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Folks,
SubmarineTorpedoFireControlManual,isatrainingandreferencemanualfrom
1952.Itdescribeshowtoplanasubmarine'sapproachandattackusingthefire
controlsystemsonFleetandGuppysubmarineswithstraightrunningtorpedos
(withouthoming,wireguidance,etc.).Itrepresentsthesubmarinefirecontrol
problemofWWIIandtheimmediatepostwarperiod.
Inthisonlineversionofthemanualwehaveattemptedtokeeptheflavorofthe
originallayoutwhiletakingadvantageoftheWeb'suniversalaccessibility.
Differentbrowsersandfontswillcausethetexttomove,butthetextwillremain
roughlywhereitisintheoriginalmanual.Inadditiontoerrorswehaveattempted
topreservefromtheoriginal,thistextwascapturedbyacombinationofoptical
characterrecognitionandhumantypist.Eachmethodcreateserrorsthatare
compoundedwhileencodingfortheWeb.Pleasereportanytypos,orparticularly
annoyinglayoutissuestotheMailFeedbackFormforcorrection.
ThankyoutotheWisconsinMaritimeMuseum,USSCobiaforprovidinga
photocopyofthemanual.
RichardPekelney
Webmaster
CONFIDENTIAL
(nonregistered)

SLM1
SUBMARINE
TORPEDOFIRECONTROL
MANUAL

COMMANDERSUBMARINEFORCE
UNITEDSTATESATLANTICFLEET
U.S.S.FLYINGFISH,Flagship

MAY1950
i

SLM1

CONFIDENTIALNONREGISTERED
COMMANDERSUBMARINEFORCE
UNITEDSTATESATLANTICFLEET
U.S.S.FLYINGFISH(SS229),FLAGSHIP
18April1950

LETTEROFPROMULGATION
1.TheSubmarineTorpedoFireControlManualisanonregisteredConfidential
publicationandshallbetransported,handled,andstowedasprescribedbyU.S.
NavyRegulationsandtheRegisteredPublicationsManual.
2.ThisManualhasbeenpreparedbyofficersoftheSubmarineSchooltobeused
asatextfortheofficersBasicSubmarineTacticalandProspectiveCommanding
OfficerscoursesoftheSubmarineSchool.ItisissuedtotheSubmarineForce,U.S.
AtlanticFleetasasuitableguideinorganizingandoperatingaTorpedoFire
Controlparty.Theterminologyandproceduresshouldbeconsideredasstandards
wherevermaterialandpersonnelallowancespermit.Thedoctrineexpressedinthis
Manualisconsideredtobeexcellentbutnotmandatory.Itsuse,asalways,is
dependentupontheexistingsituationandthejudgementoftheCommanding
Officer.
3.Commentsandrecommendationsareinvitedforcorrectionandrevisionin1952.
4.THISDOCUMENTCONTAINSINFORMATIONAFFECTINGTHE
NATIONALDEFENSEOFTHEUNITEDSTATESWITHINTHEMEANING
OFTITLE18,U.S.C.,SECTIONS793AND794.ITSTRANSMISSIONORTHE
REVELATIONOFITSCONTENTSINANYMANNERTOAN
UNAUTHORIZEDPERSONISPROHIBITEDBYLAW.
5.ITISFORBIDDENTOMAKEEXTRACTSFROMORTOCOPYTHIS
PUBLICATIONWITHOUTSPECIFICAUTHORITYFROMTHECHIEFOF
NAVALOPERATIONSEXCEPTASPROVIDEDFORINARTICLES99AND
910U.S.NAVYSECURITYMANUALFORCLASSIFIEDMATTER.

ii
CONFIDENTIAL
(nonregistered)

SUBMARINETORPEDO
FIRECONTROLMANUAL

DISTRIBUTION
CNO
CinClantFlt
ComSubPac
ComSubRonTWO
ComSubRonFOUR
ComSubRonSIX
ComSubRonEIGHT
ComSubDevGruTWO
ConiSubDivTWENTYONE
CouiSubDivTWENTYTWO
ComSubDivFORTYONE
ComSubDivFORTYTWO

50
1
100
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

ComSubDivSIXTYONE
1
ComSubDivSIXTYTWO
1
ComSubDivEIGHTYONE
1
ComSubDivEIGHTYTWO
1
EachSSSubLant
1
COUSSORION(AS18)
1
COUSSH.W.GILMORE(A516) 1
COUSNavSubBase,NewLon
1
COUSNavSubScol,NewLon
400
SubLantReserveCoordinator
600
Spares,SubLant
286
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SUBMARINETORPEDO
FIRECONTROLMANUAL

iv
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(nonregistered)
LISTOFEFFECTIVEPAGES
(Reverseofallsheetsblank)
SubjectMatter
Changesineffect PageNumbers
TitlePage
Original
i
LetterofPromulgation
Original
ii
DistributionList
Original
iii
RecordofCorrections
Original
iv
ListofEffectivePages
Original
v
TableofContents
Original
vi,vi(a)
ListofIllustrations
Original
vii
Forward
Original
viii
Chapter1
Original
11to113
Chapter2
Original
21to211
Chapter3
Original
31to34
Chapter4
Original
41to46
Chapter5
Original
51to554
Chapter6
Original
61to611
Chapter7
Original
71to77
Chapter8
Original
81to814
Chapter9
Original
91to911
Chapter10
Original
101to106
Chapter11
Original
111to112
Illustrations
Original
PLATESIXXIV
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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Chapter1 Definitions
Chapter2 Phraseology
Chapter3 SubmarineSubmergedCharacteristics
FleetTypeSubmarine
GuppyIITypeSubmarine
Chapter4 TheTorpedoFireControlParty
Chapter5 DutiesoftheFireControlParty
TheApproachOfficer
ThePeriscope
PeriscopeRanging
TargetLength
PeriscopeTechnique
PeriscopeProcedure
Duties
PeriscopeObservations
PlanofAttack
ShipHandling

Pages
11to113
21to211
31to34
31to33
33to34
41to46
51to554
51to522
51to510
53to58
58to510
510to513
513to516
516to517
517to519
519to521
521to522

CoordinationofFireControlParty
TheAttackandSonarCoordinator
TheTDCOperator
TheAssistantTDCOperator
TheNavigationalPlotter
ThePeriscopeAssistant
TheSonarPlotter
BearingRatePlot
BearingDifferencePlot
TheFiringKeyOperator
TheGyroAngleSetter
Chapter6 Spreads
TypesofSpreads
ComputedSpread
4321Spread
SpreadPolicy
DeterminationofCoverage
Chapter7 FiringMethods
CheckBearingMethod
ContinuousBearingMethod
ConstantBearingMethod
Chapter8 TheoryofApproachandAttack
BasicFundamentalsoftheApproachandAttack
DeterminationofDirectionofTargetMotion
SpeedDetermination
RelativeMovement
AnalysisofTorpedoFiring
AnalysisofTorpedoTrackAngles
DowntheThroatShot
DeflectionAngleforStraightFire

522
522to524
524to529
530to532
532to542
542
542to551
543to546
546to551
551to552
552to554
61to611
67to68
68to69
69to610
610
611
71to77
72to73
74to75
75to76
81to814
81to88
81to84
84to85
85to88
88to811
811to812
812to813
813

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Chapter9

SubmergedApproachandAttackTactics
TheContactPhase
TheApproachPhase
TheAttackPhase
Chapter10 TheoryofthePeriscopeApproachandSonar
Attack
Chapter11 SubmergedApproachandSonarAttackTactics
AgainstSurfaceTargets

Pages
91to911
91to92
92to95
95to911
101to106
111to112

vi(a)
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(nonregistered)
LISTOFILLUSTRATIONS
Subjectmatter
PlateNumber
Definitions
I
PeriscopeFieldTELEMETERSCALE
II
RangeOmnimeterRANGES
III
StadimeterRANGES
IV
RangeOmnimeterTARGETLENGTH
V
PeriscopeRadarPLOT
VI
StadimeterPLOT
VII
RadarTrackingPLOT
VIII
BearingRatePLOT
IX
BearingRatePlotRecorder'sForm
X
BearingDifferencePlotScale20
XI
BearingDifferencePlotScale10
XII
BearingDifferencePlotData
XIII
BearingDifferencePlotData
XIV
Spreads
XV
RelativeMovement
XVI
AnalysisofCurvedFire46Kt.Torpedo
XVII
AnalysisofCurvedFire29Kt.Torpedo
XVIII
ApproachandAttackDoctrine
XIX
SituationAnalysis,SITUATIONI,FirstCourseofAction XX
SituationAnalysis,SITUATIONI,SecondCourseofAction XXI
SituationAnalysis,SITUATIONII
XXII
SituationAnalysis,SITUATIONIII
XXIII
SituationAnalysis,SITUATIONIV
XXIV
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FOREWORD

Oursubmarinesduringandsincethelastwarhavedemonstratedtheirabilityto
accomplishavarietyofspecialmissionsofwhichtheyhadpreviouslybeen
consideredincapable.Manyofthemhavebeensoalteredthattheaccomplishment
ofthesemissionshavebecometheirprimaryduties.Theprimarymissionofthe
truesubmarine,however,remains,todayasithasalwaysbeen,thedeliveryof
successfultorpedoattacksagainsttheshipsofanenemy.
Thetypesoftargetswhichasubmarinemayencounteraremanyandvaried,i.e.,
singleunescortedmerchantmen,singledestroyers,submergedsubmarines,
unescortedgroupofships,convoys,andtaskforces.Thevarietyoftargetsand
otherunpredictableconditions,suchasweatheranddepthofwater,renderit
impracticabletosetforthaprocedureordoctrinewhichwillapplyunderall
conditions.ThesubmarineCommandingOfficermustrelymainlyonhisown
judgementandexperiencetoinsurethecompletionofasuccessfulattack.
Theredoexist,however,testedandprovedproceduresandtacticswhichif
followedwillassistthesubmarineCommandingOfficerandincreasehischances
ofsuccess.ItisthepurposeofthisbooktopresenttotheofficersoftheSubmarine
ForceunderonecoverthebestknownprinciplesofSubmarineFireControl

OrganizationandTorpedoAttackTactics.
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CHAPTER1
DEFINITIONS

100.ANGLEONTHEBOW:Theanglebetweenthelineofsightandthetarget's
bowmeasuredtoportorstarboardofthetarget'sbowfrom0degreesto180
degrees.Symbol:Ab.SeePlateI,figure1.
101.APPROACHPHASE
Theperiodduringwhichthesubmarinemaneuverstoclosetoapositionfor
commencingtheAttackPhase.
102.APPROACHCOURSE
ThecourseorcoursestakenbythesubmarineduringtheApproachPhase.
103.ATTACKPHASE
Theperiodduringwhichthesubmarinemaneuversforafiringposition.
104.COVERAGE
Theratiooftheangularorlineardistancebetweenthewingtorpedoesofasalvoto
theangularorlinearlengthofthetargetcorrectedforthetorpedotrackangle.
EXAMPLE:Targetlength=600feet6degreesat2000yardsona90
degreestorpedotrack.Asalvoof6torpedoeswithaunitofspreadof2
degreeswouldproduceacoverageof(10degrees/6degrees)=167%.For
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atorpedotrackof30degreestheangularlengthofthetargetis3degrees
(reducedbysine30degrees=0.5).Thesameunitofspreadasabovewould
produceacoverageof(10degrees/3degrees)=333%
105.CRITICALRANGE:
TherangeatwhichthesubmarinenormallypassesfromtheApproachPhasetothe
AttackPhase.Itisequaltoa71/2minuterunofthetarget,andmaybeeasily
obtainedbydividingthetarget'sspeedby4andmultiplyingby1000.Example:
Criticalrangefora12knottargetis3000yards.
106.DEFLECTIONANGLE:
Theanglebetweentheperiscopeangleandthecomponentofthegyroangleofthe
torpedodeterminedonlybytrackangle,torpedospeed,andtargetspeed.SeePlate
I,figure3.
NOTETheexcludedportionofthegyroangleisthatduetothetactical
characteristicsofthetorpedoandthetorpedotubeparallax.
107.DISTANCETOTHETRACK:

Theperpendiculardistancefromthesubmarinetothetarget'strackextended.See
PlateI,figure1.
108.DIVERGENTSPREAD:
Aspreadinwhichthetorpedoesofasalvointersectthetarget'strackatdifferent
pointsalongthetarget's
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lengthandatdifferenttorpedotrackangles.

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NOTE:Thisspreadisproducedbyapplyinganangularoffsettoeachtorpedo.
109.FIRINGCOURSE
Thecourseofthesubmarineattheinstantoffiring.
110.GENERATEDBEARING
RelativetargetbearingobtainedfromTDCpositionkeepersectionRelativeTarget
Bearingdialusuallygivenon"Upscope".
111.GYROANGLE
Theanglebetweenthelongitudinalaxisofthesubmarineandthefinaltorpedo
trackmeasuredrightorleftoftheboworstern(bowforbowshots,sternforstern
shots)ofthesubmarinefrom0degreesto180degrees.SeePlateI,figure3.
NOTE:Thisangleconsistsofthealgebraicsumoftheperiscopeangle,the
deflectionangle,thetorpedotubeparallaxangle,andtheangularcorrection
forthetacticalcharacteristicsofthetorpedo.
112.GYROANGLEORDER:
Theanglebetweenthelongitudinalaxisofthe
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submarineandthefinaltorpedotrackmeasuredclockwisefromthebowofthe
submarinefrom000degreesto360degrees.
NOTE:ThisisthesameasGyroAngleexceptthatitismeasuredclockwise
fromthebowfrom000degreesto360degrees.

113.INTERCEPTPOINT:
Thepointatwhichthetorpedocrossesthetargettrack.SeePlateI,figure3.
114.LEADANGLE
Theanglebetweenthetruebearingofthetargetandthetruecourseofthe
submarine(orsubmarinecoursereversedforsterntubeshots).

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115.LONGITUDINALSPREAD:

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Aspreadinwhichthetorpedoesofasalvointersectthetarget'strackatdifferent
pointsalongthetarget'slengthbutatthesamepointonthetarget'strack,andatthe
sametorpedotrackangles.
NOTE:Thisspreadisproducedbythemotionofthetargetacrossthelineof
sight,sincesucceedingtorpedoesrundownthewakeofthefirsttorpedo
fired.

116.NORMALAPPROACHCOURSE:
Thecoursewhichisequaltothetruebearingofthetarget,plusorminus90
degreesinthedirectiontoclosethetarget'strack.SeePlateI,figure1.

NOTEWhenontheNACtherelativebearingofthetargetis090or270.
Symbol:NAC.
117.NORMALCOURSE:
Thecourseatrightanglestothetarget'scourseinthedirectiontoclosethetarget's
track.
NOTEThesameasthecoursefora90degreetrackangle.Symbol:NC.
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118.OPTIMUMAPPROACHCOURSE:
TheNormalApproachCoursewithanimaginarytargetmovingalongthesame
course,andatthesamespeedastheactualtarget,butonthebeamoftheactual
targetatarangeequaltothelimitingtorpedorunonthesideclosesttothe
submarine.Symbol:OAC.

119.OPTIMUMTORPEDOTRACKANGLE:
Thetorpedotrackangleforwhichexpectederrorsintargetcourseproducethe
leastchangeinthedeflectionangle.SeePlateI,figure2.
120.PARALLAXCORRECTIONSONAR
Thealgebraicsumoftheangularcorrectioncompensatingforthelongitudinal
distancesbetweenthesonarequipmentandtheperiscope(P1),thecenterofthe
targetanditspropellers(P2),andtheinitialanddevelopedpositionsofthetarget
duringthetransmissionofthesoundwaves.
NOTEThefactorsofSonarParallaxBase
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LineandtheTargetlengthareconstantinsofarastheirLinearvaluesare
concerned.Theangleresultingfromtheinitialanddevelopedpositionsof
thetargetduringsoundtransmissionvarieswithtargetspeedandrange.

121.PARALLAXCORRECTIONTORPEDOTUBE:
Theangularcorrectioncompensatingforthelongitudinaldistancebetweenthe
muzzledoorsandtheperiscope.SeePlateI,figure4.
NOTEThisisdifferentforeachtubenest.
122.PARALLAXHIGH:
Thetorpedoadvanceisopposedtothegeneraldirectionoftargetmotion.
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123.PARALLAXLOW:
Thetorpedoadvanceisinthegeneraldirectionoftargetmotion.

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124.PERISCOPEANGLE:
Theanglebetweenthelongitudinalaxisofthesubmarineandthecomputedlineof
sightattheinstantoffiringestablishedbythealgebraicsumofthe
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deflectionangle,thegyroangle,thetorpedotubeparallaxcorrection,andthe
angularcorrectionforthetorpedotacticalcharacteristics.Itismeasuredclockwise
fromthebowofthesubmarinefrom000degreesto360degrees.(seePlateI,
figure3).
NOTE:Inacontinuouslygeneratingproblemsuchasthatpresentedonthe
TDC,thePeriscopeAngleistherelativetargetbearingattheinstantof
firing.
125.PSEUDOTORPEDORUN:
Thedistanceinyardsbetweentheperiscopepositionattheinstantoffiringandthe
pointofintercept.(SeePlateI,figure3).
126.REACH:
Theinitialstraightpathofthetorpedo,measuredinyards.Symbol:M.(SeePlateI,
figure3).
127.REACHANDTURNINGRADIUSCORRECTION:
Anangularcorrectionappliedtoacomputeddeflectionangle,inangledshots,to
correctforthereach(N)andtheturningradius(z)ofthetorpedoinproceedingto
itsfinaltrack.
NOTE:Thisiscomputedbytheanglesolver.
128.SALVO:
Anumberoftorpedoesfiredatshortintervalsatthesametarget.
129.SPREAD:
Offsetangleorchangeintargetbearingappliedto
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thegyroangleorderofeachtorpedoofasalvotocausesuccessivetorpedoestohit

atdifferentpointsalongthetargetlengthortrackextended.
NOTE:Anoffsetangleisusedinadivergentspread,whereasthelinear
spreadinalongitudinalspreadisaccomplishedbychangingthepointof
aim.
130.SPREADANGLE:
Theadditionalgyroangle,overthatrequiredforhittingthesamepointofamoving
target,appliedtosuccessivetorpedoesforproducingthedesiredspread.

SpreadAngle:
AnglesBAC,EAF
TargetAdvanceAngle: AnglesCAD,DAE
UnitofSpread:
AnglesBAC,EAF
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CONFIDENTIAL
131.TARGETADVANCEANGLE:

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TheangularmotionoftheMOTofthetargetbetweensuccessivetorpedoes.(See
sketchonprecedingpage).
132.TORPEDOADVANCE:
Theperpendiculardistancebetweenthetorpedofinalcourseandalinethroughthe
tubemuzzleparalleltothetorpedofinalcourse.(SeePlateI,figure3)
NOTE:Resultofreachandturningradius.
133.TORPEDORUN:
Thetotaldistanceinyardstraveledbythetorpedofromthetubetothetarget.(See
PlateI,figure3)
134.TORPEDORUNDIFFERENCE:
Theactualtorpedorunforagiventimeminusthedistancethetorpedowouldhave
traveledduringthesametimeatcorrectedtorpedorunningspeed(finalrunning
speed),inyards.Symbol:Uy.
135.TORPEDORUNNINGSPEEDCORRECTED:

Theuniformrunningspeedinknotsofthetorpedounderanygivenconditionsafter
theinitialaccelerationiscompleted.Symbol:S'z.
136.TORPEDOTURNINGRADIUS:
Theradiusofthecirculartrack,inyards,ofthetorpedofromtheendoftheinitial
straightpathtothebeginningofthefinalstraightpath.SymbolZ.(SeePlateI,
figure3).
137.TRACKANGLE:
Theangleatthepointofinterceptbetweenthe
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targetshipscourseandthesubmarine'scoursemeasuredtoportorstarboardofthe
targetship'sbowtowardthesubmarine.Symbol:Ta.(Seefigureundertorpedo
TrackAngle).
138.TORPEDOTRACKANGLE:
Theangleatthepointofinterceptbetweenthetargetshipscourseandthereverse
ofthetorpedo'scourse,measuredtoportorstarboardofthetarget'sbow.Symbol:
TTa.

139.TORPEDOTUBEPARALLAXBASELINE:
Thelongitudinaldistancebetweenthetubemuzzleandtheperiscope.Symbol:P.
(seePlateI,fig.4)
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CONFIDENTIAL
140.UNITOFSPREAD:
Theoffsetangleorlineardistancealongthetarget'slengthortrackbetween
adjacenttorpedoesofasalvo.(Seesketchonprecedingpage).
141.VOLUMEOFFIRE:
Thenumberoftorpedoesinasalvo.

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CHAPTER2
PHRASEOLOGY

200.STANDBYFOROBSERVATION(LOOKAROUND(LOOKAT
ESCORTS):
ApreliminaryordergivenbytheApproachOfficertoalerttheFireControlParty
andinformthemofthereasontheperiscopeistoberaised.
201.UPSCOPE:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertothePeriscopeAssistanttoraisethe
periscope.ThismaybecombinedwithahandsignalshouldtheApproachOfficer
sodesire.
202.PUTMEON:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertothePeriscopeAssistanttoplacethe
periscopeonthegeneratedtargetbearing.
203.BEARINGMARK:
AphraseusedbytheApproachOfficerorbyoneoftheRadarorSonarOperators
indicatingtoallmembersoftheFireControlPartythatthetargetbearingasread
onthevariousrepeatersiscorrect.Thisisusuallyparalleledbyabuzzerandmark
light.
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204.RANGEMARK:

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AphrasewhichwhenusedbytheApproachOfficerduringaperiscopeobservation
directsthePeriscopeAssistanttoreadthestadimeterortelemeterrangeand
informstheFireControlPartyofthetimeoftherange.WhenspokenbytheRadar
Operatoritindicatesthattheradarisonthetargetandtherangerepeatersare
readingcorrectly.Itisusuallyparalleledbyabuzzerandamarklightinthelatter
case.
205.TDCMATCHED:
AphraseusedbytheTDCOperatorduringtheinitialobservationtoinformthe
ApproachOfficerthattheTDCismatchedinbearingandrange.
206,ANGLEONTHEBOWPORT(STARBOARD):
Aphraseusedinstatingtheangleonthebowofsomedesignatedship,whetherit
betargetorescort.ItisusuallyspokenbytheApproachOfficerafteran
observationaridwhiletheperiscopeisbeinglowered.Notethatthesideofthe
angleisstatedbeforeitsvalue.
207.TARGETHASZIGGEDTOHISRIGHT(LEFT):
AphraseusedtonotifyallmembersoftheFireControlPartythatthetargetgroup
haschangedcourse.WhenspokenbytheApproachOfficerfollowingaperiscope
observationitshouldbefollowedbyastatementofthenewAngleontheBow.

22
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208.TARGETISZIGGINGTOHISRIGHT(LEFT)

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AphraseusedtonotifyallmembersoftheFireControlPartythatthetargetgroup
ischangingcourse.ThenspokenbytheApproachOfficerfollowingaperiscope
observationitisanordertotheTDCOperatortochangethetargetcourseinthe
TDCthirtydegreesintheindicateddirection.
209.GENERATEDANGLEONTHEBOWIS____:
ReportofTDCOperatoraftertheApproachOfficerhasannouncedtheobserved
angleonthebowwhenthegeneratedangleonthebowiswithin10degreesofthe
observedangleonthebow.
210.INDICATESAZIGOF____:
ReportofTDCOperatorafterApproachOfficerhasannouncedtheobservedangle
onthebowifthedifferencebetweentheobservedandgeneratedvaluesismore
than10degrees.
211.DOWNSCOPE:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertothePeriscopeAssistantdirectinghimto
lowertheperiscopealltheway.Inordertoreduceconversationintheconning
towerduringanapproachtheordermaybegivenbymerelyraisingtheperiscope
handles.
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212.DIPSCOPE:

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AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertothePeriscopeAssistantdirectinghimto
lowertheperiscopeuntiltheperiscopeheadisunderwater.Thismaybegivenby
holdingthehandsinahorizontalpositionfollowingahandsignaltolowerthe
periscope.
213.PIPNOPIP:
AphraseusedbytheSTradaroperatorwhentheperiscopebreakswatertoinform
themembersoftheFireControlPartyandtheApproachOfficerthathecanor
cannotobtainarangeofthetarget.
214.SETDEPTH____FEETSPEEDHIGH(LOW):
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficer,relayedbytheFiringKeyOperator,tothe
TorpedoTubesdirectingthatthedepthandspeedspindlesonthetubesbesetas
directedandthespindleswithdrawn.Thetwoordersareusuallygivenasonebut
maybegivenseparately.
215.TUBEORDERFORWARD(AFT)IS____:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertotheFiringKeyOperatordesignatingthe
orderinwhichthetorpedotubesaretobefired.ItisalsorelayedbytheFiringKey
OperatortotheTorpedoTubesfortheirinformation.
24

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216.FLOOD(THEFORWARD)(THEAFTER)(TUBESNO._____)(ALL)
TUBES:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficer,relayedbytheFiringKeyOperatortothe
TorpedoTubesdirectingthatthedesignatedtorpedotubesbefloodedfromWRT
Tankandbemadereadytofireinallrespectsexceptforopeningtheouterdoors.
217.OPENTHEOUTERDOORS:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficer,relayedbytheFiringKeyOperatortothe
TorpedoTubesdirectingthattheouterdoorsoftubespreviouslyfloodedbe
opened.Thetubesshouldthenbereadyinallrespectstofire.
218.GYROSFORWARD(AFT)MANNED:
AreportfromtheGyroAngleSettertotheassistantTDCOperatorthathisstation
ismanned,gyroangleorderisseton000(180aft)andthegyrosetterisin
automatic.
219.GYROSFORWARD(AFT)MATCHGYROSINAUTOMATIC:
AnorderfromtheAssistantTUCOperatortotheGyroAngleSettertocheckhis
gyrosetterinautomaticandseethatgyroangleorderismatching.
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220.GYROSFORWARD(AFT)MATCHEDINAUTOMATIC(HAND):
AreportfromtheGyroAngleSettertotheAssistantTDCOperator,informinghim
thatthegyrosettingindicatorregulatorismatchingtheindicatedvalueofgyro
angleorder.
221.GYROSFORWARD(AFT)STANDBYFORGYROCHECKMARK:
AnorderfromtheAssistantTDCOperatortotheGyroAngleSettertonotethe
indicatedgyroangleandreportitsvalueonthework"MARK".
222.GYROSFORWARD(AFT)SETGYROS_____:
AnorderfromtheAssistantTDCOperatortotheGyroAngleSettertosetthe
torpedotubegyrospindlesatsomespecificvalue.Thisisusedonlyinan
emergencycausedbyTDCfailureandisgivenasavaluebetween000and360.
223.GYROSFORWARD(AFT)MATCHGYROSBYHAND:
AnorderfromtheAssistantTDCOperatortotheGyroAngleSettertooperatethe
gyrosettingindicatorregulatorbyhandandmatchgyrosbythe"followthepointer
method".
224.SECURETHEGYROSFORWARD(AFT).
AnorderfromtheAssistantTDCOperatortotheGyroAngleSettertopositionthe
gyroson000(180aft),placethegyrosetterinautomatic,andawaitfurtherorders.
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225.USE(____PERCENTCOVERAGE)(4,3,2,1)(SPECIALMETHOD)
SPREAD:

AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertoallmembersoftheFireControlPartyinthe
conningtowerwhichdesignatesthetypeandamountofspreaddesiredinasalvo
oftorpedoes.
226.SHOOTINGWILLBEBY(CONSTANTBEARING)(CONTINUOUS
BEARING)(CHECKBEARING)METHOD,BEARNGEVERY___TORPEDO:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertoallmembersoftheFireControlPartyinthe
conningtowerwhichdesignatesthefiringmethodtobeused.
227.CHECKBEARING:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertotheFireControlPartynottoshootanother
torpedountilanotherperiscopebearingofthetargethasbeenobservedandsetin
theTDC.
228.BEARINGON:
AphraseusedbytheApproachOfficerwhenfiringbytheContinuousBearing
methodtoinformtheFireControlPartythattheperiscopeisonthepointofaim.
WhenusedbytheTBTOperatoritinformstheTDCOperatorthattheTBTison
thedesignatedtarget.
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229.BEARINGOFF:

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AphraseusedbytheApproachOfficerwhenhedesirestoinformtheFireControl
Partythattheperiscopeisnottrainedonapreviouslydesignatedpointofaim.
WhenusedbytheTBTOperatoritinformstheTDCOperatorthattheTBTisoff
thedesignatedtarget.
230.FINALBEARINGANDSHOOT:
ThisisanorderfromtheApproachOfficertoallmembersoftheFireControl
Partytocommenceshootingassoonasthenextbearing(andrangeifimmediately
available)isobtained,setintheTDC,andtheTDC"correctsolution"lightison.
231.STANDBYFORWARD(AFT):
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertotheFiringKeyOperatorwhorelaysittothe
TorpedoTubes,informingthemthatthetubesaretobefiredandtobepreparedto
fireanytubebyhandthatdoesnotfireelectrically.Thisorderisalsorelayedtothe
ControlRoomtoalerttheDivingOfficer.
232.SET:
AphraseusedbytheTDCOperatortoinformtheassistantTDCOperatorthatthe
latestandbesttargetinformationissetintheTDCandbeisreadytocommence
shooting.
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233.SHOOT

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AnorderfromtheAssistantTDCOperatortotheFiringKeyOperatortofirea
torpedo.ItalsoinformstheApproachOfficerthatthedesignatedspreadisapplied
tothetorpedotobefixedandthattheTDCcorrectsolutionlightison.

234.FIRE:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertotheFiringKeyOperatortofirethetube
previouslydesignated.Itisusedonlywhenthetorpedoesarebeingfiredbythe
"ConstantBearing"method.
235.FIREONE(TWO)(THREE)(ETC):
AnorderfromtheFiringKeyOperatortotheTorpedoTubesinformingthemthat
thedesignatedtubeisbeingfiredintheConningToweranddirectingthatitbe
firedbyhandifitdoesnotfireelectrically.
236.ONE(TWO)(THREE)(ALL)TUBESFIREDFORWARD(AFT):
AphraseusedbytheFiringKeyOperatortoinformtheFireControlPartythe
numberoftorpedoeswhichhavebeenfired,
237.CHECKFIRE:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertotheFireControlPartynottoshootany
moretorpedoesuntildirectedtodoso.
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238.SHUTTHEOUTERDOORSFORWARD(AFT)(DESIGNATEDTUBE):
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficerdirectingthatthetorpedotubeouterdooror
doorsbeclosedandthatthepressurebeventedoffthetubeortubes.Noother
changesintheconditionofthetubesaretobemade.
239.SECURETHETUBESFORWARD(AFT)(DESIGNATEDTUBE):
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficertothetorpedotubesdirectingthatthetubesbe
placedinthenormalcruisingcondition.
240.TRACKTARGETBEARING(RIGHTHAND)(LEFTHAND):
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficerorSonarCoordinatordirectingaRadaror
SonarOperatortotrackthetargetdesignated.
241.TRACKINHAND(ATF)(GTT):
AnorderfromtheSonarCoordinatortoaSonarOperatordirectinghimtoplace
thetrainingcontrolsofthesonarheadinthepositionindicatedandkeepthesonar
headtrainedonthetarget.
242.SHIFTTOHAND(ATF)(GTT):
AnorderfromtheSonarCoordinatortoaSonarOperatordirectinghimtoshiftthe
trainingcontrolsorthesonarheadtothepositionindicated.
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243.GETATURNCOUNT:

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AnorderfromtheSonarCoordinatortoaSonarOperatordirectinghimtocount
andreportthepropellerRPMofadesignatedtarget.
244.GETAPINGRANGE:

AnorderfromtheApproachOfficerortheSonarCoordinatortoaSonarOperator
directinghimtoobtainasonarrangeofthetarget.
245.TAKEASWEEPAROUND:
AnorderfromtheApproachOfficerortheSonarCoordinatortoaRadarorSonar
Operatordirectinghimtoconducta360degreesearchandreportallcontacts.
246.CONDUCTAFREQUENCYSEARCH:
AnorderfromtheSonarCoordinatortoaSonarOperatordirectinghimtoconduct
anallaroundlisteningsearchonallfrequenciestodetermineifanyvesselsinthe
vicinityareconductingasupersonicsearch.
247.KEEPTHEBEARINGSCOMING:
AnorderfromtheSonarCoordinatortoaSonarOperatordirectinghimtoreport
thebearingofthetargetasfrequentlyaspossible.
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CHAPTER3

SUBMARINESUBMERGEDCHARACTERISTICS
300.GENERAL:
Submergedsubmarinesareverymuchslowerintheirreactiontochangesofspeed
andcoursethansurfaceships.Thischaracteristicgreatlyaffectsthetacticsofthe
approachandattack.Forthisreasonallsubmarineofficersshouldknowthe
characteristicsoftheirship.
301.SUBMARINETYPES:
Thefollowingdiscussionisdividedintotwoparts,namelytheFleetType
SubmarineandtheGuppyIITypeSubmarine.
302309.BLANK
310.FLEETTYPESUBMARINE:
(a)TheFleetTypeSubmarinewillmakethefollowingspeedssubmergedforthe
lengthoftimeindicated,ifitstartswithafullbatterycharge:
Knots Time
3.0 48hours
6.0 3hours
8.0 1hour
9.0 1/2hour
(b)Thusitcanreadilybeseenthatamajorconsiderationwhenmakingan
approachisconservationofthebatterycapacity.
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(c)Inordertoacceleratefrom1/3speedtothespeedsindicateditwilltakethe
followingtime:

Speed
6.0
8.0
9.0

Time
1:45minutes
2:15minutes
2:30minutes

(a)Inordertodecelerateto1/3speedfromthespeedsindicateditwilltakethe
followingtime:
Speed
4.0
6.0
8.0
9.0

Time
1:30minutes
1:45minutes
2:15minutes
2:30minutes

(e)Itisinterestingtonotethatittakesaboutthesameamountoftimetodecelerate
from4knotsand6knotsto1/3.Thuswhennecessarytousespeeditisjustaswell
touse6knotsas4knotsasfarasdecelerationisconcerned.
(f)Thetimeittakestodeceleratemaybedecreasedbybackingthescrewsone
third.Thescrewswillactasabrake.Theuseoffullrudderwilltendtoslowthe
submarineandmaybeusedveryeffectivelywhendecelerating.Fullrudder
decreasesthespeedthroughthewatertoabout3/4ofwhatwouldbemadewiththe
rudderamidships.
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(g)Whenmakingcoursechangesgreaterthan20degrees,fullruddershouldbe
usedbecauseasubmarineisaveryslowmovingship.Theruddershouldbetaken
off20degreesfromthenewcourse.Thefollowingrateofchangeofcoursefora
submergedsubmarineatthevariousspeedscanbeexpected.
Speed Rate
4knots .45deg/sec
8knots 1deg/sec
(h.)Thetacticalcharacteristicsofasubmergedfleettypesubmarineat4knots
using30degreesrudderareasfollows:
Advance
290yards
Transfer
226yards
TacticalDiameter 467yards
311319.BLANK
320.THEGUPPYIITYPESUBMARINE:
(a)TheGuppyIITypeofsubmarinehascharacteristicsdifferentfromtheFleet
Type.Theprimarydifferenceissubmergedspeed.TheGuppyIIwillmakethe
followingspeedsforthetimeindicatedwithafullbattery,charge:
Knots Hours
4.3 48
5.3 36
6.3 20
8.2 10

9.4
9.9
11.8
15.7
17.8

6
5
3
1
30minutes
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(b)Inordertoacceleratefrom1/3tothespeedindicateditwilltakethefollowing
time:
Speed
Time
8knots
1:00minute
12knots
1:40minutes
15knots(series) 1:00minute
17knots(series) 1:40minutes
(c)Decelerationtothefollowingspeedfromflankwilltakethefollowingtime:
Speed Time
3knots 4minutes
8knots 1:10minutes
12knots 0:15minutes
(d)Forapproachworkinsofarasaccelerationanddecelerationareconcerneditis
ofadvantagetogotofullspeed.ratherthanstandardifspeedisdesiredfor
accelerationisfasteranddecelerationisalmostequivalenttothepointwherethe
periscopemaybeused.Theboatwilldeceleratefasterbygoingto1/3speed
(screwsactasbrake)ratherthanstop.
(e)Atslowspeedsturnsareslightlyfasterthanthosemadebythefleettype
submarine.Thereisamarkedimprovementinabilitytoturnatthehigherspeeds.
SpeedatStart Tactical Timeto
Diameter turn90degrees
4.8knots
350yards 2:21minutes
7.3knots
350yards 1:30minutes
11.7knots
330yards 1:00minute
15.3knots
380yards 0:50minute
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CHAPTER4
THETORPEDOFIRECONTROLPARTY

400.GENERAL:
TheSubmarineOrganizationprovidesinitsbattlebillfortheconditionknownas
"BattleStationsTorpedo".Thisisanallhandsevolutionrequiringspecificstations
foreverymemberoftheship'scomplement.Theship'scomplementat"Battle
StationsTorpedo"isdividedintothreegroups:(a)TheFireControlParty,(b)the
shiphandlingandmaneuveringparty,and,(c)thetorpedohandlingparty.This
chapterenumeratesthemembersoftheFireControlPartyandliststheirprimary

duties.TheirdetaileddutiesandproceduresarecoveredinChapterVI.
401.APPROACHOFFICER:
TheApproachOfficeristheofficerconductingtheapproachandtheattack.Except
inspecialtrainingexercisesheistheCommandingOfficerofthesubmarine.His
stationisnormallyintheconningtowerattheperiscope.Whenanightattackon
thesurfaceisbeingconductedhemaytakestationeitherintheconningtoweror
onthebridge.
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Astheconningofficer,hemaneuversthesubmarineintoapositionfromwhichan
attackcanbedelivered.HecoordinatestheactivitiesofallmembersoftheFire
ControlPartyandfurnishesthemtheinformationneededtosolvethetorpedofire
controlproblem.
402.ATTACKANDSONARCOORDINATOR:
TheAttackandSonarCoordinatorisusuallytheExecutiveOfficerandisthe
numbertwomemberoftheFireControlParty.Hisstationisintheconningtower.
Hisprimarydutyistobeinformedindetailregardingsonarconditionsinorderto
directandcoordinatetheeffortsofalltheSonarOperators.Hissecondarydutyis
toassisttheApproachOfficerincoordinatingtheworkofallmembersoftheFire
ControlParty.
403.TDCOPERATOR:
TheTDCOperatorisanofficerwhosestationisintheconningtoweratthe
positionkeepersectionoftheTDC.Hisprimarydutyistooperatetheposition
keeperand,usingallavailableinformation,obtainthemostaccuratevaluesof
targetcourse,speed,andrangethatcanbedetermined.
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404.ASSISTANTTDCOPERATOR:

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TheAssistantTDCOperatorisanofficerwhosestationisintheconningtowerat
theanglesolversectionoftheTDC.Hehastwoprimaryduties:(a)toassistthe
TDCOperatorinobtainingthecourseandspeedofthetarget,and(b)toinsurethat
thepropergyroangleissetoneachtorpedowhenitisfired.
405.NAVIGATIONALPLOTTER:
TheNavigationalPlotterisanofficerwhosestationisintheconningtoweratthe
DRT.Hisprimarydutyistomaintainanavigationalplotofthetargetortargets
designatedbytheApproachOfficer.HefurnishestheTDCOperatorandthe
ApproachOfficerthevaluesoftargetcourseandspeedobtainedfromtheplot.In
additionhefurnishespredicteddataregardingthetarget'spositionbasedonbest
knowntargetcourseandspeed,ifrequested.
406.PERISCOPEASSISTANT:
ThePeriscopeAssistantisanenlistedman,usuallyaquartermaster,whosestation
isattheperiscopebeingusedbytheApproachOfficer.Hisprimarydutyisto
assisttheApproachOfficerasdirectedinhisoperationoftheperiscope.
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407.SONARPLOTTER:

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TheSonarPlotterisanofficerwhosestationisinthecontrolroom.Hisprimary
dutyistoobtainthecourseofthetargetfrominformationfurnishedbysonar.
408.SONARPLOTRECORDER:
TheSonarPlotRecorderisanenlistedmanwhosestationisinthecontrolroom.
Hisprimarydutyistorecordthesonarbearingsofthetargetasdirectedbythe
SonarPlotterandassisthiminobtainingthecourseofthetarget.
409.SONAROPERATORS:
TheSonarOperatorsareenlistedmenwhoarespeciallytrainedintheoperationof
sonicandsupersonicsonarequipment.Theirprimarydutiesaretoprovidebearings
endrangesofshipsdesignatedbytheSonarCoordinatorinthemannerandwhen
directedbyhim.Thereareatpresentthreesonarstationsinafleetorguppy
submarine,asfollows:
SonarI JTinforwardtorpedoroom.
SonarII WFAorWCAinconningtower.
SonarIII WFAorWCAinconningtowerorinforwardtorpedoroom.
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4.10.STRADAROPERATOR:

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TheSTRadarOperatorisanenlistedmanwhosestationisattheSTconsoleinthe
conningtower.HisprimarydutyistofurnishtheApproachOfficerandother
membersoftheFireControlPartytherangesoftargetsdesignatedbythe
ApproachOfficer.HemayalsobedirectedbytheApproachOfficertofurnish
approximatebearings.
4.11.FIRINGKEYOPERATOR:
TheFiringKeyOperatorisanenlistedman,usuallyaFireControlman,whose
stationisatthefiringpanelintheconningtower.Hisprimarydutiesaretorelay
ordersfromtheApproachOfficertothetorpedotubesandtofirethetorpedoes
whendirectedtodoso.
412.GYROANGLESETTERS:
TheGyroAngleSettersareenlistedmen.Theyarestationedoneineachtorpedo
room,atthegyrosettingindicatorregulators.Theirprimarydutiesaretoseethat
thecorrectgyroanglesarebeingsetonthetorpedotubesasdirectedbythe
AssistantTDCOperator.
4.13.SSRADAROPERATOR:
TheSSRadarOperatorisanenlistedmanwhosestationisattheSSRadarConsole
intheconningtower.HisprimarydutiesaretoprovidetheApproachOfficerand
othermembersoftheFire
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ControlPartythebearingandrangeoftargetsdesignatedbytheApproachOfficer.

414.SVRADAROPERATOR:
TheSVOperatorisanenlistedman.HemaybestationedattheSSconsoleinthe
conningtowerortheSVconsoleinthecontrolroomdependinguponthetactical
situation.Hisprimarydutiesaretoproviderangesandbearingsofaircraftor
surfacetargetsasdirectedbytheApproachOfficer.
415.TBTOPERATOR:
TheTBTOperatorisanofficerwhosestationisateithertheforwardorafterTBT
onthebridge.HisprimarydutyistofurnishtheFireControlPartybearingsofthe
targetandotherinformationregardingthemovementsofthetargetortargets
designatedbytheApproachOfficer.Thisstationismannedonlyduringsurface
attack.
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CHAPTER5
DUTIESOFTHEFIRECONTROLPARTY

500.THEAPPROACHOFFICER
(a)ThePeriscopeTheperiscopeisthemostimportantinstrumentatthecommand
oftheApproachOfficer.Itisbyhisuseoftheperiscopethatheisabletofurnish
themembersoftheFireControlPartytheinformationtheyneedtocomputeand
setthepropergyroangleonthetorpedoesastheyarefired.Letus,then,before
discussinghisduties,reviewbrieflythesalientfeaturesoftheperiscopesnowin
useandthetechniquesoftheiruse.
(b)ThetwoperiscopespresentlyinstalledinfleetsubmarinesarethetypeIVinthe
numberonepositionandthetypeIIinthenumbertwoposition.Althoughtheseare
alikeinmanyrespectsthemostoutstandingdifferenceisthatthetypeIVcontains
aradarbymeansofwhichrangesmaybeobtained.Themaincharacteristicsofthe
twoperiscopesareasfollows:
TypeII
TypeIV
Magnificationhighpower
6.0X
6.0X
Magnificationlowpower
1.5X
1.5X
Maximumelevationoflineof 74.5degrees 45degrees
sight(abovehorizontal)
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TypeII
TypeIV
10degrees 10degrees

Maximumdepressionof
lineofsight(belowhorizontal)
Truefieldhighpower
8degrees 8degrees
Truefieldlowpower
32degrees 32degrees
RangingDevice
Stadimeter Radar
Telemeter Telemeter
Scale
Scale
Outerdiameterreduced
1.414in 3.75in
section
Opticallength
40ft
36ft

Anexaminationoftheabovetablesrevealsthatinordertoobtainradarrangeswe
havehadtosacrifice:(a)aboutsixfeetofperiscopedepth,(b)theabilityto
conductavisualsearchabove45degrees,and(c)2.3inchesinthesizeofthe
taperedsectionofthetubs.Thesefactsshouldbeborneinmindwhenselectingthe
periscopetobeusedindifferenttacticalsituations.
Thefieldoftheperiscopeinlowpower(32degrees)isfourtimesthefieldinhigh
power(8degrees),butatthesametimeobjectsappearonly1/4asbiginlow
powerasinhighpowerwithconsequentreductionindetail.Thiscanbeclearly
seeninPlateII.
ReferringtoPlateIIweseethatthereticuleoftheperiscopehasinscribedonita
seriesofverticalendhorizontallines.Inlowpowereachsmalldivisionrepresents
onedegreewhileinhighpowereachalldivisionrepresents1/4degree.Ifthe
Approach
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Officerknowsorcanestimatethemastheadheightofthetargetinfeetthenumber
ofhorizontaldivisionscoveredbytheshipbetweenitswaterlineandmasthead
willbeameasureoftherangeofthetarget.Inthefigurethetargetsubtends5
divisionsinhighpowerand11/4divisionsinlowpower.Itwouldobviouslybe
impracticabletoconvertthisvalueofangletorangeateachperiscopeobservation.
Theobvioussolutionissomeformofprecomputedgraphorscale.Weknowthatat
arangeof1000yards,171/2yards,or52.5feetwillsubtendanangleof1degree.
Usingthisrelationwecandeducethefollowingformulas:
R(range)=(19.1h/n) R=rangeinyards
h=heightinfeet
R(range)=(76.2h/N) nnumberscaledivisionslowpower
Nnumberscaledivisionshipower
PlateIIIisapictureofonetypeofscale("rangeomnimeter")whichmaybe
constructed.Inthefigurethemastheadheightofthetargetis100feet.Thearrow
oftheslidingscaleissetoppositethemastheadheightandtherangeisread
oppositethenumberofdivisions.Inthiscase1550yardsisreadopposite5
divisionshighpowerand11/4divisionslowpower.Rangesobtainedinthis
mannerarecommonlyreferredtoas"telemeterranges".Estimatesof
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rangesshouldbemadetothenearest1/8division.

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(c)Thesecondmethodofobtainingrangesisbymeansofthestadimeterinstalled
intheTypeIIperiscope.Thestadimeterreliesforitsoperationupontheformation
oftwoidenticalimageswhichcan,bymeansofahandwheelontheperiscope,be
verticallydisplacedwithrelationtoeachother.Normallythehandwheelisatthe
limitofitscounterclockwisetravel.Toobtainarange,thehandwheelisturned
clockwiseuntilthetargetmastheadinoneimagecoincideswiththetarget
waterlineintheotherimage.Therangeisthenreadonthestadimeterscale
oppositetheappropriatemastheadheight.InPlateIII,apictureofastadimeter
scale,amastheadheightof60feetgivesarangeof2300yards.Notethatthescale
isconstructedforhighpowerobservation.Whenrangesaremeasuredinlow
powerthecomputedvaluemustbedividedbyfour.
(d)ThethirdmethodofobtainingrangesisbyuseoftheradarinstalledintheType
IVperiscope.Inthismethodtherangeoftheselectedtargetismeasureddirectly
bytheSTRadarOperatorwhentheperiscopeisraisedandtrainedonthetarget.

(e)Ofthethreemethodstheradarrangesarethemostaccurateanddepend
primarilyupontheadjustmentoftheradarwhichisusuallyplusorminus35yards.
Theaccuracyoftelemeterorstadimeter
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rangesdependfirst,upontheskilloftheobserverandsecond,upontheaccuracyof
theestimateoftargetmastheadheight.
(f)Thevalueofthemastheadheightofthetargetmaybeobtainedbyintelligence,
estimate,orbyamethodreferredtoas"radarstadimeter"(telemeter)estimate.The
latterofcourseisthemostaccurateandisaccomplishedasfollowsassumingthat
thetargethasbeentrackedusingtheSTperiscope,theTypeIIperiscopeisraised
immediatelyfollowinganSTperiscopeobservation,astadimeterrange
observationismadeasdescribedabove,butinsteadofreadingrangeonthescale,
themastheadheightisreadoppositethevalueoftheTDCgeneratedrange.
(g)WhenradarrangescannotbeobtainedtheApproachOfficermustrelyuponhis
abilitytocorrectlyestimatetheheightofthefunnelormasthead,orother
prominentmarkontheship'sstructureabovethewaterline.Ifthetargetshipcan
beproperlyidentifiedanaccuratevaluemaybeobtainedfromintelligence
informationsuppliedtheship.Ifthisisnotavailablethefollowingprocedurewill
heofassistance:
(1)Countorestimatethenumberofdecksthatareseenabovethemain
deck.
(2)Addtothisfiguretheapproximatenumberofdeckheightsequaltothe
observedfreeboard.
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(3)Multiplythetotalbyeighttodeterminetheheightofthetopofthebridge
structureabovethevisiblewaterline.
(4)Usingheightofbridgestructureabovethevisiblewaterlineasa
yardstick,approximatethemastheadheight.Themastheadheightsof
merchantshipsareontheaverageabout2.1timesthebridgeheight(above
waterline).Amastheadheightwhichappearstobeshorterthannormalwill
beabout1.7to1.8timesthebridgeheight,whileonewhichappearstobe
higherthannormalisapproximately2.2to23timesthebridgeheight.
(5)Funnelheightsmaybeestimatedbyapproximatingthenumberofdeck
heightsofthefunnelwhichisseenabovethetopofthebridgestructureand
addingthisheighttothebridgestructureheight.
(6)Atextremerangesitmustberememberedthatthewaterlineisbelowthe
horizon.Thisnecessitatesestimatingthepositionofthewaterline.
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(h)Thefollowingpointsshouldbekeptinmindinheightdetermination:

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(1)Mastheadheightsmaybepurposelyalteredbytheenemytocause
inaccuraciesinperiscoperanges.
(2)Topsofmastsmaybecamouflagedinsuchamannerastobeinvisible
underaveragevisibilityconditionsatanyexceptshortranges.
(3)Funnelheightisnormallysufficienttoinsurethatthesmokewhichis
blowninthedirectionofthebridgebyatailwindwillpasswelloverthe
bridge.
(4)Coalburnersrequiretallerfunnelstoinsureadequatedraft.
(5)Funnelsofmodernvesselshavingforceddraftdonotrequireastalla
funnelasoldervesselswithoutforceddraft.
(6)Dieselpropelledshipsrequirenodraft.Funnelsarenormallyshort,are
notrequired,andgenerallyhavesuchdimensionsastoprovideagood
appearanceontheship.
RegardlessofthemethodsemployedbytheindividualApproachOfficer,skillin
estimatingmastheadheights,andabilitytoobtainaccuraterangescan
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beacquiredandmaintainonlybyconstantpractice.Evenwhenradarrangesare
availabledaringanapproachtheApproachOfficershouldalsoobtaintelemeter
rangesasameansofimprovingandmaintaininghisskill.
501.TARGETLENGTH
(a)Thelengthofthetargetmaybeobtainedbyestimatebasedonintelligence,by
observationwiththehorizontaltelemeterscale,orbyobservationwiththe
stadimeter.Asinestimatingmastheadheightaccurateidentificationofthetarget
makeitpossibletoobtainitslengthfromavailableintelligenceinformation.There
is,however,noyardstickwhichmaybeusedasaguide.
(b)Whenthelengthistobeobtainedfromatelemeterobservationthenumberof
divisionssubtendedbythetargetonthehorizontalscaleismeasuredinthesame
manneraswhenobtainingranges.InPlateIIthetargetsubtendsabout12divisions
inhighpowerandtherefore3divisionsinlowpower.Sinceweseeaforeshortened
lengthofthetargetwemustcorrectthecomputedlengthforangleonthebow.The
horizontalandverticaltelemeterscaleareidenticalsowemaysetupthefollowing
relation:
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L(length)=Rn/19.1SinAb
L(length)=RN/76.2SinAb

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R=Rangeinyards
n=Numberscaledivisionsinlowpower
N=Numberscaledivisionshipower
Ab=Angleonthebow

(c)Sincetheseformulasareidenticalwiththeonesforobtainingrangeexceptthat
LissubstitutedforhandthevaluesinAbaddedwemayobtainthevalueofthe
foreshortenedlengthbysettingthenumberofscaledivisionsoppositetheradar,
observed,orTDCgeneratedrangeandreadtheforeshortenedlengthoppositethe
arrowonthemastheadheightscale.Wenowneedtocorrectthisvalueforangleon

thebow.PlateVshowsthescalesetfortheconditionsshowninPlateIIassuming
anangleonthebowof40degrees.Notethatinthiscasethenumberoftelemeter
divisions,12highpoweror3lowpower,issetopposite1/2therange,920yards.
Thisisdonebecausethemastheadscaledoesnotgoabove200feet.The
foreshortenedtargetlengthisthen290feetortwicethevaluereadoppositethe
arrow.Onthesecondslidingscaletheangleonthebow400issetoppositethe
targetlength290feetandoppositethearrowat90degreesweread450footthe
fulltargetlength.
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(d)Asimplevariationofthetelemeterprincipleistodeterminethetargetlengthin
degreesfromthetelemeterscale(onelargedivisionequals1degreeinhighpower
onesmalldivisionequals1degreeinlowpower).Since1degreesubtends17.5
yardsor52.5feetat1000yards,wemayroundthisoffandsaythat1degree
subtends50feetat1000yards.Therefore,thefollowingformulacanbeusedwith
acceptableaccuracy:
TargetLengthNo.degreessubtendedX50ftX
(Rangein1000'syards)/(SinAb)
Justasistrueinrangingwiththeperiscopetheaccuracyofthetargetlength
determineddependsupontheskilloftheApproachOfficer.
502.PERISCOPETECHNIQUE
(a)Goodperiscopetechniquemaybesimplydefinedastheabilitytoobtainthe
maximumamountofaccurateinformation,withtheminimumlengthexposed,in
theminimumtime.TheFireControlPartyisdirectlydependentuponinformation
obtainedfromperiscopeobservationsforacorrectsolutionoftheproblem.Forthis
reasonApproachOfficersshoulddevotethoughtandtimetotheperfectionoftheir
periscopetechniquetoinsurethattheyareabletoprovidetheFireControlPartyall
the
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informationitrequires.Visualacuityisthefirstrequisiteofagoodperiscope
observer.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheobservermusthaveperfectvisionsincethe
periscopeopticscancompensateforminordeficienciesinvision.Itdoesmean,
however,thattheobservermustseewhatheislookingatandisabletodescribe
accurately,aftertheperiscopeislowered,thepicturepresentedtohimwhenthe
periscopewasraised.Toacquirethisskillconstantpracticeisrequired.Onewayto
accomplishthisistoreconstructintheminds'eyeaftereachperiscopeobservation,
whetherduringanattackornot,thepictureseenthroughtheperiscope.Tryto
includeinthepictureallpossibledetails.
(b)Therearenosetruleswhichcanbelaiddownwhichwillapplyunderall
conditions.Thefollowing,iffollowed,however,shouldbeofassistance:
(1)Makeenoughobservationsduringtheearlyphasesoftheapproachto
insureanearlytargetspeedsolution.
(2)Duringthelaterstagesoftheapproachandduringtheattack
observationsshouldberequiredonlytomaintainacorrecttargetcourse
solution.
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(3)Thelikelihoodofdetectiondependsmoreuponamountandlengthof
periscopeexposurethanuponthediameteroftheperiscopeheadorthe
numberoflooks.
(4)TheoptimumexposuretimeforanSTperiscopeis5seconds,forother
types10seconds.
(5)Havetheperiscopeinlowpowerwhenitbreakswater.Thisinsures
maximumfieldofvisionandhelpstolocatethetarget.
(6)Toavoidmistakinglowpowerforhighpowerobservationacquirethe
habitofhavingrightwristbentovertheperiscopewhenperiscopeisinlow
power.Whenthewristisinanormalaridcomfortablepositiontheperiscope
willthenbeinhighpower.
(7)Changedepthasnecessarytoinsurethatonlytheminimumamountof
periscoperequiredfortheobservationisexposed.
(8)Makeobservationsonlyat1/3speedwhenwithin6000yardsunless
tacticalsituationdemandsotherwise.
(9)Whenmakinghighspeedsatlong
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ranges,whereaircoverisnotpresent,donotdenytheFireControlParty
informationtomaintainspeed.Aquickobservationshouldnotbedetected.
(10)Whenmakinganobservationexaminethetargetgroupfirstgivethe
targetbearingandthenlowertheperiscope.Inthismannertheperiscope
willbeonthebearingofthetargetwhenitislowered.Thoughthismay
appeartobeaminoritemitwilleliminateasourceofconfusionandgreatly
assisttheFireControlParty.
(11)Donotdescribethesituationwhiletheperiscopeisexposed.This
servesnousefulpurposeandprolongstheobservation.
(12)Havetheperiscopeinlowpowerduringfiring.Thetargetbearingis
justasaccurate,whiletheincreasedfieldwilloftenpermitobservationof
closeescortswhichwouldnotbevisibleweretheperiscopeinhighpower.
503.PERISCOPEPROCEDURE
Theprocedureemployedinallperiscopeobservations
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isessentiallythesame.However,sincetherangemaybeobtainedinthreedifferent
waysthereareslightvariationsintheproceduredependingonhowtherangeisto
beobtained.Forpurposesofclaritythecompleteprocedureforeachtypeof
observationwillbegiven:
(a)STPeriscopeObservation
ApproachOfficer
Standbyforobservation

TDCOperator
ApproachOfficer
PeriscopeAssistant
STRadarOperator
Approachofficer
PeriscopeAssistant

STRadarOperator
ApproachOfficer

TDCOperator

Bearing(rangeandangleonthebow,if
desired)
Upperiscope
Raisesperiscopeandplacesitonthebearing
announcedbytheTDCOperator
WhenperiscopebreakswaterannouncesPIP
orNOPIP
Bearing____Mark!DownScope
Onbearing_____Mark!ringsthebearing
buzzerorifthebearingtransmitterisoutof
order,announcesthebearing.Lowersthe
periscope.
Obtainsrangeandimmediatelyfollowingthe
bearingbuzzerringstherangebuzzer
Angleonthebow_____ortargethaszigged
angleonthebow____ortargetisziggingto
hisright(left)
Generating____orindicatesazigof____
degrees
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(b)StadimeterObservation
ApproachOfficer
TDCOperator
ApproachOfficer
PeriscopeAssistant
ApproachOfficer
PeriscopeAssistant
ApproachOfficer

PeriscopeAssistant
ApproachOfficer
TDCOperator

(c)TelemeterObservation
ApproachOfficer
TDCOperator
ApproachOfficer
PeriscopeAssistant
ApproachOfficer

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Standbyforobservation
Bearing____(angleonthebow,ifdesired)
UpPeriscope
Raisesperiscopeandplacesitonthebearing
announcedbytheTDCOperator
Bearing____mark!
Ringsthebearingbuzzeroriftransmitteris
outannouncesthebearing
Range___mark!(Masthead____feet).The
ApproachOfficermayannounceamasthead
heightshouldhedesiretouseavalue
differentfromthatpreviouslydecidedupon.
Range______.
Downscope.Angleonthebow____or(see
STobservation.
Generatingorindicatesazigof_____or
indicatesazigof_____degrees.

Standbyforobservation
Bearing_____(angleonthebow,itdesired)
Upperiscope
Raisesperiscopeandplacesitonthebearing
announcedbytheTDCOperator
BearingMark!
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Periscope
Assistant
Approach
Officer
Periscope
Assistant
TDC
Operator

Ringsthebearingbuzzeroriftransmitterisoutannouncesthe
bearing
RANGEMARK,DOWNSCOPE,Range____Divisions____
Angleonthebow____or(seeSTobservation)
Rangeyards.Thisvalueofrangeisobtainedfromtherange
omnimeter.SomeApproachOfficersprefertooperatetherange
omnimeterthemselves.Eitherprocedureisacceptable.
Generating_____orIndicatesazigof____degrees

NOTE:RegardlessoftypeofobservationtheApproachOfficer,attheinitial
observation,shouldnotgivetheorderDOWNPERISCOPEuntiltheTDC
OperatorhasannouncedMATCHED,ProceduremayrequireTDCOperatorto
announceownspeedonSTANDBYFOROBSERVATIONwhenItexceeds3
knotsshouldtheApproachOfficerdesire.
(d)Sincetheaccuracyoftherangesisvariablewhenusingthestadimeteror
telemetertheApproachOfficershouldinformtheFireControlPartywhenhe
considerstherangeaccurateordoubtful.Whenapproachingthefiringpointthe
phrase"FINALOBSERVATION"shouldneverbeused.Ithasnospecial
significanceandwillalmostinvariablyconfusetheFireControlParty.
504.DUTIES
ThedutiesortheApproachOfficerareto:
(A)Makeperiscopeobservationsandtoprovide
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tomembersoftheFireControlPartysuchinformationastheyrequire
regardingthetargetortargetstobeattacked.
(B)PlantheattackandinformthemembersoftheFireControlPartyin
detailregardinghisintentions.
(C)Issueallnecessaryorderstoinsurethatthetorpedoeswillbereadyto
fireandwillbefiredinthemannerhehasplanned.
(D)Conntheshiptoapositionfromwhichasuccessfulattackmaybe
delivered.
(E)CoordinatetheactivitiesofallmembersoftheFireControlParty.
505.PERISCOPEOBSERVATIONS
AttheinitialobservationfollowingcontactwiththetargettheApproachOfficer
shouldfurnishtheFinControlPartyalldetailswhichareavailabletohimatthat
timeregardingthenumberandtypeofshipsinthetargetgroupsThisinformation
shouldbesufficientlydetailedtomakeitpossibletoidentifythetargetinavailable
intelligencepublicationssothatanestimateofthetargetmastheadheight,length,
andmajorcharacteristicsmaybeavailable.HeshouldfurnishtheFireControl
Partyacarefuldescriptionofthedispositionofthetargetgroup,theapproximate
locationandactivityofaircoverandscreensifpresent.Iftimeisavailablearough
sketchandout
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lineofthedispositionwillprovehelpfultotheFireControlParty.Anysubsequent
changeinthedispositionthatisobservedshouldbegiventotheFireControlParty
toinsurethattheyremainproperlyorientedandabletointerpretmaneuversand
ordersfromtheApproachOfficer.HeshouldinsurethattheSTRadarOperator
understandsthedispositionandshouldassisthiminidentifyingontheradarscreen
thetargetwhichistobetracked.Assoonasthetargetpresentsafavorablylarge
angleonthebowanobservationfortargetlengthshouldbemade.Ateach
observationofthetargettheApproachOfficershouldinformtheFirsControlParty
ofhisestimateofthetarget'sanglemthebow.Sincetheobservedangleonthe
bowandthatobtainedbyPlotandTDCwillfrequentlydiffer,heshouldbe
meticuloustoinsurethattheyknowwhichvalueofangleonthebowhedesires
themtouse.IftheapproachisbeingmadebySTradarthemastheadheightofthe
targetshouldbeobtainedasoonaspracticalsothatitwillbeavailableincasethe
radartailsoritisnecessarytoshifttoanotherperiscope.
Althoughitisnotpossibletodeterminetargetspeedmerelybyobservation,
generalinformationindicatingwhetherthetargetappearstobemakinghigh,or
lowspeedwillbehelpfultotheFireControlParty.During
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theearlystagesoftheapproachtheApproachOfficershouldattempttomake
sufficientperiscopeobservationstoenablethePlotandTDCOperatortoobtainan
accuratesolutionoftargetspeedbeforetherangetothetargetbecomeslessthan
6000yards.TheApproachOfficershouldkeephimselfinformedofthespeed
solutionobtainedbyPlotandTICandincaseswheredifferencesexistdirectthe
TDCOperatorwhatvalueoftargetspeedistobeused.
TheApproachOfficerwillerrmoretimesinnotprovidinghisFireControlParty
withsufficientinformationthanhewillingivingthemtoomuchinformation.In
traininghimselfheshouldendeavortoconducthisapproachinsuchamannerthat
themembersoftheFireControlPartywillnothavetorequestfromhimany
informationwhichhehasnotalreadygiventothem.
506.PLANOFATTACK
(a)AsearlyIntheapproachaspossibletheApproachOfficershouldinformhis
FireControlPartyofthetargetortargetbetobeattacked,whethertheattackisto
bemadeuponasingletarget,whetheritistobedividedfirefromasingletubenest
against2ormoretargets,orwhetherheistofireboththebowandthesterntubes.
heshouldinformtheFireControlPartyofthenumberoftorpedoestobefiredat
thetargetortargets,thedepthandspeedsettingtobe
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usedonthetorpedoes,thetypeandamountofspreadhedesirestouse.Whenthis
informationisprovidedtotheFireControlPartywellinadvanceoffiringtheycan
plantheiractionsaccordinglyandbereadyatthefiringpointtocommence
shootingandconducttheattackwiththeminimumofconfusion.Towaituntilthe
firingpointisreachedorduringthefiringofonenesttoinformtheFireControl
PartythatitistheApproachOfficer'sintentiontoalsofiretheothernestcauses
needlessconfusion.
(b)HeshouldinformtheTorpedoRoomsofthefiringorderofthetorpedoes.
Whenafullloadofonetypetorpedoisbeingcarriedonboardtheorderinwhich
thetubesarefiredisnotorgreatimportance,If,however,amixedloadof
torpedoesisbeingcarriedadefinitetubefirmsorderistheApproachOfficer'sonly

insurancethatthetorpedoesfiredaretheonesheplannedtofire.Forthisreasonit
isgoodtrainingtoindoctrinatetheFireControlPartyandtheTorpedoRoomsto
expectthedesignationofafiringorder.
(c)TheApproachOfficershoulddirectthatthetubesbefloodedbeforeitmaybe
necessarytorelyonsonarinformationsothatthesonarequipmentwillnotbe
blockedoutatacriticaltimebythenoisewhichoccurswhenthetubesareflooded.
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Sincethereisnopressureuponthetorpedoesthemselvesuntiltheouterdoorsare
openeditshouldbepossibletofloodthetubeswellinadvance.Undercombat
conditionsitisgoodpracticetofloodalltubeswhichcanbefiredeventhoughitis
notintendedtousethem,sinceunexpectedchangesintacticalsituationmaymake
itdesirabletofiremoretorpedoesthanhadbeenformerlyplanned.Whenthe
criticalrangeisreachedtheouterdoorsofallfloodedtorpedotubesshouldbe
opened.
(d)Therearevariousmethodsoffiring.ThesearedescribedindetailinChapter7.
ItisextremelyimportantthatallmembersortheFireControlPartyknowwhich
methodoffiringtheApproachOfficerintendstouseandthathetrainhimselfand
theFireControlPartyuntiltheyareproficientasateamintheselectedmethod.
MuchconfusionwilloccuratthefiringpointiftheFireControlPartyisnot
thoroughlydrilledinthisphaseoftheattack.Alltheworkandtheriskinvolvedin
acarefulapproachandattackiswastediferrorsareintroducedintheTDCatthe
momentoffiring.
507.SHIPHANDLING:
TheApproachOfficerissuesallorderstothehelm,allchangesindepthand
attitudeofthesubmarine.ItisadvisableforaninexperiencedApproachOfficerto
makeaconsciousefforttocheckoffinhisownmindpriortoanobservationthe
actualdepthofasubmarine,the
521
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angleontheboat,theindicatedship'sspeed,thepositionoftherudderandthe
annunciators,andtheship'shead.Theconductofthischeckofflistwilleventually
becomeamatterofhabitbutattentionbyaninexperiencedApproachOfficertothe
abovewillavoidmanyembarrassingsituations.
508.COORDINATIONOFFIRECONTROLPARTY:
AllmembersoftheFireControlPartyrelyupontheApproachOfficerfor
informationandfordecisionsduringthecourseofanapproach.Inawell
coordinatedFireControlPart:thereisneveranydoubtinthemindsofthe
individualmembersastowhatisexpectedofthematanygiventimeandunderany
givenconditions.Thissituationcannotbearrivedatovernightorbyany"quick
andeasymethod".ItwillexistonlyiftheApproachOfficerdevotesmuchthought
andtimetoselftrainingandtheestablishmentofsetphraseologyandprocedures
whicharecarefullyfollowedandmeticulouslyadheredto.
509.BLANK
510.THEATTACKANDSONARCOORDINATOR:
(a)Theaidedemphasisthathasbeenplaceduponsonarbynewdevelopmentsin
antisubmarinewarfareandtheuseofsubmarinesisantisubmarinewarfareships

havebroughttolightmanydeficienciesinourpresentsubmarinesonarequipment
andtheneedforincreasedefficiencyinobtainingandprocessingavailablesonar
information.Inthepasttheexecutiveofficerhasbeen
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designatedtheAssistantApproachOfficer.AsAssistantApproachOfficerhis
dutiesinanefficientFireControlPartyhavebeennominal.Since,nexttothe
commandingofficer,heisthemostexperiencedofficeronboardasubmarine,itis
proposedtoutilizehistalentsinthesolutionofthesonarproblem.
(b)AstheSonarCoordinatorofasubmarinehisdutiesshouldincludethe
supervisionandtrainingortheSonarOperatorsaccordingtosaneplannedschedule
withtheendthatheshouldbeintimatelyacquaintedwiththeircapabilitiesand
limitations.Heshouldbechargedwiththedevelopmentofsetoperating
proceduresandtheindoctrinationoftheFireControlPartyinstandardsonar
phraseologyandorders.
(c)DuringtorpedoattacksandtorpedoevasionheshouldintegratetheSonar
OperatorsintotheFireControlPartyandsupervisetheiroperations.Heshouldsee
thatthebestavailablesonarbearingsarebeingsuppliedtheTDC,designatetothe
varioussonaroperatorsthetargetswhichtheyaretotrackandassistthemwith
additionalinformationfromtimetotimetoinsurethattheydonotbecome
confusedandtrackthewrongtargets.Heshouldsupervisethetrackingofthesonar
plottingpartyandseethattheyaresuppliedwiththeinformationnecessaryto
properlyfulfilltheirmissionasmembersoftheFireControlParty.
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(d)DuringsonarattacksheshouldcoordinatetheactivitiesoftheSonarPlot,the
NavPlotandtheTDCtoobtainthemostaccuratepossibleanalysisofthetarget's
movement.
(e)Heshouldbefamiliarwiththesonarconditionsexistingduringtheapproach,
suchastheoptimumlisteningrangeoftheday,theoptimumrangeoftheday,the
locationoflayersandtheoptimumevasiondepthsothathemayproperlyadvise
theCaptainandfurnishhimthisinformationwhendesired.
(f)AstheattackcoordinatorheshouldbealerttoremindtheApproachOfficer
whenroutineordersandprocedureshavebeeninadvertentlyneglectedandassist
theapproachofficerinanyothermannerhemaydesire.
511519.BLANK
520.THETDCOPERATOR:
(a)DetailsofOperation
ThedetailsoftheoperationoftheTDCarediscussedinOP1442A.The
informationpresentedherewillconsistonlyofthedutiesoftheTOCoperatorasa
memberoftheFireControlParty.
(b)ManningtheTDC
1.Checktoseetheproperpowerandownship'sinputs(courseandspeed)are
availableandbeingreceivedcorrectly.
2.ChecktimerresettozeroandstarttheproblemupontheorderoftheApproach
OfficerorOtherdesignated.officer.AlsochecktoseethattheTDCtimeris

synchronized
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withPlot'stimer.

SLM1

(c)InitialSpeedSetting
1.Atthebeginningoftheproblemsettargetspeedtoavalueobtainedfromthe
ApproachOfficerortoavaluedeterminedbyexperience.Inlieuofabetter
estimateaninitialanalyzingspeedof15knots,whichisagood.averagespeed
determinationistobeused.
2.Ifradartrackingisbeingconductedsettargetspeedonthevaluedeterminedby
Plot,ortozeroifthespeedzeromethodofspeeddeterminationistobeused.
(d)InitialObservationProcedure
1.Seechapter5,para.503,PeriscopeProcedure.
2a.MatchtheobservedvaluesinthereceiversectionoftheTDCforanST
observation.
b.EntertheobservedvaluesasannouncedbytherespectivemembersoftheFire
ControlPartyforastadimeterortelemeterobservation.
3.WhentheobservedvaluesaresetintheTDCreport"MATCHED".
(e)SuccessiveObservationProcedure
1.Seechapter5,para.503,PeriscopeProcedure.
2.Ontheorder"STANDBYFOROBSERVATION",announcethegenerated
targetrelativebearing,ownship'sspeed(ifdesired),angleonthebow(ifdesired)
andthegeneratedrange(exceptforstadimeterandtelemeterobservations).
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3a.ForanSTobservationreadandannouncethebearingandrangecorrections,
andmatchtheobservedvaluesinthereceiversectionoftheTDC.
b.Forastadimeterortelemeterobservationreadandannouncethebearing
correctionandmatchtheobservedvalueinthereceiversectionoftheTDC.When
theAssistantTDCOperatorhascomputedtherangecorrection,enterthe
correctionintheTDC.
4.AftertheperiscopehasbeenloweredtheTDCOperatorcarriesouttheangleon
thebowprocedurewhichfollows:
a.Iftheobservedangleonthebowiswithin10degreesofthegenerated
valueannounceGENERATING_____,andresetorleavetheangleonthe
bowasdirectedbytheApproachOfficer.
b.Iftheobservedangleonthebowisnotwithin10degreesofthegenerated
valueannounceINDICATESAZIGOF____DEGREES,andsettheangle
onthebowcalledbytheApproachOfficer.
c.iftheApproachOfficerreportsTHETARGETHASZIGGEDTOHIS

RIGHT(LEFT),ANGLEONTHEBOWIS____setthenewangleonthe
bow.
d.IftheApproachOfficerreportsTHETARGETISZIGGINGTOHIS
RIGHT(LEFT),zigthetarget30degreesintheindicateddirectionand
awaitfurtherobservationoftheangleonthebowtoadjusttheTDC.
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e.IftheApproachOfficerreportsNOCHANGE,announcethegenerated
angleonthebow.
(f)SpeedDetermination
TheTDCOperatormustcoordinatethedeterminationoftargetspeedthroughhis
ownanalysisandthatoftheAssistantTDCOperatorandPlot.Aftertheangleon
thebowhasbeensetoneachobservationtheTDCOperatormustmentally
calculatethespeedandangleonthebow.Thishemustdoprimarilytoactasa
checkagainstmistakesmadebytheAssistantTDCOperator.Methodsofmental
calculationarediscussedinOP1442A.Whenthesolutionsfortargetcourseand
speedbytheTDCOperator,theAssistantTDCOperator,andPlotarenotinclose
agreementtheApproachOfficershouldbesoinformed.DuringfiringtheTDC
OperatormustmaintainaclosecheckonthetargetdatainconjunctionwithPlot.
AnypronounceddeviationsintargetdatashouldbeannouncedtotheApproach
Officer.ItistobeemphasizedthatPlotandAssistantTDCOperatorareaidstothe
TDCOperatorandtheresponsibilityforcorrecttargetcourseandspeedrestsupon
theTDCOperator.
(g)RadicalChangesinRange
Similartotheangleonthebowprocedure,radicalchangesinrangeshouldbe
broughttotheattentionoftheApproachOfficerpriortoenteringintheTDC.
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(h)UtilizationofSonarData
BetweenperiscopeobservationsintheapproachphasetheTDCOperatorshould
evaluatetheTDCsolutionwiththesonarinformationavailable.Particularly,zig
indicationsandangleonthebowerrorsshouldbeannounced.Intheattackphase
andinpuresonarattackstheTDCOperatorshouldkeepthegeneratedTDCtarget
relativebearingmatchedwiththesonarbearings.Atall,timesthetargetlengthdial
shouldbeproperlysetinordertokeepthegeneratedtargetstarbearingcorrected.
(i)CriticalRange
Whenatargetspeedhasbeenobtaineditshouldbeannouncedwiththecritical
range.Asthetarget,speedchangesinthesolutionthenewspeedandcriticalrange
shouldbeannounced.
(j)SupplyingtheApproachOfficerInformation
SincetheApproachOfficeroftendoesnothavesatisfactoryaccesstotheposition
keepersectionoftheTDC,theTDCOperatormustprovidehimwithsameorallof
thefollowing:

1.Generatedrange.
2.GeneratedAngleonthebow.
3.Generatedbearing.
4.Distancetothetrack.
5.Presentship'strackangle.
6.Coursestocometoforvariousshiptrackanglerandleadangles.
7.Torpedotrackangle.
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8.Torpedocourse,
9.Direction,amountandtendencyofgyroangles.
10.Torpedorun.
11.Targetcourseandspeed.
12.Criticalrange.
13.Problemtime,
14.Timesincelastzig.
15.Timesincelastobservation,
16.Rangerate.
17.Bearingrate.
(k)MastheadHeightCheck
TheTDCOperatorshouldannouncethegeneratedrangewhentheApproach
OfficerordersSTANDBYFORMASTHEADHEIGHTCHECK.Seechapter5,
ApproachOfficer,MastheadHeight.
(1)FiringPointProcedure
1.Seechapter7,FiringMethods,
2.AttheorderBEARINGMARKmatchtheobservedvaluesofbearingand
range(STobservation).Forstadimeterandtelemeterobservationsatthe
Firingpointonlythebearingismatched.
3.AnnounceSET.
4.OnsubsequentcheckbearingsannounceSETaftertheobservedvalues
arematched.
521529.BLANK
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530.THEASSISTANTTDCOPERATOR:
ThedetaileddutiesoftheAssistantTDCOperatorarediscussedinOP1442A.The
informationpresentedherewillconsistofthedutiesoftheAssistantinrelationto
theFireControlParty.
531.MANNINGTHEASSISTANTTDCSTATION:
TheAssistantwillmantheAssistantTDCstationandputontheJAheadphones.
ThiscircuithastheForwardandAftergyrosettingindicatorregulatoroperatorson
it.TheAssistantshouldmakeacommunicationcheckwiththerespectiveGSIR
Operators.HeshouldchecktheTDCGyroAngleIndicatingandRegulating
switchesintheOFFposition.
532.ANALYZING:
UsingthestandardanalyzationformtheAssistantTDCOperatormakesa
comparisonbetweenthegeneratedandobservedvaluesandcomputesspeedand
angleonthebow.ThisinformationisgiventotheTDCOperatorforuseinthe
TDC.TheAssistantshouldkeepthePDCOperatoradvisedofeachnewcomputed
speedandfromhiscomputationsadvisetheApproachOfficerofthecomputed
angleonthebow.
ThemethodsofanalyzingaredescribedinMk.4TDCOperatingProcedure.
533.GYROANGLEORDERCHECK:
AtapproximatelythecriticalrangetheAssistantshouldstopanalyzing.Atthis
timeheshouldbeabletodeterminewhetheritwillbeaboworsterntubeshotand
heshoulduse,thefollowingprocedureinengagingtheGyroSettingIndicator
Regulator.
530
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IfheisnotcertainofthetubenesttobeusedheshouldcutinboththeForwardand
AfterGSIR's.
AssistantTDCOperator
A.Ifgyrosarelessthan150degreesGyros
forwardoraftmatchGyrosinautomatic.
TurnswitchtoINDREGposition.
B.GyrosForwardorAftStandbyforGyro
check.
C.StandbyMark!

GyroSetter
A.Whengyrosmatchandsettle
down,reportTDCGyrosForward
(orAft)matchedinautomatic.
B.GyrosForward(orAft)Standing
By.
C.Readsgyroangleordertothe
closest10'andreports.

D.Check.
Ifthegyroangleorderdoesnotcheckwithin10'theaboveprocedureshouldbe
repeated.IfitdoesnotcheckagainthetransmissionshouldbecheckedbytheFire
Controlmaniftimepermits.Iftimeisnotavailableitwillbenecessarytosetgyros
byhand.
534.SPREADCOMPUTATION:
TheApproachOfficerwillgivetheAssistantTDCOperatorthefollowing
informationassoonasitisavailable:

a.Typeofspreadtouse.
b.Targetlength.
c.Numberoftorpedoestobefired.
d.Percentcoveragetobeused.
TheAssistantTDCOperatorshouldcomputethespreadinaccordancewith
chapter6.
531
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535.FIRINGPOINTPROCEDURE:

SLM1

Atthefiringpoint,aftertheTDCOperatorannouncesSETforthefirsttorpedo,the
AssistantTDCOperatorannouncesSHOOT,ifhehasthecorrectspreadsetinthe
TDCandthecorrectsolutionlightison.TheAssistantTDCOperatorthenwaits
foraperiodoffivesecondsoruntilheissurethatthetorpedohasleftthetubeand
herepeatstheaboveprocedurefortheremainingtorpedoes.Ifthereisnocheck
bearingbetweensuccessivetorpedoesheannouncesSHOOTwhentheabove
conditionsaremet,namelyspreadset,correctsolutionlighton,andheiscertain
thattheprecedingtorpedohasleftthetube.
536539BLANK.
540.THENAVIGATIONPLOTTER:
TheNavigationalPlotisoneofthemostimportantstationsinthesubmarinefire
controlparty.Itistheonlysourcefromwhichapictureoftheentireapproachcan
beobtained.TheNavigationalPlotfurnishesvaluableinformationontargetspeed,
targetcourse,timesoftargetzigs,averagelengthofziglegs,andpredictedtarget
rangewhenthesubmarineisbelowperiscopedepth.InordertofurnishtheFire
ControlPartywiththisvaluableinformationtheNavigationalPlottermuststrive
foraccuracy,neatness,andspeed.Thismaybeaccomplishedonlywith
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theknowledgeofthepropersymbols,properuseoftheplottinginstruments,and
continuouspractice.
ThemostimportanttoolsoftheNavigationalPlotteraretheDeadReckoning
Tracer(DRT),theParallelMotionProtractor(PMP),theBearingandRange
Indicator,andspeedscalesorspeeddividers.Beforedescribingtheplotterin
actionletusconsidertheproperuseoftheseinstruments.
541.DEADRECKONINGTRACER(DRT)
TheDeadReckoningTraceronsubmarinesisaglasstoppedtablewithalight
"bug"undertheglass.The"bug"withitsprojectedspotoflightindicatesown
ship'spositionatanytimefrominputssuppliedbytheship'sgyroandunderwater
log.TwoswitchesonthepointofthetableenergizetheNorthSouth,EastWest
componentmotors.Thescaleofthe"bug"travelisdeterminedbythescalesetting
device.Thisdevicemaybeseton500yd/in.,1000yd/in.,and18mi/in.(Later
modificationsalsohave200yd/in.),The18mi/in,scalehasanadditionalscalefor
selectionofscalesbetween18miles/in.Thescaleof1000yd/in.Isnormallyused
forsubmergedapproachplottingandtheDRTtableshouldbesetuponthisscale
fornormalcruising.The"Bug"ontheDRTismovedtoanypositionbytwo

handwheelslocatedonthefrontofthetable.
TheParallelMotionProjectorisnormallyusedin
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conjunctionwiththeDRTandmustbeorientedtothemovementoftheDRT
"bug".Orientationcanbeaccomplishedbyperformingthefollowingoperationsin
sequence.
(a)MarkDRT"bug"positiononthetopplottingsurface.
(b)DisengagethescalesettingclutchandmoveDRT"bug"68inchesina
090directionandplotnew"bug"position.
(c)Positiontheprotractorarmalongthetwopointsandadjustthebearing
indicatoroftheprotractorsothatthe090270truebearinglineisindicated.
(d)ifdesired,orientationtothe000180linemaybeaccomplishedina
similarmanner.
(e)Asomewhatlessaccurateorientationcanbeeffectedbypositioningthe
protractoralongthefrontedgeofthetableandadjustingtheindicatorina
090270direction.
542.THEPARALLELNOTIONPROTRACTOR(PMP)
TheParallelMotionProtractor,sometimescalledadraftingmachine,isa
protractorcammedbyaparallelmotionlinkagewhichisfastenedtotheupper
edgeoftheDRTtable.Thelinkagepermitsthemovementoftheprotractortoany
partofthetablewithoutlossoforientation.Thegraduatedprotractorrim
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orcompassrosecanbeclampedasdesired,andhenceorientedtocoincidewiththe
NorthSouthdirectionofthetable.Tworecommendedmethodsofusingthe
ParallelMotionProtractorwillbediscussed,eitherofwhichoracombinationof
whichmaybeusedinthecrampedspaceofthesubmarineplottingstation:
(a)DirectPlotting:
1.Plotpositionofownshipattimebearingandrangeistaken.
2.Withtherangerulerfreetorotate,setruleratproperbearing.
3.Placethebearingindicationarrowthatpointstowardtherulerondesired
bearing,thenlocktheruler.
4.Placethezeromarkoftherulerexactlyonthedesiredmarkedposition
alongownshipstrack.Theedgeoftherulernowextendsalongthetrue
bearinglinefromownship'sposition.
5.Readoutwardfromzerotothedesiredrange,drawaboutaoneinch
bearinglineandmarkthepoint.
6.immediatelyafterestablishingthispoint,releaselockonrulerleavingit
readyforuseinplottingangleonthebow.
(b)IndirectPlotting:

Indirectplottingmakesuseorthereciprocal
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bearingmarktofacilitatetheplottingoftargetswhichareawkwardtohandleby
directplotting.Thefollowingarevariationsfromdirectplotting:
1.Thedesiredbearingisreadbesidethearrowwhichis180degreefromthe
rulesideofthePMParm.
2.Thedesiredrangeinsteadofthezeromarkisplacedatthemarked
positiononownship'strack.
3.Thetarget'spositionisthenplottedatthezeromarkontheruler.
543.THEBEARINGANDRANGEINDICATOR:
TheBearingandRangeIndicatoristhesourcefromwhichtheplottergetsthe
informationtoPlot.Hemustinsurethattheproperselectorswitchesareenergized
forthestationsfromwhichheistoreceivehisinformation.TheBearingand
RangeIndicatorindicatesTrueBearingandRangeinthousandsofyards.
544.SPEEDSCALESORDIVIDERS:
Therearenumerousaidsfortheplotterforconvertingdistanceruninalengthof
timetotargetspeed.RulersproperlycalibratedareissuedbyBuShips.Curvesand
tablesmaybemadeupbytheindividualplotter,orspeeddividersmaybe
obtained.TheindividualNavigationalPlottermusttrythemallandselecttheone
whichheconsidersbestforhisownuse.
TherearethreetypesofplotthattheNavigational
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Plottermustbeabletohandlewithgreatfacility:(1)ThePeriscopeRadarPlot(2)
TheStadimeterPlotand(3)TheRadarPlot.Thesewillbetakenupindetail
below,thereare,however,fourthingscommontoalloftheseplotswhichthe
NavigationalPlottermustaccomplishbeforebeginninghisplot.Uponmanning
battlestationstheNavigationalPlottermust:
a.OrienttheParallelMotionPlotterwiththeDRT"bug".
b.Selecttheproperplottingscale.
c.Place"bug"acrossthetablefromthetargettruebearingtogivehimthe
maximumofplottingsurface.
d.TurnonDRTtableandcheck"bug"movingproperlywithrespecttoown
courseandspeed.
545.THEPERISCOPERADARPLOT(RefertoPlateVI):
ThePeriscopeRadarplotismadefromopticalbearingsandradarranges.This
informationisthemostaccuratethatcanbeobtainedonasubmarine.Sincethe
informationisaccuratetheplotiseasytomakeandanalyze.ReferringtoPlateVI
wewilltracetheplotoutpointbypointandseewhatinformationwasobtainedby
theplotterandhowheobtainedit.

Atproblemtime0:15anobservationistaken.ThePlotterrecordsonaconvenient
placeonhisplotthetime,truebearing,rangeandangleonthebow.Hethenplots
thisobservation,drawingtheangleonthebowrelativetothebearingline.Since
thisistheinitialobservationtheplotterhasnointonationto
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furnishafterplottingthepoint.Attime3:15anobservationistakenandplotted.
Theplotternowhastwoplottedpointsandwillgivethefollowinginformationto
theapproachofficer:targetcourse110,targetspeed15,angleonthebow
overestimatedby10degrees.Theplotterthenlabelshisplotplacingthelegcourse
andspeedinaboxadjacenttothecourseline.HeshouldthenDRthetargetahead
alongthetarget'scourselinetokeepthepictureuptodate.Attime6:30an
observationistakenandtheapproachofficerannouncesthetargethaszigged.The
plotterplotsthepointandnowhasgoreinformationtogivetheapproachofficer.
(a)TargetSpeedTheplotterfindsthelegspeedtobe17thisisnot,however,the
speedhegivestotheApproachOfficer.Hegoesbecktotime0:15andfromthere
measuresthespeedmadegoodalongthetargetscoursestotime6:30.Thisspeed,
calledtheoverallspeed,hefindstobe151/2andannouncesit.
(b)TargetcourseSincethenewtargetcourseatthistimeismerelythatestimated
bytheApproachOfficer'sangleonthebow,theplotterdoesnotannounceanew
courseatthistime.
(c)ZigtimeTofindthefirstestimateofzigtimetheplotterextendstheangleon
thebowlinebacktotheintersectwiththetarget'soldcourseline.Thisintersectsat
thefourminuteDR.Theplotter
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announces"zigtime4minutes".Thisfirstestimatewillonlybeasaccurateasthe
ApproachOfficer'sangleonthebow.Theplotterthenlabelshisplotplacingthe
zigtimeinaboxattime4andtheoverallspeed151/2inaboxadjacenttothe
time6:30point.
Attime8:00anobservationwasplottedandtheplotterannouncesthefollowing
information:
TargetSpeed:
TargetCourse:
AngleontheBow:
ZipsTie:

OVERALLTARGETSPEED151/2
NEWCOURSE150
ANGLEONTIMEBOWOVERESTIMATEDBY
20degrees
CORRECTEDZIGTIP5MINUTES

Thiscorrectedzigtimewasfoundbyrunningthetarget'snewcourselineandback
totheoldcourselineandtakingthetheeatthepointofintersection.
ImmediatelyafterthisobservationtheApproachOfficerhadtogobelowperiscope
depth.TheplotterbymakingaDRtrackofthetargetisabletogivetheApproach
Officerthepresentrangeatanytimeuntilthetargetzigs.Attime10:00the
ApproachOfficeraskedfortherange.TheplottercallsoutRANGE____theDR
rangeatthattime.
546.STADIMETERPLOT:
ThesourceofinformationforthestadimeterplotistheperiscopesOptical

bearings,andstadimeterrangesaresuppliedbytheApproachOfficertogetherwith
hisestimateofangleonthebow.Sincetheerrorsinstadimeterrangesmaybegreat
andvariabletheplotismuchhardertomakeandanalyzethanthe
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Asystemoffairinginthetarget'scoursethroughtheobservedpointsmustbeused.
TheplottermustleanheavilyontheApproachOfficer'sangleonthebowin
arrivingatthepropercourseline.Ingeneralthesmalleranglesonthehowandthe
shorterrangeswillhethemostaccurate.Thismustbetakenintoaccountwhen
fairinginthetarget'scourseline.Overalltargetspeedis,always,usedinthistype
plot.Theoverallspeedistakenalongthefairedincourselinefromthefirstbearing
linetothelast.
Zigtimeiscomputedinthesamewayasfortheperiscoperadarplot.Firstestimate
isobtainedusingtheApproachOfficer'sangleonthebow.Whennewfairedin
courselineisconstructedabetterestimateshouldbefound.PlateVIIisatypical
stadimeterplot.
517.THERADARPLOT
Thesourceofinformationfortheradarplotiseitherthesurfacesearchoraircraft
searchradar.Theinformationmaybereceivedwithanyfrequencydesiredbythe
plotter.Sinceagreatnumberofpointsmaybeplottedinashorttimeaverygood
courseandspeedmaybedeterminedquickly.Sincenoangleonthebowis
receivedthetarget'scourseiswhollydependentupontheaccuracyoftheplotter.
Theplottershouldselectatimeintervalbetween
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observationsthatsuitshisplottingspeed,usuallyoneaminute,althoughonce
everyhalfminutemaybeusedifdesired.Withadefinitetimeintervalbetween
observationsthecomputationoftargetspeedissimple.Since1knotequals100
yardsper3minutesthetargetspeedinthreeminutesmaybefoundbymerely
droppingthelasttwoplacesofthenumberofyardsthetargettraveledinthattime.
Speedinknotsfor11/2minutestimewouldbetwicethenumberofyardsdivided
by100,etc.Thisisaveryusefulruleandmaybeusedveryreadilywhena
constanttimeintervalisusedinplotting.
Thepointsinaradarplotareplottedinthesamemannerastheotherplots.Since
therewillbemanymorepointsasolidbearinglinefromownshipthroughthe
targetpositionshouldbeplottedeveryfourthorfifthobservationtokeeptheplot
oriented.PlateVIIIisasampleradarplot.
548.THENAVIGATIONALSONARPLOT
Whentheapproachisbeingmadewiththeaidofsonarbearingsonlythe
NavigationalPlotcanstillfurnishmuchvaluableinformationtotheTDC.Usinga
knownorassumedspeedtheNavigationalPlottercanfitthisspeedinbetween
bearinglinesandfurnishTDCwithreasonablyaccuratecoursesandranges.This
typeplotisparticularlyvaluablewhentheentireapproachismadeonsonar
informationonly.
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TheprinciplesusedinthesonarNavigationalPlotareillustratedbyCaseIX,
ManeuveringBoardManual,H.0.217.
549.BLANK
550.PERISCOPEASSISTANT:
ThedutiesofthePeriscopeAssistantareasfollows:
1.RaisesandlowerstheperiscopeinuseonordersfromtheApproachOfficer.
2.WhentheperiscopeisraisedplacesitonthebearingdesignatedbytheTDC
Operator.
3.AnnouncestherelativebearingontheorderBEARINGMARKfromthe
ApproachOfficer,whenrequired,orringsthebearingbuzzer.
4.ReadsandannouncesthestadimeterrangeontheorderRANGEMARKfrom
theApproachOfficeroroperatestherangeomnimeteriftelemeterrangesarebeing
used.Computesthetargetlengthwiththerangeomnimeterwhenrequired.
5.WhentheApproachOfficerisobservingthetargetgroupinformshimwhenthe
keeldepthofthesubmarinevaries1footormorefromtheordereddepth.
551559BLANK
560.THESONARPLOTTER:
TheSonarPlotterisarelativelynewmemberoftheSubmarineFireControlParty.
Hisprimaryduty
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istodeterminetruetargetcoursefromsonarbearings.Thisisaccomplishedby
plottingbearingsreceivedfromsonarbyoneoftheplottingmethodsinuseto
determinetherelativecourseofthetarget.Thetruecourseorthetargetisthen
obtainedbycombiningrelativecourseorthetarget,theactualorestimatedspeed
ofthetarget,andthesubmarinecourseandspeedonamaneuveringboard.
ThereareasyetnocomputersavailabletoaccomplishthisandtheSonarPlotter
mustresort,therefore,tomanualplotting.Thereareinuseatpresenttwomethods
ofaccomplishthistheBearingRatePlotandtheBearingDifferencePlot.
561.BEARINGRATEPLOT
AswasexplainedunderthedutiesoftheNavigationalPlotterweusuallyplottrue
bearingandrangestodeterminethetarget'struecourse.Ifthisisdoneona
maneuveringboardwegettargetrelativecourseandspeed.
Nowifwesubstituteforactualrangearelativeorabstractrangewewillgetthe
directionoftherelativemovementlineofthetarget(orrelativetargetcourse).It
canbeprovedmathematicallythat:

Itisobviousthatitwouldnotbepracticableto
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actuallycomputethevariousvaluesofrelativerangeduringanapproach.Wecan,
however,assumeaconvenientvalueforKwhichisaconstantandconstructona
largemaneuveringboardagraphonwhichwecanplotvaluesofrateofchangeof
bearing(db/dt)againsttruetargetbearing.PlateIXisapictureofsuchaplotting
sheetinwhichK=200
PlateXisasetofdatawhichhasbeenrecordedbytheSonarPlotRecorder.The
numberedlinesaretheactualsonarbearingofthetargetat30secondintervals.
Thedatawhichareplottedbythesonarplotterarethedifferencesbetween
bearingsoneminuteapartandthemidbearingfromtherecordersheetsFor
example,thefirstdb/dtis21/4degreesplottedattruebearing3301/2degrees.
Themidbearingfromtherecordersheetsaynotbetheexactmathematicalmean
ofthetwobearingsbutitiscloseenoughforpracticalapplication.Thesevalues
representtherateofchangeofbearingdb/dt,foradtofoneminuteandtheaverage
truetargetbearingduringtheperiodforwhichtheratehasbeencomputed.These
valuesareshownplottedonPlateIXandindicatethattherelativecourseofthe
targetis120degreesT.SincePlateIXisalsoamaneuveringboardwemaylay
outtheowncourseandspeedvectorof000degreesT,3knots,andtransferthe
relativecourselinetotheendofthevectorandforatargetspeedof15knots
obtainatruecourseforthetargetof110degreesT.
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Thismethodofobtainingthetarget'scourseisobviouslylaboriousandsubjectto
sonarerrorsandarithmeticalerrorsoftheplotrecorder.Inobtainingthetarget
coursebythismethodthereareseveralpointswhichshouldberemembered:
a.Eventhougheachchangeofcoursebythetargetwillproduceanew
relativemotionlinetheywillnotbeconnectedinsuchamannerasto
produceaplottedtrackofthetarget.
b.SincetheerrorsinthepresentJTsonarcanbeasmuchasplusorminus1
to2degreesthevalueofdb/dtwhichareplottedwillvaryconsiderablyand
thebestthatcanbeexpectedisarelativemotionlineobtainedby"fairing"in
theplottedpoints.
c.Theinherenterrorsofthesonarsystemrenderitimpracticabletoplot
valuesofdb/dtoflessthan2degrees/mm.
d.Althoughadtofoneminuteisusedintheexamplesmallervaluesmaybe
usedtoobtainmoreplottedpointswithoutchangingthegraphitselforthe
answerdesired.Experiencedplotterswillordinarilyuseavalueofdt=30
seconds.Thisvalueofdt,however,cannotbechangedduringaproblem.
e.Themethodwillnotworkifcontinuousbearingsarenotavailable.
Bearingsobtainedatintermittentintervalsareofnopracticalvalue.
f.Oneerroneousbearingwillcausetwoplottedpointstobeinerror.
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g.Whenthetargetchangescourseanimmediatechangewilloccurinthe
rateofchangeofbearing(db/dt)andtilethechangeofcourseisinprogress
itwillchangeatavaryingratewhichwillcontinueuntilthetargetis
steadiedonitsnewcourse.

562.BEARINGDIFFERENCEPLOT:
TheBearingRatePlotashasbeenshownplotsavaryingamountofbearingchange
occurringoverafixedtimeinterval.TheBearingDifferencePlotplotsaspecified
amountofbearingchangeoccurringoveravaryingtimeinterval.IntheBearing
DifferencePlotasintheBearingRatePlottheresultobtainedistherelative
courseofthetarget.(a)PlateXIisaBearingDifferenceplottingsheetusinga
scalefactoroftwenty.Themathematicalproofofthismethodislongandinvolved
andwillnotbediscussed.Theformulausedintheconstructionofabearing
differenceplottingsheetisTanB=XTanAinwhichBistheanglebetweentheY
axisandanyradiallineAisthebearingdifferenceangleandXisthescalefactor.
InPlateXIthetangentofangleB=20Xtan0.5degreesor
TanB=20X.0087
TanB=.174
B=99degrees
Inlikemannerradiallinesrepresentingeach1/4degreeofbearingdifferenceare
laidoutupto5degrees.
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Beyondthisvaryingdifferenceanglesareusedasdesired.Thetimescaleusedhas
noeffectuponthesolutionobtained.Ascalewhichwillfacilitateaccurateplotting
shouldbeselected.Itcanbeseenthatincreasingthescalefactorwilldecreasethe
valueoftheminimumvalueofbearingdifferencewhichcanbeplottedforagiven
sizeofplottingsheet.Whentherateofchangeofbearingofthetargetislargeit
willbefoundthataplottingsheetmadeupforascalefactoroftenorfifteenwill
givebetterresults.PlateXIIisaplottingsheetmadeupusingascalefactoroften.
Theprocedureforusingthisplotisasfollows:
1.Startthestopwatchonanyevendegreeofbearing.
2.LabeltheYaxisasthereciprocalofthisbearing.
3.Notethestopwatchtimeandplotapointeachtimethebearingchanges
1/4,1/2,3/4,etc.,fromthatwhichobtainedwhenthewatchsstarted.
4.Whenenoughpointshavebeenplottedtoestablishaline,measurethe
slopeofthisline.InPlateXIthisisdonebytransferringthelinetotheorigin
andreadingvalueoftheslopeontheverticalorhorizontalscalesaroundthe
maneuveringboardplot.InPlateXIIitisdonebyplacinganoverlayscale
onthelineasshownandreadingthevaluedirectly.
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5.ApplythisslopetothevalueoftheYaxisdeterminedinstep2.Ifthetrue
bearingisincreasingtheslopeisnegative.Ifthetruebearingisdecreasing
theslopeispositive.
6.Thisisthenthetruedirectionofthetargetrelativemotion.
7.Onthemooringboardcombinethisvaluewithowncourseandspeedand
knownorestimatedtargetspeedtodeterminetruetargetcourse.Eachtime
thetargetchangescourseitisnecessarytorepeatagainstepsonethrough
six.

(b)PlateXIIIisasetofdataplottedonPlateXIandlabeledone(1).Inthis
examplethetruebearingofthetargetwas000degreeTincreasing.The"Y"axisis
then180degreesTandtheslopeis8degrees.Thisgivesavalueof172degreesfor
thetruedirectionofrelativetargetcourse.Thisisthenplottedonthemaneuvering
boardtogiveatruetargetcourseof171degreesT.Notethatthetargetchanged
courseat6minutesandthatpointsplottedat0615and0617indicateadefinite
changeintheslopeoftheline.Allchangesoftargetcoursewillbeindicatedinthis
manner.
(c)PlateXIVisanothersetofdatainwhichthereisamuchlargerrateofchange
oftargetbearing.ThisisshownplottedonPlateXIandlabeledtwo(2).Notethata
slopehasbeendeterminedin1minuteand42seconds.Intheexampletheinitial
truebearingofthetargetwas010degreesTincreasing.
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The"Y"axisisthen190degreesTandtheslopeis50degrees.Thisgivesavalue
of140degreesTforthetruedirectionofrelativetargetcourse.Thisdataisthen
plottedonthemaneuveringboardtogiveatruetargetcourseof132degreesT.
Itcanbereadilyseenthatitisinconvenienttoplotinthelowerlefthandcornerof
theplottingsheet.Thiscanbepreventedbyusingaplottingsheetmadewitha
smallerscalefactor.Asecondmethodistodoublethetimescale.Thelinelabeled
three(3)infigureXIshowsthedataoflinetwo(2)plottedwiththetimescale
doubled.Note,andthisisimportant,thatchangingthetimescaledoesnotchange
theslopeoftheline.
Itissometimesdesirabletoplotbearingdifferencesagainstequalincrementsof
timeinsteadofthemethodusedinstep3oftheprocedure.Thisdoesnotvarythe
resultandallowsmorepointstobeplottedwithverylowbearingrates.
(d)comparisonoftheBearingRatePlotandtheBearingDifferencePlotasshown
intheexamplesbringsoutthefollowingpointswhichshouldbenotedinselecting
themethodtobeused.
1.ThegreatestadvantageoftheBearingDifferencePlotovertheBearingRatePlot
isthatbearinginaccuraciesinherentwiththesonarequipmentareabsorbed
resultinginsmallerandsmallerpercentageerrorsastheplotprogresses.
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TheBearingRatePlotusesbearingratescomputedbetweenoneminute
observations.Theeffectoftheerrorofthesonarequipmentforanygivenbearing
ratewillremainthesame.IntheBearingDifferencePlotthisisnotthecaseasthe
plottedvaluesarealwaystakenfromareferencebearing.Astheproblem
progressesthebearingdifferencebecomeslargerandlargerandthepercentage
errorbecomessmallerandsmaller.
DuetotheinherenterrorsofourpresentsonarequipmenttheBearingRatePlotis
notusablewithabearingratelessthan2degrees/minute,TheBearingDifference
Plotmaybeusedatrateslessthan1degrees/minute.
Asoursonarequipmentisimprovedbothplotswillofcoursebecomemore
effective.
2.IntheBearingRatePlotnodataareavailablebeforeanelapsedtimeof1
minute.InthesecondexampleoftheBearingDifferencePlottwentyeight(28)
pointswereplottedandasolutionobtainedinanelapsetimeof1minute,30

seconds.
3.IntheBearingRatePlotonebadbearingaffectstwoplottedpoints.Inthe
BearingDifferencePlotabadbearingaffectsonlyonepoint.
4.IntheBearingRatePlotarecorderandcomplicatedarithmeticcomputationsare
requiredtoobtaindata.Theseareofcoursesubjecttoerror.IntheBearing
DifferencePlotnorecorderisrequiredandthedata
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isobtaineddirectlyfromthesonarbearingrepeatersbyobservation.

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5.IntheBearingDifferencePlotwheretheangleonthebowofthetargetbecomes
largerthan30degreestheslopeofthelinebecomesverycriticalandaslighterror
inpickingofftheslopewillintroduceafairlylargecourseerror.However,asthe
angleonthebowincreasesthetargetcoursebecomeslessandlesscriticalinthe
firecontrolsolutionastheoptimumtorpedotrackisapproached.
563569.BLANK
570.FIRINGKEYOPERATOR:
(a)TheFiringKeyOperatormanstheXJAphonesandrelaystotheTorpedo
RoomallordersfromtheApproachOfficer.Theordersheisrequiredtorelayare
thefollowing:
1.Firingorder.
2.Torpedodepthandspeedsettings.
3.Theordertofloodthetubes.
4.Theordertoopentheouterdoors.
5.Theordertostandby,commenceshooting,andtheordertocheckfire
whennecessary.
(b)Whenthetubesarefloodedandthespeedanddeptharesetonthetorpedoesas
orderedbytheApproachOfficerherelaysthereportfromtheTorpedoRoomsto
theFireControlPartythattheApproachOfficer'sordershavebeencompliedwith.
AfterthetorpedotubeouterdoorshavebeenopenedheinformstheApproach
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OfficerendtheFireControlPantywhenthetorpedotubesareinallrespectsready
tofire.
(c)Duringfiringhecheckstoseethatthegyroanglesetlightonthefiringpanelis
onpriortofiringeachindividualtorpedo.Hefireseachindividualtorpedo
followingtheorderSHOOTfromtheAssistantTDCOperator,holdingthefiring
keydownineachcaseaminimumof5secondsandtimesthefiringintervalto
makesurethatitisnotlessthanthatpreviouslyorderedbytheApproachOfficer.
571579.BLANK
580.GYROANGLESETTER:
(a)TheGyroAngleSettersarestationedinthegyrosettingindicatorregulatorsin
thetorpedorooms.Theirprimarydutyistoseethatthecorrectgyroanglesare
beingsetonthetorpedotubesasdirectedbytheAssistantTDCOperator.
(b)UponmanningbattlestationstheGyroAngleSettersmantheJAphones,set

thegyrosettingindicatorregulatoron000(180aft),placetheGSIRinautomatic
andstandbytoreport"mannedandready"whencalledbytheAssistantTDC
Operator.TheAssistantTDCOperatorthenhascompletecontrolofthecircuit.By
closingthegyroangleindicatingregulatingswitchontheTDChecan,atanytime,
completethecircuitandthecorrectgyroangleorderwillbetransmittedtothe
tubes.
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(c)TheGyroSettingIndicatorRegulatorhasadjustablemechanicalstops.Boththe
AssistantTDCOperatorandtheGyroSettermustknowthelimitssetonthestops
andmustbealerttoseethatthegyroangleorderiswithintheprescribedlimits
beforematching.
(d)TheGyrosingleSettermustbealertfortransmissionfailuresandbereadyto
shifttohandatanytime.IftheGyroSettingIndicatorRegulatorissecuredforany
reasonaftermatchinggyrostheGyroAngleSettershouldimmediatelyplacethe
GyroSettingIndicatorRegulatoron000(180aft)bysleworhand,placetheGSIR
ininautomaticandstandbyforfurtherinstructionsfromtheAssistantTDC
Operator.FailuretofollowthisproceduremayresultinrunningtheGyroSetting
Indicatorintothestopsonthenextmatching,sincethesynchrosystemwilltendto
matchintheshortestdirectionwhichinsomecaseswouldbethroughthestops.By
placingtheGyroSettingIndicatorRegulatoralwayson000(180aft)thiswillbe
avoided.
581.GYROMATCHINGANDCHECKINGPROCEDURE:
Atthecriticalrangeorwhenitbecomesapparentwhichtubenestwillbefired,the
AssistantTDCOperatorwillmatchgyrosandcheckthenusingthefollowing
procedure:
AssistantTDCOperator
GYROSFWD(AFT)MATCH
GYROSINAUTOMATIC

AssistantTDCOperatorcompletesthe
circuitbyplacingthegyroangle
indicatingregulatingswitchontheTDC
istheindicatingregulatingposition.
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GyroAngleSetter
TDC,GYROSFWD(AFT)MATCHED GyroAngleSetterobservesgyros
INAUTOMATIC
matchingandreportsassoonastheyare
matched.
AssistantTDCOperator
GYROSFWD(AFT)STANDBYFOR Marksthegyroangleorderonaneasily
AGYROCHECK.STANDBY....
readvalue.
MARK!
GyroAngleSetter
ZEROFOURZEROTWENTY
AssistantTDCOperator
CHECK

Reportsthevalueofgyroangleorderto
closesttenminutes.
GiventhenvaluereportedbyGyro
AngleSetteragreeswithATDC's
observedvalue.

TheGyroAngleSetterthenkeepsobservingthezeropointerandmatchingbugto
seethattheyarematching.Aslongastheyarematching,theGyroAngleSetter
willkeephisgyromatchedkeyclosedgivingagyromatchedlightontheready
lightpanel.Shouldtheygetoutofsynchronismbecauseofalargebearingchange
orspreadentrytheGyroAngleSetterwillreleasehisgyromatchedkeyuntilthey
areagaininsynchronism.
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CHAPTER6
SPREADS

600.GENERAL:
(a)Aspreadisasalvooftorpedoesfiredtohitdifferentpointsalongthelengthof
thetargetoritslengthextended.ThisisillustratedinPlateXV.Thesuccessive
torpedoesofthesalvohitatpointsA,B,andC.
(b)Asalvooftorpedoesisspreadtocovererrorsintheestimatesofenemy's
course,speed,andrange(forlargegyroangles).Theseerrorsarethetotalerrors
thatmightexistthroughtheerrorsinthedatausedforfiring,andthosecausedby
routineorevasivemaneuversofthetargetjustpriorto,during,orshortlyafter
torpedofireoccurs.Theshorterthetorpedorun,thegreateristheangularlengthof
thetarget.Asmallertotalpercentcoverageoftargetlengthmaythenbeusedto
covertheestimatedtotalerrors.
(c)Theunitofspreadisthelineardistancebetweenadjacentpointsthattorpedoes
hitalongthelengthofthetargetoritslengthextended.Theunitofspreadcanalso
beexpressedinthenumberofdegreesitsubtendsatanygiventorpedorunonany
giventorpedotrackangle.
(d)Thetotalamountofspreadusedinasalvomaybespokenofintermsoftotal
percentageoftargetlengthcovered.
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InthediagramsonPlateXVthetotalamountorspreadis100%.
(e)Thenumberoftorpedoesinasalvoisdeterminedbythenumberofhitsdesired
withanygiventotalcoverage.
601.GYROANGLES:
(a)Thedifferenceingyroanglesbetweensuccessivetorpedoesinasalvo
determinesthepatternofthesalvo.
(b)Whenfiringasalvotohitthesamepointofaimofamovingtarget,the
differenceingyroanglesbetweensuccessivetorpedoesistheTargetAdvance
Angle.Itshouldnotbeconfusedwithspread.
(c)Whenfiringasalvowhichisspreadtohitatdifferentpointsalongthetarget's
lengthorlengthextended,thedifferenceingyroanglesisequaltothealgebraic
sumoftheTargetAdvanceAngleandtheSpreadAngle.
(d)Thisdifferenceingyroangle,andthereforethepatternofaspread,canbe
variedinanygivensalvobychangingtheorderinwhichthesuccessivetorpedoes
arefiredtohitalongthetarget'slengthorlengthextended.

(e)Thefollowingexamplewillillustratethisstatement.Inthisexampleauniform
firingintervalisassumedforthesakeofclarity.
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EXAMPLEThreetorpedoesaretobefiredona90degreesstarboardtorpedo
trackanglewithatorpedorunof960yards.Target600feet(200yards)inlengthis
making17.5knots,100%coverageisdesired.Firinginterval10seconds.
Generatedgyroangleorder356degrees.
CASE1:Alltorpedoeshavegoneoutonthesametrack.Thesalvo,therefore,isa
longitudinalspread.Thisisaspecialcase,aspreviouslymentioned,butclearly
showsthatdivergencewillbequitesmallinfiringfromforwardtoaft.Firing
Forward,M.O.T.,Aft,isparticularlyrecommendedagainstahighspeedtargetat
shortrange,inordertokeeprateofchangeofgyroangleordertoaminimum,
therebyinsuringmatchedgyrosatinstantoffiring.

GeneratedGyroAngleOrder
TargetAdvanceAngle6degrees
SpreadAngle
IndicatedGyroAngleOrder

TORPEDO TORPEDO TORPEDO

#1
#2
#3
356degrees 002degrees 008degrees
6degreesR 0degrees 6degreesL
002degrees 002degrees 002degrees
Difference0degrees
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CASE2:Adivergentspreadwiththegreatestdivergencewillalwaysbeobtained
whenfiringfromaftforward.

GeneratedGyroAngleOrder
TargetAdvanceAngle6degrees
SpreadAngle
IndicatedGyroAngleOrder

TORPEDO TORPEDO TORPEDO

#1
#2
#3
356degrees 002degrees 008degrees
6degreesL 0degrees 6degreesR
350degrees 002degrees 014degrees
Difference12degrees
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CASE3:Adivergentspread:WhenfiringattheM.O.T.,forward,andthenaft,a
spreadofmoderatedivergencewillbeobtained.

TORPEDO TORPEDO TORPEDO

#1
#2
#3
356degrees 002degrees 008degrees

GeneratedGyroAngleOrder
TargetAdvanceAngle6degrees
SpreadAngle
0degrees

6degreesR 6degreesL

IndicatedGyroAngleOrder

356degrees 008degrees 002degrees

Difference6degrees
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CASE4:Adivergentspreadofunsymetricalpatternisobtainedwhenfiringatthe
M.O.T.,aft,andthenforward.

TORPEDO TORPEDO TORPEDO

#1
#2
#3
356degrees 002degrees 008degrees

GeneratedGyroAngleOrder
TargetAdvanceAngle6degrees
SpreadAngle
0degrees 6degreesL 6degreesR
IndicatedGyroAngleOrder
356degrees 356degrees 014degrees
Difference0degrees18degrees
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602.TYPESOFSPREAD:
(a)DivergentSpread
Adivergentspreadisaspreadinwhichthetorpedoesofasalvointersectthe
target'strackatdifferentpointsalongthetarget'slengthandatdifferenttorpedo
trackangles.Thistypeofspreadisdifficulttoavoidbecauseofitsfanshaped
pattern.(DiagramA,PlateXV).
(b)LongitudinalSpread
Alongitudinalspreadisthespreadobtainedbyfiringasalvooftorpedoesalong
identicaltorpedotracks.Torpedo#1hitsthetargetatA,#2atB,and#3atC,due
tomovementoftargetacrosstheidenticaltrackofthetorpedoes.Itisasimpletype
ofspread,havingthedisadvantagethatthetargetwhichcanavoidonetorpedo
trackundoubtedlycanavoidtheotherswhicharefollowinginthewakeofthefirst.
(DiagramB,PlateXV).

(c)Therearemanydifferenttypesofspreadswhichmaybeused.Duringthewar
numerous"gadgets"weredesignedandusedinsettingspreads.Nomatterwhat
spreadisuseditshouldembodycertainbasicelements.Theseare:
1.Targetlength
2.Torpedotrack
3.Torpedorun
4.Coverage
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Anyspreadsystemshouldcombinethesefourelementstoproducethespread
desired.Twotypesofspreaddeterminationincommonusewillbediscussedin
detailbelow.
603.COMPUTEDSPREAD:
(a)Thecomputedspreadisbasedonthefactthat1degreesubtendsapproximately
100feetat2000yards.Fromthistheformulamaybededuced:

(b)ThemainadvantageofthisspreadisthattheApproachOfficermaydesignate
exactlythecoveragebedesiresforanygivensituation.Alsono"gadget"is
required.
(c)Thefollowingtableshouldbeusedforthesineofthetorpedotrackangle.
TorpedoTrack Sine
1530
1/4
3045
1/2
4560
3/4
6090
1
(d)Thefollowingtableshouldbeusedfortorpedorun.
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TorpedoRunActual TorpedoRunUsed
7001250
1000
12501750
1500
17502250
2000
22502750
2500
27503250
3000

(e)Thetorpedotrackangleandthetorpedorunarequickestimatesmadebythe
AssistantTDCOperator.Theabovetablesarewellwithintheaccuracyofhis
estimates.Thetablesgreatlysimplifythecomputationsnecessary.
(f)WhentheTotalSpreadisobtainedtheUnitofSpreadmaybequicklycalculated
bydividingbyonelessthanthenumberoftorpedoestobefired.

(g)ThemainadvantageofthisspreadisthattheApproachOfficermaydesignate
exactlythecoveragehedesiresforanygivensituation.Alsoallelementsare
consideredandno"gadget"isrequired.Thisspreadshouldnotbeusedwitha
torpedotrackoflessthan15degrees.
604.432lSPREAD:
(a)The4321spreadisasimplevariationofthecomputedspread.Ithasbeen
designedtoproducea70yardaveragelinearunitofspread,andisprimarily
intendedfora600foottarget.Thisfactoristheinherentweaknessofthemethod
whichis,however,compensatedforbyitssimplicityofdeterminationand
application.Sinceitproducesasetvalueofangularunitofspreadthecoverage
obtainedisnotreadilyascertainable.
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Thevaluesofangularunitofspreadarederivedfromthetableusingthetorpedo
runasthedeterminingelement.Theunitofspreadmustbeadjustedforthetorpedo
trackangleasinthecomputedspread.
UnitofSpread TorpedoRun
4) Multiplied 7001500
3) bysineof 15002000
2) thetorpedo 20002500
1) trackangle 25003000
Thisspreadshouldnotbeusedwithatorpedotrackoflessthan15degrees.
(b)Regardlessofthespreadsystemusedtenfiringonatorpedotrackoflessthan
15degreesnotmorethan1/2degreestotalspreadshouldbeused.
605.SPREADPOLICY:
Indeterminingthespreadpolicytobeusedaboardasubmarinethefollowing
pointsshouldberemembered:
(a)Alongitudinalspreadgivesnodivergence.
(b)Spreadingfromaftforwardgivesthemaximumdivergence.
(c)Aspreadshouldbeveryeasytocomputeandapplytoavoidpersonnelerrors.
(d)Useequalunitsofspreadbetweenadjacenttorpedoesinasalvo.
(e)Linearunitofspreadshouldnotexceedeffectivetargetlength.Itismandatory
thataspreadpolicybeestablishedoneverysubmarineandthattheFireControl
Partyunderstanditthoroughlyandthattheybedrilledinitsuse.
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606.DETERMINATIONOFCOVERAGE:
TheApproachOfficershouldbearthefollowingpointsinmindindeterminingthe
amountofspreadtobeused:
(a)TheProbablemagnitudeoftheerrorscausedbyroutineorevasivemaneuvers

ofthetargetpriorto,during,orshortlyaftertorpedofireoccurs.Thiswillbe
influencedby:
(1)Torpedorun
(2)Torpedotrackangle
(3)Tacticalcharacteristicsofthetarget
(4)Ratiooftorpedospeedtotargetspeed
(b)Theprobablemagnitudeoftheerrorsinthefiringdataandtorpedo
performance.
(c)Sufficientnumberoftorpedoesinthesalvotoobtainthedesirednumberofhits
fromthesalvoconsistentwiththeneedofprovidingpropercoverageforthe
probabletotalerrors.
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CHAPTER7
FIRINGMETHODS

700.GENERAL:
(a)Firingmethodsdescribethedifferentproceduresemployedjustpriortoand
whilefiringthetorpedoesofasalvo.Goodfiringmethodsinsurethemosteffective
torpedofireforthefiringdataused.ThetorpedoFireControlPartymustbewell
trainedintheuseofanyselectedmethodormethods.
(b)TheTDCgeneratesahittinggyroangleforanyinstantaneousrelativebearing
ofthetargetandtheestimatedvaluesoftargetspeed,targetcourse,endrange.The
accuracyofthisgyroanglewillvarywiththeaccuracyoftheseestimatestothe
degreethatanerrorinanyonemightbeaccumulatedwithorcanceloutallorpart
ofanother.Regardlessofthepositionatwhichtorpedofireoccurs,everyeffortis
madetohavethemostcorrectsolutionontheTDCwhilefiring.Thisis
accomplishedbytheuseoffiringmethodswhichinsurethat:
(1)AnaccuraterelativebearingofthetargetisintheTDCuponfiring.
(2)AnaccuraterangeisintheTDCuponfiringwhenusinglargegyro
angles.
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(c)Thefollowingbasicstandardfiringmethodsaredescribedforsubmerged
attacksbutareequallyapplicabletosurfaceattacks,theyare:
(1)Checkbaringmethod
(2)Continuousbearingmethod
(3)Constantbearingmethod
701.CHECKBEARINGMETHOD:
(a)TheApproachOfficerhavingpreviouslyannouncedthatSHOOTINGWILL
BEBYTHECHECKBEARINGMETHOD,BEARINGEVERY____
TORPEDOES.Hethen,wheninallrespectsreadytoshoot,announcesFINAL
BEARINGANDSHOOTUPSCOPE.

(b)AdesignatedmemberoftheFireControlPartyordersSTANDBYFORWARD
(AFT).
(c)Theperiscopeisplacedonthedesiredpointofaimassoonasthetopofthe
periscopebreakswater.TheApproachOfficerordersBEARINGMARK.
(d)TheTDCOperatormatchestheobservedbearingandradarrange(iftaken)in
thecenter,sectionoftheTDCandannouncesSETwhenithasbeenmatched.
(e)TheAssistantTDCOperatorannouncesSHOOTifthefollowingconditionsare
met:
(1)Spreadset
(2)Correctsolutionlighton
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(f)Ifthegyromatchedlightison,thefiringkeyoperatorpressesthefiringkey,
announcesFIREONE,andstartshisstopwatch.HeannouncesONEFIREDwhen
thetorpedohasleftthetube.
(g)Ifthetargetisnottrackingwell,thisprocedureisrepeatedforeachtorpedoin
thesalvo.WhenthetargetistrackingwellontheTDC,intheinterestofreducing
theprobabilityofbeingsighted,thenumberofcheckbearingsinsertedmaybe
reduced.Itisundesirable,however,tofiremorethantwotorpedoesin
successionwithoutacheckbearing.
(h)TheTDCOperatorannouncesSETonlywhenacheckbearingisobtained.
(i)TheAssistantTDCOperatormustannounceSHOOTpriortothefiringofeach
torpedo.Ifacheckbearingisnotobtainedafterthetorpedohasbeentiredas
announcedbytheFiringKeyOperator,theAssistantTDCOperatormustinsure
thattheprecedingtorpedohasleftthetubepriortosettingthespreadforthenext
torpedo.
(j)TheFiringKeyOperatormustwaitfortheorderSHOOTpriortofiringeach
torpedoevenifthefiringintervalisexceeded.Undernormalcircumstanceshewill
receivetheorderSHOOTpriortotheendofthefiringinterval.Hethenmustfire
ontime.AssuccessivetorpedoesarefiredbeannouncesTWOFIRED,THREE
FIRED,ETC.
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702.CONTINUOUSBEARINGMETHOD:
(a)TheApproachOfficerhavingpreviouslyannouncedthatSHOOTINGWILL
BEBYCONTINUOUSBEARINGMETHODhethen,wheninallrespectsready
toshoot,announcesFINALBEARINGANDSHOOTUPSCOPE.
(b)AdesignatedmemberoftheFireControlPartyordersSTANDBYFORWARD
(AFT).
(c)Theperiscopeisplacedonthedesiredpointofaimassoonasthetopofthe
periscopebreakswater.TheApproachOfficerannouncesBEARINGONaslong
ashehasthecrosswireoftheperiscopeonthedesiredpointofaim.Heannounces
BEARINGOFFwhileshiftingtoanewpointofsin,orifthecrosswireshould

inadvertentlymoveoffthedesiredpointofaim.
(d)TheTDCOperatormatchesthegeneratedandobservedvaluesofrelative
bearingandradarrange(iftaken)inthecentersectionoftheTDC.TheTDC
OperatorannouncesSETassoonashehasmatchedandthereafterkeepsthe
observedandgeneratedvaluesofrelativebearingmatchedthroughoutthefiring.
(e)TheAssistantTDCOperatorordersSHOOTwhenthefollowingconditionsare
met:
(1)Spreadset(ifnotappliedatperiscope)
(2)Correctsolutionlighton
(f)TheFiringKeyOperatorannouncesFIREONEifthegyromatchedlightison.
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(g)AssistantTDCOperatorandFiringKeyoperatorfollowthesameprocedureas
undertheCheckBearingmethodwhennocheckbearingsarebeingobtained.
703.CONSTANTBEARINGMETHOD:
(a)TheApproachOfficerhavingpreviouslyannouncedSHOOTINGWILLBE
BYCONSTANTBEARINGMETHODhethen,wheninallrespectsreadytofire,
announcesFINALBEARINGANDSHOOTUPSCOPE.
(b)AdesignatedmemberoftheFireControlPartyordersSTANDBYFORWARD
(AFT).
(c)Theperiscopeisplacedaheadofthedesiredpointofaimassoonasthetopof
theperiscopebreakswater.TheApproachOfficerannouncesBEARINGMARK.
(d)TheTDCOperatormatchesthegeneratedandobservedrelativebearingonthe
centersectionoftheTDCandstopsthegenerationbyholdingthisvalueconstants
HethenannouncesSET.
(e)TheAssistantTDCOperatorannouncesSIDOTwhenthefollowingconditions
havebeenmet:
(1)Correctsolutionlighton
(2)Gyromatchedlighton
(f)theApproachOfficerordersFIREonewhenthepointofaimcrossesthe
verticalcrosswireattheperiscopewhichhasbeenleftontheoriginalrelative
bearing.TheTDCOperatorthenreleasestherelativebearinghandcrankand
allowstheTDCtogenerate.
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(g)Thisprocedureisrepeatedforeachdesiredpointofaim,unlessalongitudinal
spreadisbeingfired.Inthisevent,theoriginalbearingisheldconstantthroughout
thesalvo.
(h)TheFiringKeyOperatorfireseachtorpedoontheorderoftheApproach

Officer.
(i)Inalloftheabovemethods,ifitbecomesnecessarytostopshootingduetoa
targetzigoranyotherreasontheorderCHECKFIREshouldbegiven.After
CHECKFIREisorderedfiringshouldberesumedinthesanemannerasoriginally
commenced.Itmustberememberedthatifsometorpedoesofasalvohavebeen
firedthattheeffectivenessofthespreadwillbereducediffireisnotresumedwith
aminimumofdelay.
704.ADVANTAGESANDDISADVANTAGESOFTHEFIRINGMETHODS:
(a)CheckBearing
(1)Minimumperiscopeexposureisobtained.
(2)AsatisfactoryaccuracyoftargetbearingintheTDCisobtained.
(b)ContinuousBearing
(1)ThecorrecttargetbearingismaintainedintheTDC.
(2)Periscopeisexposedthroughoutthefiring.
(c)ConstantBearing
(1)ThecorrecttargetbearingismaintainedintheTDC.
(2)TheAngleSolversolutionissteadyteneachtorpedoisfired.
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(3)Periscopeisexposedthroughoutthefiring.
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CHAPTER8

THEORYOFTHEAPPROACHANDATTACK
800.GENERAL
TheApproachandAttackisdividedintothreephasesnamelythecontactphase,
theapproachphase,andtheattackphase.
(a)Thepurposeofthecontactphaseistodeterminethedirectionofrelative
movementofthetarget.
(b)Thepurposeoftheapproachphaseistoclosethetargetinordertobringthe
submarinewithintorpedorangeofthetarget.
(c)Thepurposeoftheattackphaseistomaneuverthesubmarineintothemost
favorablefiringpositionobtainableunderthecircumstances.
801.BASICFUNDAMENTALSOFTHEAPPROACHANDATTACK
MethodsofdeterminationofDirectionofTargetMotion.

802.Targetnotinsight.
(a)Uponmakingcontactwithatargetthesubmarinemustdetermineimmediately
theapproximatecourseofthetarget.Inmanycasescontactismadefromsmokeor
thetopofamast.Inthiseventthesubmarinemustdeterminethedirectionof
changeoftruebearinginordertoestablishthedirectionoftargetmotion.Oncethe
directionofthechangeoftrue
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truebearingisdetermined,theangleonthebowisthenestablishedasportor
starboardandthesubmarineplacedonacoursetoclosethetarget'strack.
(b)Whenacontactismadebyradar,rangesandbearingsarethenimmediately
availableandthedirectionofmotionaswellascourseofthetargetmaybequickly
establishedbynavigationalplot,The"speedzero"methodasdescribedin
OP1442Amayalsobeusedtoobtainthedirectionoftargetmotionandcoursein
thiscase.
803.Targetinsight.
(a)Whenthetargetisinsightthequickestandsimplestwaytodeterminethe
directionoftargetmotionisbyvisualobservationofangleonthebow.
(b)Estimationofangleonthebowbyobservationthroughaperiscopeisoneofthe
artspeculiartosubmarining.Anofficer'sabilitytoaccuratelyestimateangleson
thebowincreasesdirectlywithhisexperienceinsubmarines.
(c)Themostcommonerrorinestimationofanglesonthebowisthatofover
estimationwhichoftencanbeascribedtooneormoreofthefollowingreasons:
(1)Lackofappreciationthattheeffectivelengthofthetargetvarieswiththesine
oftheangleonthebow.Halfofthetargetlengthisseenwitha30degreesangleon
thebow,sevententhswitha45degreesangle
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onthebowandninetenthswitha60degreesangleonthebow.
(2)Lackofdepthperceptionwhenusingamonocularperiscope.
(3)Theillusionthatatargetischangingcourseawaythisisverymarkedatshort
rangescausedbythehighrelativeangularmotionofthetargetacrossthelineof
sight.
(4)Theillusionofatargetbeingonasteadycoursewhenviewedatshortranges
duringachangeofcourseofatargettowardse.submarine.Thisillusioniscreated
byapartialortotalcancellationoftheapparentrelativemotionofthetargetacross
thelineofsightbythecoursechangeofthetargettowardthesubmarine.
(5)Clevercamouflagingmayalsoincreasethedifficultiesofangleonthebow
estimation.
(6)Determinationoftargetcoursebyangleonthebowestimationismuchmore
difficultwithlargeanglesonthebow(over30)thanwithsmallanglesonthebow.
(7)Themethodofobtainingangleonthebowbyplothasbeendiscussedindetail

inChapter5.
PlotandTDCdeterminationoftargetmotionmustbeweighedagainstthe
observedangleonthebow.TheaccuracyofPlotandTDCsolutionsoftarget
coursevariesgreatlywiththetypeofinformationfurnished.
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(8)WhenusingStadimeterorTelemeterscalerangesPlotandTDCsolutionsof
targetcourseareusuallynotasgoodastheobservedangleonthebowandfar
moreweightshouldthereforebegiventotobservedangleonthebow.However,
whenradarrangesareavailablePlotandTDCsolutionsoftargetcoursearevery
accurateandshouldbegivenagreatdealofweight.Inthecaseoflargeangleson
thebowwhicharedifficulttoestimatebyeye,PlotandTDCsolutions,whenusing
radarranges,arealmostinvariablybetterthanobservedanglesonthebow.
804.SPEEDDETERMINATION:
(a)TheFireControlPartymustutilizeeverymeansattheirdisposaltodetermine
targetspeed.Thefollowingmeansareavailable:
(1)TDC
(2)PLOT
(3)TURNCOUNT

ThismethodisdescribedinOP1442A.
ThismethodisdescribedindetailinChapter5.
TheApproachOfficershouldhaveavailableforready
referencethemostcompletesetofcurvesthathecan
obtainofdifferenttypesandclassesofenemyvessels.
Theirusewillfurnishameansofapproximatingthe
speedofanobservedtarget.
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(5)Intelligence

SLM1
Dueconsiderationmust,ofcourse,begiventowindand
seaconditionsandconditionofloadingastheyincrease
ordecreasethespeedofanygivenR.P.M.Turncountis
mostvaluableindeterminingasuddenchangeoftarget
speed.
Knowledgeofmaximumandcruisingspeedsofvarious
typesofshipsisofsomeaid.
Anypreviousinformationfurnishedfromothersources
willbeofassistanceindeterminingspeed.

(b)Althoughfivemethodsofdeterminingspeedhavebeengivenabove,itstill
remainsthatunderalmostallcircumstancesPlotandTDCarethetwoprimary
methodswhichthesubmarinemustemploytoobtaintargetspeed.Inbothofthese
methodsanyerrorinunderwaterlogspeedwillintroduceacorrespondingerrorin
solutionoftargetspeed.
805.RELATIVEMOVEMENT
(a)ConstantTrueBearing
(1)Whentherangeisdecreasingandthetruebearingofthetargetremains
constantthesubmarineandthetargetareonacollisioncourse.InPlateXVIthe
truebearingisremainingconstantat015degreesTand
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ifbothshipsmaintaincourseandspeedtheywillcollideatpointA.
(2)Ifduringtheperiodbetweentwoobservationsofthetargetthetruebearing
remainsconstantandthetargethasnotchangedcourse,theangleonthebowwill
remainthesane.
InPlateXVIangleAb=angleb
(3)Ifthetargetandthesubmarinehavenotchangedcourse,thetargethasnot
changedspeed,andthetruebearinghasremainedconstantoveraperiodof2to3
minutes,thetargetspeedmaybedeterminedbytheformulaunderplateXVI.
(b)ChangeinTrueBearing
(1)Whenthesubmarineisclosingthetarget'strackandthetruebearingisdrawing
towardsthebowthesubmarineislosingtruebearingandthetargetwillpassahead
ofthesubmarine.
(2)Whenthesubmarineisclosingthetarget'strackandthetruebearingisdrawing
towardsthesternthesubmarineisgainingtruebearingandwillcrossthetarget's
trackaheadofthetarget.
(3)Ifthetruebearingofthetargetchangesandthetargetdoesnotchangecourse
theangleonthebowofthetargetwillchangethesameamountasthetruebearing.
Ifthesubmarineisgainingtruebearingtheangleonthebowwilldecreaseandif
thesubmarineislosingtruebearingtheangleonthebow
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willincreasebytheamountofchangeoftruebearing.
(c)SpeedWhenAbeam
Whenabeamofavessel,therateofchangeofbearingindegreesperminuteis
equalto1degreesperknotofenemyspeedat2000yards.Theabovestatement
disregardsanychangeofbearingduetothesubmarinemovement.Itisreasonably
accuratebetweenanglesonthebowof50to130.Itisbasedonthefactthat1
degreessubtends35yardsatarangeof2000yardsandoneknotequals33yards
perminute.
(d)RelativeBearing
Turningtowardsorawayfromthetargetwillbringtherelativebearingofthe
targetcloserto,orfurtherfromthebow,respectively,bytheamountofthecourse
change.
(e)SubmarineTrack
Inanysituationthetrackthatthesubmarineisonmaybequicklydeterminedby
addingtogethertheangleonthebowandtheleadangle.
(f)DistancetoTrack
Thedistancetothetrackisequaltothesineoftheangleonthebowtimesthe
range.Thismaybeapproximatedbytheformula:
DistancetoTrack=(Ab/60)XRange

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AlsothefactthatthesineoftheAbchanges.1every6degreesupto60degrees
mayheusedasshowninthefollowingtable:
sine6degrees.1 sine36degrees.6
10degrees1/6
40degrees2/3
12degrees.2 4148degrees.7
15degrees1/4 4958degrees.8
18degrees.3 5965degrees.9
20degrees1/3 6690degrees1.0
24degrees.4
30degrees1/2
806809.BLANK
810.ANALYSISOFTORPEDOFIRING:
(a)StraightFire
Torpedofiringinwhichsmallgyroangles(lessthan30degrees)areusedis
consideredtobe"StraightFire".ThecurvesplottedonplatesXVIIandXVIIIfor
46and29knottorpedoesweredevelopedbyplottingthedeflectionangleagainst
thetorpedotrackanglefordifferenttargetspeeds.Itshouldbenotedthatinall
casesthegyroanglewaszero.
(b)Theslopeofthesecurvesatanypointistheinstantaneousrateofchangeof
deflectionanglewithtorpedotrackangle.Theoptimumtorpedotrackangleforany
giventargetspeedisthetorpedotrackangleforwhichtherateofchangeof
deflectionangleistheleast.Thisisindicatedonthecurvesbytheshadedareas.
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(c)Itiswithinthisrangeoftorpedotrackanglesthatthegreatestamountofcourse
errorcanbeabsorbed.Fromastudyofthecurvesitisevidentthatthemaximum
deflectionangleisobtainedwhenfiringontheoptimumtorpedotrackangleand
thattheoptimumtorpedotrackanglehasavalueequalto90degreesplusthe
maximumdeflectionangle.Itisalsoevidentthatasthetargetspeedincreasesfor
anygiventorpedospeedtheslopeofthecurvesbecomessharper.Thismeansthat
thehigherthetargetspeedthegreatertherateofchangeofdeflectionanglewith
torpedotrackangle.Itisthereforetruethattheoptimumtorpedotrackangleis
moreeffectiveforabsorbingerrorsincoursewhentheratiooftorpedospeedto
targetspeedislarge.Itthereforemaybestatedthattheoptimumtorpedotrack
angleisagoodmeantorpedotrackangleforfiringasalvooftorpedoesifthetarget
speedislessthanonehalfofthetorpedospeed.
(d)Theoptimumtorpedotrackanglefora16knottargetfora46knottorpedois
about110degreesandfora29knottorpedoabout125degrees.
(e)Thegreatestadvantageofstraightfire(smallgyroangles)isthaterrorsin
torpedorunhavenoappreciableeffectonthesolution.Therefore,whentherange
isinaccurate,asinstadimeterandtelemeterscaleapproaches,thesubmarinemust
maneuverforasmallgyroangleshot.
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811.CURVEDFIRE:
Torpedofiringinwhichlargegyroangles(over30)areusedisconsideredtobe
"CurvedFire".
(a)Whenusingcurvedfireanadditionalangularcorrectionmustbeappliedtothe
deflectionangletocorrectforreachandturningcircleofthetorpedo.This
correctionisautomaticallycomputedintheanglesolversectionoftheTDC.This
correctionvarieswithtorpedorun.Thefollowingtablewasmadeupbysettingup
theTDCfortargetspeedsof10,15,and20knotsandadjustedforastarboard90
degreestorpedotrackand1000yardtorpedorunwithgyroanglesof20,40,60and
90leftineachcase.Thetorpedorunwasthenincreasedto1200yardsandthegyro
angledifferencerecorded.
TargetSpeed 10kts.
15kts.
20kts.
LeftGyros GyroAngle GyroAngle GyrosAngle
Diff.
Diff.
Diff.
20
.5degrees 0degrees .5degrees
40
1.5degrees 1.5degrees 2degrees
60
2degrees 2degrees 2.5degrees
90
5degrees 4.5degrees 5degrees
Fromexaminationofthistableitmaybereadilyseenthatforatorpedorunerrorof
200yardsasthegyroangleincreasestheangularerrorbecomeslargerandlarger.
(b)Inordertohaveacorrectsolutionoftorpedorunitismandatorythatan
accuraterangebeavailable.
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"CurvedFire"shouldnotbeusedtenanaccuraterangeisnotavailable.
(c)Whenradarrangesareavailableitisnotnecessarytomaneuvertoobtainsmall
gyroangles.IthasbeenfoundinmanyfiringsattheSubmarineSchoolthatwhen
usingradarrangesthepercentageofhitsobtainedisthesamewith"CurvedFire"
aswith"StraightFire".
812819.BLANK
820.ANALYSISOFTORPEDOTRACKANGLES:
(a)EffectiveTargetLength
Theeffectivelengthofthetargetisdeterminedbythetorpedotrackused.Ona90
degreestorpedotracktheeffectivelengthistheactuallength.Oneithersideof90
degreestheeffectivelengthislessthantheactuallengthandmaybedeterminedby
multiplyingthesineofthetorpedotrackanglebytheactualtargetlength.Ona30
degreestorpedotracktheeffectivetargetlengthisoftheactualtargetlength.Ona
60degreesor120degreestorpedotracktheeffectivetargetlengthis.9ofthe
actualtargetlength.Ona0degreesor180degreestorpedotracktheeffective
targetlengthisthebeamofthetarget.Itmayreadilybeseenthatatorpedotrack
between60and120isthemostadvantageousfromthestandpointofeffective
targetlength.
(b)CourseErrors

Thegreatestcourseerrorcanbeabsorbedwhenfiringontheoptimumtorpedo
trackseeparagraph810(c).
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Asthetorpedotrackangledecreasesthecoursebecomesmoreandmorecritical.
Whenfiringona0degreesor180degreestorpedotrackspeederrorshaveno
effectandcourseistheprimaryconsideration.Nocourseerrorcanbeabsorbed
underthiscondition.
(c)SpeedErrors
Speederrorshavenoeffectwhenfiringona0degreesor180degreestorpedo
track,because,inthissituationtargetspeedaffectsonlythetorpedorun.ASthe
torpedotrackincreasestowards90degrees,speederrorshaveagreaterandgreater
effectonthesolution.Thereforeitwouldtheoreticallybebesttoshootonasharp
torpedotracktocompensateforspeederrorsThisisnotpractical,however,
becauseoftheradicalreductionineffectivetargetlengthonsharptorpedotracks.
Inthefinalanalysistheonlypracticalaytocompensateforspeederrorsisbythe
useofanadequatespread.
821829.BLANK
830DOWNTHETHROATSHOT:
A"downthethroatshot"isconsideredtobeashotwherethetorpedotrackis15
degreesorless.
Inthistypeofshottheprimaryconsiderationistargetcourse.Atwodegreetarget
courseerrorwillresultinapproximatelyonedegreeofgyroangleerror.Thisis
unacceptableinmostcasesbecausetheeffectivetargetlengthissosmall.Alsoitis
impracticaltousealargespreadinthiscasebecausethedistancebetween
torpedoesatthetarget'strackshouldnotexceedtheeffectivetarget
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length.Againstmosttargetsthenaturaldispersionofthetorpedoesinthistypeshot
constitutessufficientspread.Inanyeventnomorethan1/2degreetotalspread
shouldbeused.
Speedhasnoappreciableeffectona"downthethroatshot".Rangehasnoeffect
whenusingzerogyros."Downthethroat"angledshotsshouldnotbeattempted
unlessaradarrangeisavailable.
DuetotheinherenterrorsoftheSubmarineFireControlSystemitisnot
consideredfeasibletoshoota"downthethroatshot"withgreaterthana1500yard
torpedorun.
831839.
BLANK840.DEFLECTIONANGLEFORSTRAIGHTFIRE:
Thedeflectionangleforastraightshotofanytorpedorunfortargetspeedsless
thanonehalfthetorpedospeed,maybeapproximatedasfollows:
Torpedo
46KnotTorpedo
TrackAngle

29KnotTorpedo

1.90degrees 11/4xTargetSpeed 2xTargetSpeed

2.60degrees 75%of(1)
75%of(1)
3.40degrees 50%or(1)
50%of(1)
4.18degrees 25%of(1)
25%of(1)
5.Optimum 11/3xTargetSpeed
841849.BLANK
850.APPROACHCOURSES:
851.NORMALCOURSE:
Thenormalcourseisthecoursewhichwillclosethetarget'strackfastestforany
givenspeed.
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852.NORMALAPPROACHCOURSE:
Thenormalapproachcourseisdirectlyacrossthelineofsight.Itisthebestcourse
formaintainingorgainingtruebearingonthetarget.
853.OPTIMUMAPPROACHCOURSE:
TheOptimumApproachCoursewillbringthesubmarinetoafiringposition
againsttheWidestpossiblerangeoftargetactionsbyvirtueofsuccessfullyclosing
targetswhichwouldbelostwithanyotherapproachcourse.
Itshouldbeuseduntilthereisnolongeranydoubtaboutbeingabletoclosethe
targettowithinlimitingtorpedorun.
UsuallytheOptimumApproachCourselagstheNormalApproachCourseby
about10degrees.
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CHAPTER9

SUBMERGEDAPPROACHANDATTACKTACTICS
900.GENERAL
Thefundamentalpurposeoftheapproachandattackistodestroytheenemywith
theprimaryoffensiveweaponofthesubmarine,i.e.,torpedoes.Thesubmerged
approachandattackdemandstheutmostskillonthepartoftheApproachOfficer
andtheFireControlPartytomaneuverthesubmarineintotheoptimumfiring
position.Thelowspeedandpoormaneuverabilityofthesubmarineandthelimited
opportunitiesforobservingthetargetrequirepromptandcorrectactionbyeven
memberoftheFireControlPartybasedontheinformationavailable.
901.THECONTACTPHASE
Theobjectiveofthisphaseistodeterminethedirectionofrelativemovementof
thetarget.Whencontactismadewiththemastsorsmokeofatargetonthehorizon
noangleonthebowcanbevisuallyobtained.Thesubmarinemustthendetermine
thedirectionoftheangleonthebow(portorstarboard)bysomeothermeans.This

shouldbedonebyobservingthedirectionofchangeofthetarget'struebearing.In
ordertoobtainthemaximumeffectofchangeoftruebearingduetothetarget's
movementthesubmarineshouldbeturnedtoheaddirectlyatthetargetordirectly
awayfromthetarget.Oncetheangleonthe
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bowhasbeenestablishedaseitherportorstarboardthesubmarineshouldassume
thatthetargetispresentingamoderatelylargeangleonthebowandisusinghigh
speed.AnOptimumApproachcoursewhichlagstheNormalApproachcourseby
10degreesshouldbetakenathighspeed.TheContactPhaseisthencompletedand
theApproachPhaseisstarted.
902.THEAPPROACHPHASE
(a)ThebasicobjectiveoftheApproachPhaseistoclosethetargetinorderto
bringthesubmarinewithintorpedorangeofthetargetandtoattainthebest
possiblepositionfromwhichtocommencetheattack.Thelowspeedandpoor
maneuverabilityofthesubmarinemakeitmandatorythatpromptandcorrect
actionbetakeninordertoinsureattainingapositionfromwhichanattackcanbe
maderegardlessofsubsequentmovementsofthetarget.Thebestpositionis,
therefore,directlyaheadofthetargetatarangewhichwillallowtimeforthe
submarinetomaneuvertoafavorablefiringposition.
(b)Whenthesubmarinecommencestomaneuvertoafavorablefiringposition,the
ApproachPhaseisoverandtheAttackPhasehasbegun.Thesubmerged
submarine'sgreatestproblemistoattainagoodpositionfromwhichanattackcan
bedelivered.
(c)Abadtacticalmistakethatcanbemadebythesubmergedsubmarinewhenfirst
makingcontactwithanenemywhosetopsorsmokeisjustvisibleoverthe
horizon,
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istodelayincommencingaggressiveandwellplannedapproachtactics.Inthe
trainingareaorontheattackteacher,thetargetinthemajorityofthecasesmaybe
generallydependedupontocomewithintorpedorangeifasubmarinemakesa
minimumeffectiveefforttoclosethetargettrackthroughillchosenand
unimaginativetactics.TheApproachOfficermay,consequently,developafalse
appreciationofthetacticalproblemthatisthegeneraloneatsea.Thisis,thatthe
enemymightnotbebroughtwithintorpedorangeunlessintelligenttacticsareused
fromfirstcontactandcontinuedthroughouttheApproachPhase.Thearbitraryuse
oftheNormalApproachCoursemight,inborderlinecases,resultinthefailureof
thesubmarinetoachieveapositioninsidethemaximumtorpedorun.
(d)Thesubmarinewhichmakescontactwiththemastsorsmokeofatargetwell
overthehorizonshouldassumethatthetargetispresentingamoderatelylarge
angleonthebowandisusingahighspeed.AnOptimumApproachCoursewhich
lagstheNormalApproachCourseby10degreesshouldbetakenathighspeed.
Withnootherinformation,suchtacticsshouldresultinafairapproximationofthe
actualmaneuveringboardsolutionfortheOAC.WhentheApproachOfficer
estimatesthatsufficienttimehaselapsedsothatanothertruebearingandradar
rangewillaffordagoodcourseandspeedanalysisor,ifnotequippedwith
periscoperadar,

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estimatesthattherangetothetargethasdecreasedsufficientlytopermitan
accuratevisualestimateofangleonthebowandrange,heshouldthenslowtotake
suchobservations.
(e)Ifthetargetisactuallypresentingalargeangleonthebowonthesamesideas
initiallyestimated,theApproachOfficershouldcontinuetousetheOACtoinsure
themaximumprobabilityofclosingtoapointinsideofmaximumtorpedorun.
(f)Iftheobservationdisclosesthattheenemyisshowingsmallanglesonthebow
(lessthan20degrees),orisshowinganoppositeangleonthebowthanoriginally
estimated,thesubmarineshouldthenbemaneuveredinaccordancewiththe
prescribedApproachPhaseDoctrinegivenbelow.Thisdoctrineisaguidetogood
tacticsforsubmergedsubmarinesduringtheApproachPhase.
APPROACHPHASEDOCTRINE
AngleAngleontheBow LeadAngle
0degrees
5degrees
10degrees
15degrees
20degreesorgreater

Average
SubmarineSpeed
0degrees
2(deadslow)
30degrees
3(1/3speed)
45degrees
4(2/3speed)
65degrees
5(standard)
90degrees(NAC) 6to8(standardtofull)

THEABOVEDOCTRINEISAFLEXIBLEGUIDETOGOODBASIC
TACTICS.WHERELOGIC,COMMONSENSEORSPECIALCONDITIONS
DICTATE,ITSHOULDBEMODIFIEDACCORDINGLY.
(g)Theabovedoctrineisbaseduponmaneuveringboardsolutionsforcollision
courseswitha17.5knottarget.
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Itiseasilyappreciatedthatatargetwhichconsistentlychangescourseawayfroma
submergedsubmarinewillneverbeclosed.Anytacticswhichfailinanydegreeto
maintainacollisioncoursewithatargetwillresultineffectivecoursechanges
awaybythetargetatthesameratethetruebearingis"lost".THEOPTIMUMIN
TACTICSFORTHESUBMERGEDSUBMARINEISTHEREFORETO
MAINTAINORBETTERTHANMAINTAINACOLLISIONCOURSEWITH
THETARGET.
(h)AlthoughtheNormalApproachCoursewillaffordthebestpossibilityof
achievingtheoptimumintactics,theuseoftheNACwhentheangleonthebowis
smallisfaultytactics.Undersuchcircumstancestheuseofsmallerleadangleswill
sufficetogiveareasonablechanceofmaintainingacollisioncourse,andatthe
sametimeplacethesubmarineinabetterpositionintheeventofasubsequent
coursechangeaway.
(i)Inapplyingtheabovedoctrineitismandatorythatsufficientobservationsbe
madetoinsureobtainingtargetspeedduringtheApproachPhase.
903.THEATTACKPHASE

(a)TheApproachPhaseendsandtheAttackPhasebeginswhentheApproach
Officerceaseshiseffortstoclosethetargetandcommencestomaneuverthe
submarineintothemostfavorablefiringpositionobtainableunderthe
circumstances.
(b)Thesubmarinemayormaynothavebeenabletoclosetothebestpositionfor
commencingtheAttackPhase.
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Thesubmarine'seffortstoclosethetargetmayhaveonlybeensuccessfulenough
toreachafiringpositionjustinsidemaximumtorpedorunandmaybeactually
outsideofthecriticalrangewhenfiringtakesplace.
(c)Underthecircumstancesthatthesubmarinehasbeensuccessfulinclosingtoa
favorablepositionforcommencingtheattacktheproblemmayberesolvedinto
fourtypicalsituations.Allofthesesituationsarebasedoncertainfundamental
preceptswhichfollow:
1.Thefactthatatthecriticalrange(equaltoa71/2minuterunofthetarget)
adecisionmustbemadeastosubsequenttacticstobefollowedbythe
submarine.
2.Thefactthattheaveragelengthoflegofmostzigzagplansissix
minutes.
(d)Inapplyingthesesituationsthefollowingshouldbeborneinmind:
1.Thecriticalrangeshouldbebasedonthehighestreasonableestimateof
targetspeed.
2.Thetargetshouldbeobservedaminuteortwobeforethecriticalrangeis
reached.
3.TheApproachOfficershouldstrivetoanticipatethevarioussituations
thatmightdevelopatthecriticalrange,andmakepreliminarydecisionsto
copewiththem.
4.Thesituationinwhichthesubmarinefindsitselfmustbedeterminedat
thecriticalrange.Wheneverthecriticalrangeisreachedoneofthefour
situationswillapply.
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(e)TheApproachandAttackchart,PlateXIXdescribestheApproachDoctrine
andthetoursituationsinbrief.Eachsituationwillbedescribedindetailinthe
followingpages.
(f)Ineachofthefoursituationstobediscussed,thesubmarineisassumedtobeat
thecriticalrange.
904.SITUATIONONE
(a)Thefollowingconditionsobtain:

(1)Thedistancetothetrackis1000yardsorless.
(2)Thetargethasziggedwithinthelast2minutes.
(b)FirstCourseofAction
Targetisnearlyonthesubmarine'sbeam.(SeePlateXX).Turnawayfromthe
targettoapproximatelyaparallelcourse.Thetargethaschangedcourseinthelast
twominutesandmay,therefore,notbeexpectedtozigshortly.Turningawaywill
keeptherateofchangeofrangetoaminimumwhileawaitingthenextchangeof
targetcourse.Itismandatorythatthenextchangeofcoursebepromptlydetected
eitherbyperiscopeorsonar.Afterthezigthesubmarineshouldbemaneuveredto
obtainthebestpossibleshotwithasterntube.
InthissituationtimeisoftheessenceandtheApproachOfficermustcarefully
weightheadvisabilityofslowingforanobservationbyperiscopeorsonaragainst
thenecessityformaintainingspeedinordertoattainafavorablefiringposition.
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(c)SecondCourseofAction
Targetwellforwardofthebeam.PlateXXII.Closetargetonsharptrackasunder
thesecircumstancesitisimpracticaltoattempttomakethelargecoursechange
necessarytoparallelthetarget.Firingpositionwillbereachedveryshortly.The
submarine,thereforemustfireonthepresentlegandmustaccepttheprobable
sharptorpedotrackangleexistingatthefiringpoint.
905.SITUATIONTWO
(a)Thefollowingconditionsobtain:
(1)Thedistancetothetrackis1000yardsorless
(2)Thetargethasnotziggedwithinthelast2minutes.
(b)CourseofAction
Thetargetisexpectedtozigshortly.PlateXXITheApproachOfficershouldhave
previouslyobservedthetargetonthepresentcourseandshouldhavethesubmarine
onacoursewhichisclosingthetarget'strack.Continueclosingthetarget'strack.
Waitfornextthezig.Afterthetargethaschangedcoursemaneuverforthebest
shotobtainablewitheitherboworsterntubes.Thenormalexpectancyinthis
situationisabowtubeshot.However,thedecisionastowhichtubesshouldbe
usedmustbebasedonthedistancetothetrackaftafterthecoursechange.
906.LIMITATIONONCOURSEOFACTIONSITUATIONSIANDII
InbothsituationsIandIIthedistancetothetrackatthecriticalrangeislessthan
1000yards.Ifthetargetdoesnotchangecourseasexpectedthesubmarine
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isindangerofbeing"rundown".Itis,thereforenecessarytocommenceshooting

regardlessofthetimeonthelegwhentheminimumtorpedorunhasbeenreached.
Theminimumallowabletorpedorunis700yards.However,inordertocomplete
firingasalvooftorpedoesitisnecessarytocommenceshootingpriortothistime.
Thisisafunctionoftargetspeedbutforamediumspeedtargetiffiringis
commencedwitha1200yardtorpedorunthelasttorpedowillbefiredwiththe
requiredminimumof700yardstorpedorun.Therefore,asageneralrule,whenthe
torpedorunhasreached1200yards,insituationIandII,startshootingregardless
ofotherconsiderations.Don'tget"rundown".
907.SITUATIONTHREE
(a)Thefollowingconditionsobtain:
(1)Thedistancetothetrackismorethan1000yds.
(2)Thetargethasziggedwithinthelast2minutes.
(b)CourseofAction:
(SeePlateXXIII).Thetargethasziggedwithinthelasttwominutesandtherefore
isnotexpectedtozigforsometime.Thesubmarinewillfireonthepresentleg
withthebesttorpedotrackobtainableunderthecircumstances.Thesubmarine
must,however,shootintimetohavethetorpedoesreachthetargetbeforethe
targetisexpectedtozig(sixminutesontheleg).Allowingforatwominute
torpedorun,agoodgeneralruleinthissituationistostartshootingwhenthetarget
hasbeennotlongerthanfourminutesontheleg.
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908.SITUATIONFOUR
(a)Thefollowingconditionsobtain:
(1)Thedistancetothetrackismorethan1000yards.
(2)Thetargethasnotziggedinthelast2minutes.
(b)CourseofAction:
(SeePlateXXIV).Thetargethasnotziggedinthelasttwominutesand,therefore
maybeexpectedtochangecourseshortly.Thesubmarineshouldclosethetrackon
a60to90trackandwaitforthenextzig.Afterthetargethasziggedshootonthe
besttorpedotrackobtainable.
(c)Inthissituationifthetargetisonalongleaditmaybenecessarytoshoot
beforehehaszigged.Therulehereisthatwhentheangleonthebowgetsto90
degreescommenceshootingregardlessofthetimeontheleg.Whentheangleon
thebowis90degreesyouhaveanoptimumtorpedotracksoazigwhilethe
torpedoesarerunningwilldotheleastamountofharm.
909.PRECAUTIONSAPPROACHANDATTACKTACTICS
InalltheforegoingsituationstheApproachOfficershould:
(a)Attempttokeepasmallsilhouettetothenearestescortifsuchactionisfeasible
anddoesnotunreasonablyjeopardizethechancesofasuccessfulattack.

(b)Bealerttodetectcourseorspeedchangesoftheescortsortargetpromptly.
(c)Carefullynotetorpedorunwhennearingthefiringpointtoavoidbeing"run
down".
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(a)Ingeneralonthefiringlegcommenceshootingbeforethetargethasbeenon
thelegmorethan4minutes.
(e)Commenceshootingwhentheangleonthebowgetsto90degreesregardlessof
timeonleg.
(f)Ingeneraldonotattempttomaneuverwhentherangeislessthanonehalfof
thecriticalrange.Itisusuallytoolate.
(g)Asageneralrule,whenusingstadimeterortelemeterscaleranges,the
submarinemustmaneuverduringtheattackphasetoobtainasmallgyroangle(30
degreesorless).Thisisamajorconsiderationandthesubmarinemustaccept
whatevertorpedotrackresultsfromthiscourseofaction.However,suchisnotthe
casewhenradarrangesareavailable.Withradarrangesthelargegyroanglemay
beacceptedandthesubmarineisthenabletochooseacoursewhichwillresultina
favorabletorpedotrack.ThisadvantageismostpronouncedinSituation(3)where
foramediumspeedtargetthedifferenceintorpedotrackobtainedbetween
headingatthetargetornearlysoandcomingaroundtoleadthetargetseekinga
smallgyroangleisashighas30degrees.Anothermajoradvantagetothe
submarinewhenusingradarrangesisthatlastminutemaneuversofthetargetdo
notnecessitatethesubmarinemaneuveringbecausewhatevergyroanglepresents
itselfmaybeaccepted.
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CHAPTER10

THEORYOFTHEPERISCOPEAPPROACHANDSONARATTACK
1000.BASICTHEORY
Thedeliveryofanaccuratetorpedoattackbasedentirelyuponinformation
obtainedfromsonarhasbeenunderstudybysubmarineofficersforanumberof
years.Theperfectionofthistypeofattackhasbeenhamperedbyitscomplexity
andthequalityofthesonarinformationavailable.
Thetechnicaladvancesinthefieldofantisubmarinewarfarehaveplacedadded
emphasisonthesubmarinesonarequipmentanditstacticalemployment.Studies
inthelastfiveyearsindicatethatwithsonarequipmentnowavailableasubmarine
candeliverasuccessfulsonarattackagainstsurfacevesselsprovidedperiscope
observationscanbemadeduringtheapproachphase.Thischapterwillthereforebe
confinedtothetheoryofthesonarattacksincetheapproachhasbeenamply
coveredinChapter9.
Inordertocomputeahittingtorpedogyroangletherearefourvalueswhichmust
beknown,namely,targetcourse,targetspeed,rangeandbearingofthetarget.The
conventionalmethodofobtainingthesevaluesisbysuccessiveobservationsofthe
target'srangeandbearing.
Letusassumenowthatthesubmarineissubmergedbelowperiscopedepthand

cannotobtainavisual
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observationofthetarget.Withequipmentpresentlyavailabletheonlyoneofthe
fourunknownvaluesavailableisthebearingofthetargetobtainedbysonar.The
rangeofthetargetcanoccasionallybeobtainedbysonarbutisseldomavailable
untiljustpriortofiring.Sincewecannotyetrelyonourabilitytoobtainasonar
rangeourproceduresmustbebasedupontheassumptionthatitisnotavailable.It
isobviousthatonemathematicalequationcontainingfourvariablescannotbe
solvedifonlyoneofisknown.
Thequestiontheniswhatinformationregardingthetarget'smotioncanweobtain,
byprocessing,thevaluesoftargetbearingavailablefromsonar.Thereisonlyone
answertothisquestion.Bytheuseofsonarbearingsalonewecanobtainthetrue
directionofthetarget'srelativemotionandnothingelse.Thisfactshouldbe
clearlyunderstoodandconstantlyborneinmindbyeveryonestudyingthe
problemsofthesonarapproachandattack.
Atthepresenttimethereisnowaybywhichthedirectionofthetarget'srelative
motioncanbeobtainedexceptbylaborioushandplottingmethods.Numerous
chartsandplottingmethodshavebeendevisedfromtimetotimetoaccomplish
this.OfallthoseevaluatedattheSubmarineSchooltheBearingRateplotting
methodandtheBearingDifferenceplottingmethodhaveprovedthemost
expeditiouswiththe
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latterthepreferredmethod.Thereareseveralmechanicalsolutionsunder
developmentofwhich,one,hasbeentestedatsea,andappearstobevery
promising.
Detailedtheoreticalstudiesshowthatregardlessofthemannerinwhichthesonar
bearingsareprocessedtherearetwobasicrequirementswhichmustbemet.Firsta
continuoussourceofbearingsmustbeavailable(intermittentorrandombearings
arealmostvalueless),andsecondthebearingaccuraciesshouldbeplusorminus.1
degreeswithamaximumerrororplusorminus.25degrees.Astudyoftheplotting
methodsinChapterVwillshowthatforanygivensolutionoftargetrelative
motiontheassumptionismadethatthesubmarineandthetargetarebothona
steadycourseduringtheperiodforwhichasolutionismade.Anychangeofcourse
orspeedofthesubmarineortargetwillsuperimposeupontherateofchangeof
bearinganotherratewhichisacceleratingordeceleratinginavariablemannerand
willresultinaconditionof"nosolution".Itisforthisreasonalsothatitissaid
thereis"nosolution"oftargetrelativemotionforatargetwhichitissteeringa
constanthelmorcourseclocktrack.Thereisamathematicalsolutionbywhichthe
effectofownshipsmaneuverscanberemovedfromthecomputedbearingrates
leavingonlytheratecausedbytargetmotion.Thesolutionrequiresanassumed
rangeor
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mechanicalcomputers.

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Inanyfirecontrolproblemwehavewhatisknownasasolutiontimeor,asitis
commonlycalled,adeadtime.Thisisthetimewhichmustelapsebetweenthe
momentthattheinitialdataisobtainedandasolutionisavailable.Letusassume
thatthetargethasbeenproceedingonsomecoursewhichweknowandthatat
problemtime12minutesthetargetmakesacoursechangeof40degrees.Itwill
takethetargetabout40secondstoeffectthischangeofcourse.Duringthisperiod
asexplainedthereisnosolutionavailablesothatthefirstpossibleusefuldatais
notavailableuntil12:40.AssumingthattheFireControlPartyhasdetectedthe
coursechangeat12:30(whichisnotalwaysthecase)theywillbereadytostarta
newsolutionat12:40.IttakesaminimumoftwominutesusingtheBearingRate
Plottoobtainthethreepointsnecessarytoestablishthetarget'srelativecourseand
aminimumof11/2minutesusingtheBearingDifferencePlot.Thetimeisnow
14:40or14:10.Allowingtimetoconvertthisrelativecoursetotruecoursethe
timewillbe15:00or14:30.Thisdeadtimeof21/2to3minutesforthesolutionof
thenewtarget'scourseisabouttheoptimumandshouldbeconstantlybornein
minebytheApproachOfficer.Thisdeadtimewillrepeatitselfshoulditbe
necessarytostartanewsolutionbecauseofchangesofsubmarinecourseand
speedortemporary
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lossofcontactwiththetarget.
Sinceweareassumingthatthesubmarinewillconductaperiscopeapproachand
obtainacorrectvalueoftargetspeedandarangeandbearingofthetargetbefore
goingtodeepsubmergencethefollowingfirecontrolprocedurewillenablethe
ApproachOfficertodeliveranattack:
(a)BecertainthatboththeNavPlotandtheTDCandSonarPlotareusingthe
samevalueoftargetspeed.
(b)Plotthelastobservationofrangeandbearingobtained.Advancethetargetat
oneminuteintervalsonthetargetcoursedeterminedatlastobservation.
(c)WhensonarbearingsorSonarOperator,orbothindicatethattargethas
changedcoursetheTDCOperatorchangestargetcourse30degreesinthe
indicateddirectionandannouncestoNavandSonarPlottimeofzig.
(d)SonarPlotcommencessolutionfornewtargetcourse.
(e)NavPlotlaysoutTDCcoursefromzigtimeindicatedandgivesTDCpredicted
rangeoftarget.TDCthenusesthisrangeascorrecttargetrange.
(f)WhenSonarPlotobtainsrelativecoursehecomparethiswithtargetspeedand
owncourseandspeedonthemaneuveringboardtoobtaintruecourse.TDC
OperatorputthisinTDCandNavPlotrepeatsstep(e).
(g)IfSonarPlotandNavPlotsolutionsarecorrect
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theobservedandgeneratedsonarbearingsshouldbeinagreement.
ItishighlyimportantthateachcorrectionoftargetcourseputintotheTDCbe
furnishedtheNavPlotandthatheinturnfurnishtheTDCacorrectedrangesince
observedandgeneratedsonarbearingswillnotbeinagreementunlessbothcourse
andrangearecorrect.Atorclosetothefiringpointa"pingrange"mayusedasa

check.
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CHAPTER11

SUBMERGEDAPPROACHANDSONARATTACKTACTICSAGAINST
SURFACETARGETS
1100.TACTICS
Thetacticstobeemployedintheapproachwhenasonarattackisanticipatedare
thesameasthoseoutlinedinChapter9,exceptthateverypossibleeffortshouldbe
madetoplacethesubmarineaheadofthetargetatarangebetween6000and7000
yards.Thiswillinsurethatsucceedingcoursechangesonthepartofthetargetwill
requiretheminimumofmaneuveringonthepartofthesubmarinetodelivera
successfulattack.Specialemphasisshouldbeplacedontheinternalroutineofthe
submarinetoinsurethatallevolutionssuchasfloodingtubes,chargingimpulse
bottles,movingskids,etc.,areaccomplishedpriortosubmergingbelowperiscope
depth.Failuretodothismayresultinlossofsonarcontactatacriticaltimeduring
theattack.
(a)OncethesubmarinehasgonebelowperiscopedepththeApproachOfficermust
makeeveryefforttoavoidchangesincourseendspeed.Shouldit,however,
becomenecessaryitshouldbedonewiththefullrealizationthatcontactmaybe
lostwiththetargetandeventhoughcontactismaintainedtheSonarPlotwillbe
unabletotrackthetarget.
(b)Sinceitishighlydesirabletoavoidmaneuveringthedoctrineoftheattack
phasefortheperiscope
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approachwillnotapplyandtheApproachOfficermustacceptthebest
combinationoftorpedotrackangleandgyroangleandrangewhichpresentsitself.
Itshouldbeborneinmindthaterrorsinrangewillhavelesseffect,whenusing
largegyroangles,whenthetorpedorunisbetween2000and2500yardsthan
between1000and1500yards.
112

CONFIDENTIAL

SLM1
BEARINGDIFFERENCEPLOTDATA

Time
000
030
055
115
135
155
215
235
255
305
325
340
355
407
420
435
450
500
510

BearingDiff.
000
015
030
045
100
115
130
145
200
215
230
245
300
315
330
345
400
415
430

Time
BearingDiff.
540
515
552
530
610
600
615
615
617
630
620
700
623
715
628
730
630
745
SubmarineCourse
000T
SubmarineSpeed
3kts
ActualTargetCourse
170degreesT
TargetSpeed
16kts.
InitialBearing000degreesTincreasing
ReferenceBearing
180degreesT
RelativeMotionSlope
8degrees
TrueDirectionofrelative
motion1808=172degreesT
SolvedTargetCourse
171degreesT

520
530

445
500

TargetZigto130degreesTat6minutes

NOTE:FirstplottedpointonPlateXIisat115asprecedingpointsareoff
diagram.
PLATEXIII
CONFIDENTIAL

SLM1
BEARINGREFERENCEPLOTDATA

Time
000
004
007
010
014
017
020
023
026
029
033
036
039
042
045

BearingDiff.
000
015
030
045
100
115
130
145
200
215
230
245
300
315
330

Time
106
109
112
114
120
125
131
137
142

BearingDiff.
515
530
545
600
630
700
730
800
830

SubmarineCourse
SubmarineSpeed
ActualTargetCourse
TargetSpeed
InitialBearing

048
051
054
058
100
103

345
400
415
430
445
500

000degreesT
3kts.
130degreesT
16kts.
010degreesT
increasing
190degreesT
50degrees

ReferenceBearing
RelativeMotionSlope
Truedirectionofrelative
motion19050=140degreesT
SolvedTargetCourse
132degreesT

PLATEXIV

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