. In other words, convert the data to useful information.
DISPLAY
CIC displays information by several means and on several devices.
Summary plots
Status boards
Surface plots
Strategic plots
Geographic plots
NTDS consoles
Maps and charts
Television
Logs and records
Large-screen displays (LSD)
Automated Status Boards (ASTAB)
Voyage Management System (VMS)
EVALUATION
The process of considering and weighing all available factors and pieces of information to arrive at a sound operational decision, which may be passed on as a recommendation to command and such other stations as appropriate or, when such action is authorized, acted upon in CDC. In addition, information is evaluated in order to isolate items of tactical value from other information to provide a comprehensive tactical picture to the command.
DISSEMINATION
The process of distributing information that has been collected, processed, displayed, and evaluated to the various control stations and others throughout the ship who need to know. The dissemination of evaluated information must be accomplished in a clear, concise manner through the various communication means available, getting the info to the stations that require it.
CONTROL and ASSIST
Such evolutions as Sea and Anchor or Beach Landings where CDC makes recommendations and provides specific information
Tactical Action Officer”
TAO
represents the commanding officer on all matters concerning the tactical employment and defense of the ship
CDC Watch Officer”
CDCWO
Responsible for the coordination of all CDC functions. He or she coordinates all surface and tactical information, makes recommendations to the evaluator/TAO, Conning Officer, and supervises the collection and display of all available information on surface contacts.
(CDCWS)
CDC Watch Supervisor
Radar Operator
Tracks and reports all surface contacts, using proper designations, manipulates the surface search radar controls to maintain the radar in peak operating condition and reports positions of ASW aircraft and assist ships to the DRT plotter.
Shipping Officer
Advises the Conning Officer of the position, course, speed and closest point of approach (CPA) of all surface contacts in the area, with particular emphasis on small craft approaching at short range and contacts that have changed course or have erratic courses and speeds.
Piloting Officer
Supervises the radar navigation team to ensure accurate and prompt fixing of the ships position by using all electronic means available. They advise the Conning Officer of the ships position, recommend courses and times to turn, position of geographic and navigational objects in the vicinity of the ship, and any potential navigational hazards. The piloting officer recommends alternate tracks, if available, to the navigator and CONN when the primary track is blocked or made hazardous by the presence of shipping or other contacts.
Navigation Plotter
Using range marks from the scope operator, plots three cross fixes of ships position on a chart. Also computes set and drift to correlate with the Navigator during restricted transit routes.
(OPORD)
Operational Order
(OPLAN)
Operational Plan
(OPTASK)
Operational Task
(DIM)
Daily Intentions Message
(ATO)
Air Tasking Order
TASK FORCE
A task force is a component of a fleet. There can be as many as 10 forces in a fleet. These are designated by adding .0 through .9 to the fleet number.
TASK GROUP
A task group is a component of a task force. There may be as many as 10 task groups in a task force, designated by adding .0 through .9 to the task force number.
TASK UNIT
A task unit is a component of a task group. There may be as many as 10 task groups in a task force, designated by adding .0 through .9 to the task group number.
TASK ELEMENT
A task element is a component of a task unit. There may be as many as 10 task groups in a task force, designated by adding .0 through .9 to the task unit number.
BATTLE FORCE
A battle force is a standing operational naval task force organization of carriers, surface combatants, and submarines assigned to numbered fleets. A battle force is subdivided into battle groups.
BATTLE GROUP
A battle group is a standing naval task group. It consists of a carrier, surface combatants, and submarines as assigned in integrated support, operating in mutual support. It is tasked with destroying hostile submarine, surface, and air forces within the group’s assigned area of responsibility.
ESG/ARG
Expeditionary Strike Group/Amphibious Readiness Group. Comprised of Amphibious Assault and landing ships, aircraft, surface combatants and Marine equipment and personnel to conduct Amphibious landing operations.
Why do we maintain a navigational plot?
When the ship is near land, Operations Specialists must maintain a continuous navigational plot for the following reasons:
To warn the bridge the moment the ship begins to stand into danger
To supply radar information on short notice to the navigator and conning officer, as requested
To aid in identifying enemy targets
To provide gun ranges and bearings for indirect fire shore bombardment
To assist in directing boatwaves during landing operations
To navigate the ship from radar information, if ordered
To assist in making landfalls and to identify land masses
To assist landing ships and craft in their beach approach
Purpose of Data Links
Data links are used for autonomous external exchange for tactical data (tracks) between shipboard, airborne and land based combat systems using radio, satellite and internet protocol (IP) means of communication.
“IFF”
Identification Friend or Foe
1 Mission
2 Aircraft Side Number
3A Civillian/Military
4 Military only (no longer used due to being compromised)
5 Military only
C Altitude
How IFF works
The ship or station desiring to know whether an approaching aircraft is friendly sends out a special electronic signal in the direction of the aircraft. The signal triggers an electronic response from an IFF transmitter in friendly aircraft. This response signal, in turn, generates a coded symbol on the radar scope of the interrogating ship or station. This symbol, in addition to designating the contact as friendly, may provide such information as type of craft, squadron, side number, mission, course, and altitude. If the aircraft does not respond, it is classified as either “unknown” or “hostile”.
“TACAN”
Tactical Air Navigation
Range-direction navigation of circular or ranging systems for distance measurements with directional measuring systems used for aviation. Sufficiently accurate for general navigation purposes, but are limited to a line of sight range. These are systems used by aircraft often at tens of thousands of feet in altitude, line of sight ranges maybe 100 to 200 miles.
Radar Repeaters
The device used to display radar information is known as a radar indicator. Since indicators can be located at a point away from the other radar equipment, they are frequently referred to as remote indicators. Remote indicators are sometimes referred to as repeaters. When an operator selects a particular radar, the switchboard connects the operator’s console to the desired radar. Although the change occurs rapidly, it is complicated, in that several electronic connections are required for the inputs (timing, or trigger, pulses from the modulator; video signals from the receiver; and antenna synchronization signals for video sweep).
(DDRT)
Digital Dead-Reckoning Tracer
(CADRT)
Computer Assisted Dead Reckoning Tracer
“R/T”
Radiotelephones
Radiotelephone (R/T) is used for voice tactical and administrative communications by ships and aircraft. It is the primary method of external communications for CDC because of its convenience, speed, and simplicity of operation.
Atmospheric Conditions
Depending on conditions can either increase or decrease returns. Atmospheric conditions can also cause abnormally long or abnormally short radar ranges.
Sea Return
Some of the energy radiated by a radar strikes the surface of the sea near the ship. Most of this energy is reflected off the waves at various angles away from the ship. Some of it is reflected back to the radar where it is detected as target echoes. These echoes are called sea return.
Weather
Hot air improves radar speed and range. Fog can show on the radar. Since water is a very good reflector, microwave radars are very effective in detecting storm clouds and rain squalls; large storms may completely clutter a radars
Height of Antenna and Target
Radar antenna height and target height are factors that help determine the initial detection range of a target. The higher the radar antenna, the greater the detection range, because the radar’s field of “vision” is extended. The higher the target is above the water, the sooner it will enter the radar’s field of vision. A high flying aircraft will be detected at a far greater range than a ship; a mountain will be seen before a low coastline; and an aircraft carrier will be picked up sooner than a destroyer.
Operational Relationship Between CDC:
Pilot House, Radio, Weapons Stations,
And Lookouts
Pilot House
CDC is responsible for keeping conn advised at all times of the current tactical situation. “Conn” may be the commanding officer or someone who has been delegated as a representative (ordinarily the OOD). Although it cannot relieve the navigator of responsibility for the safe navigation of the ship, CDC is charged with providing him every assistance that can be afforded by electronic means. Radar navigation is practiced in CDC during every departure, entry, or anchoring evolution.
Signal bridge
Provides recognition of Naval vessels for CDC, as well as communications to other Naval units.
Radio
Provides all external electronic communications such as voice circuits including NIPR and SIPR nets.
Weapons Stations
CDC is responsible for the ship’s defense against incoming missiles and low flying aircraft. Because of the speed of these targets, CDC must coax the fire control radars onto them rapidly and accurately; reaction time is critical. By acquiring target rapidly, CDC allows the weapons crews (guns or missiles) to destroy it at the greatest possible distance from the ship.
Lookouts
Primary visual means of identification. Used to back up and verify electronic sensors
“EMCON”
Emission Control
Fundamental to the conduct of EW and applicable to all naval operating forces is the use of undetected movement to preserve security. Therefore, the basic emission control (EMCON) policy is to radiate only that electronic equipment necessary to accomplish the assigned mission and the ability to operate under conditions of electronic silence for extended periods of time. 7 EMCON conditions
“ES”
Electronic Support
The first steps in conducting effective EW. The basic principle of ES is that active sensors, such as radar, can be detected at ranges greater than that at which they can detect you. ES involves actions taken, under the direct control of an operational commander, to search for, locate, intercept, and identify sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for tactical purposes. ES information aids the command in making immediate decisions involving the use of EA, EP targeting, weapons, and/or tactical maneuvering of friendly forces.
“EA”
Electronic Attack
Uses equipment, devices, and tactics to degrade, disrupt, and reduce an enemy’s effective use of its electronic systems. EA actions are broadly classified into two basic functions: jamming and deception.
“EP”
Electronic Protect
Takes actions to ensure friendly, effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum despite an enemy’s use of EA. EP actions are designed to optimize the electromagnetic capabilities of friendly forces by reducing the effects of any enemy’s EA actions. EP actions are the measures taken when an enemy uses its EA capability against us. The basic purpose of these measures is to reduce or eliminate the effects of an enemy’s EA so that we can still use the affected equipment for its intended purpose. Example is EMCON.
Chaff
Soft kill countermeasures used for Anti-Ship Missile Defense
Seduction Mortar Type (MK 214)
Infra Red 5 Sub-munitions (MK 2245)
NULKA Active Decoy (MK 234)
“AW”
Air Warfare
Anti-Air warfare (AW) consists of those measures taken to defend a maritime force against attack by airborne weapons, launched from aircraft, ships, submarines, and land-based sites.
“SW”
Surface Warfare
Anti-Surface warfare must make full use of the offensive potential of own surface, submarine, and air forces in order to deny the enemy effective use of his surface forces. Anti-Surface operations by surface ships and submarines include all actions to combat enemy surface forces.
“USW”
Undersea Warfare
Operation available to counter the submarine threat and details tactical and procedural instructions for ships, submarines, and aircraft.
“STW”
Strike Warfare
Operation available to counter the submarine threat and details tactical and procedural instructions for ships, submarines, and aircraft. The ability of a military force, as part of the overall C2W plan (see AJP-1), to make effective use of the electromagnetic and acoustic spectrum while, at the same time, preventing or reducing the enemy use thereof, will play an important part in deciding the outcome of any future conflict. A comprehensive and viable emission plan together with capable electronic and acoustic warfare systems are as important as any other plan or weapon system in a commander’s arsenal, and must be fully integrated into all military operations.
Amphibious Warfare
Operations used to transport personnel and equipment (including marines) overseas and conducting attacks along the coastlines when directed.
Mine Warfare
Mine warfare includes the whole field of designing, producing, and laying mines and the parallel effort of designing, producing, and operating all forms of mine countermeasures to combat the enemy’s mining campaign.
Information Warfare
Includes controlling and mitigating information by means of Human, Cyber and Psychic operations.
“MIO”
Maritime Interdiction Operations
The primary objective of MIO is to determine if a merchant ship is in compliance with the stated reason for interception. The secondary objective is to gather intelligence about:
The merchant ship’s itinerary and future intentions
Military and merchant activity in and around the embargoed nation’s ports.
MIO is the act of denying merchant vessels access to specific ports for import or export of goods to or from a specific nation or nations.
“NEO”
Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations
Evacuate US citizens from hostile areas.
Noncombatant evacuation operations are conducted to evacuate noncombatants and nonessential military personnel from locations in a foreign nation to an appropriate safe haven in the home nation or elsewhere. A NEO is conducted to evacuate citizens whose lives are in danger. A NEO also may include the evacuation of selected citizens of the host nation or third country nationals. A NEO is suited for teams of military personnel trained in amphibious warfare operations since it is similar to an amphibious raid, usually involving swift insertion of a force, temporary occupation of an objective, and a planned withdrawal upon completion of the mission. It differs from an amphibious raid since force used is normally limited to that required to protect the evacuees and the evacuation force. Additionally, NEOs have humanitarian, military, and political implications. The operation will be determined by the diplomatic view of the local situation. Evacuation operations are politically sensitive and will certainly be monitored, if not controlled, from the highest level.
“SAR”
Search and Rescue
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response
Operations used to assist other the US and other countries hit by natural disasters or help aid in recovery/rebuild after being struck by war.
AS
Submarine Tender. Provides maintenance support to submarines.
CG
Guided-Missile Cruiser. They serve as protective screens against surface and air attacks and also provide gunfire support for land operations.
CVN
Multi-purpose aircraft carrier. The job of the CV or CVN is to carry, launch, retrieve and handle combat aircraft quickly and effectively.
