The Virtual Navy

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1:  NAVIGATION………………………………………………..PG 1

                       SENSORS……………………………………………………..PG 1

                       FLIGHT DECK………………………………………………..PG 1

SECTION 2:  COUNTERMEASURES………………………………………PG 2

                       OTS SONOBUOYS…………………………………………...PG 2

SECTION 3:  CIWS OPERATION…………………………………………..PG 3

                       WEAPONS SYSTEMS………………………………………..PG 4

                       TORPEDO SYSTEMS………………………………………...PG 4

SECTION 4:  ACOUSTICS SYSTEMS………………………………………PG 5

                       HULL SONAR SYSTEM……………………………………...PG 5

                       TOWED ARRAY SYSTEM…………………………………...PG 6

SECTION 5:  ASTAC ………………………………………………………...PG 7

                       ELECTRONIC WARFARE……………………………………PG 7

APPENDIX A:  ACRONYMS………………………………………………...PG 8

APPENDIX B:  RADAR SYSTEMS AND WEAPONS CAPABILITIES…...PG 9

NAVIGATION:

            Order rudder- you are able to set three rudder positions:

1. Standard (left/right) orders 15 degrees
2. Full (left/right) orders 20 degrees
3. Hard (left/right) orders rudder to maximum position

Change Speed- Depending on what selection you make the selection changes the engine revolutions.  The resultant ship speed will depend on sea state, wind and current.

With calm seas and current the speeds will be as follows:

1.      Engines ahead flank: 29 Knots

2.      Engines ahead full: 20 Knots

3.      Engines ahead standard: 15 Knots

4.      Engines ahead 2/3:  10 Knots

5.      Engines ahead 1/3:  05 Knots

6.      Engines all stop: 00 knots

7.      Engines back 1/3:  Reverse speed of 3 Knots

8.      Engines back 2/3:  Reverse speed of 5 Knots

9.      Engines back full:  Reverse speed of 10 Knots

NOTE: Backing up while the towed array is deployed cuts the array!

SENSORS: 

            The following are the ships sensors that the Frigate uses:

1.      Towed Array- Stream, retrieve, and stop.

2.      Surface Radar- This option toggles the state of the surface search radar

3.      Air Radar- This option toggles the state of the air search radar.

FLIGHT DECK:

            The flight deck has 2 main options for use.  Red deck witch means helicopters can neither land or launch, and green deck witch means that the helicopters can be launched or retrieved.

COUNTERMEASURES:

            The number in parentheses indicates the remaining number of countermeasures of that type.  Chaff and infrared flares are used to confuse incoming missiles.

1.      Port or Starboard Chaff:  Items are grayed if all tubes on the indicated sides are empty.  Reload tubes at the bridge countermeasure panel.  You must reload before the option is reactivated.

2.      Port or Starboard Flares:  Items are grayed if all tubes on the indicated sides are empty.   Reload tubes at the bridge countermeasure panel.  You must reload before the option is reactivated.

3.      Nixie Torpedo Decoy:   Stream, retrieve, and stop.

OTS SONOBUYOS:

            The number of remaining buoys of each type follows the buoys name.  Select the buoy name to deploy the buoy of that type and depth.  Only 1 type of buoy is available at a time.  To switch to a different type of buoy you must be at the ASTAC/OTS buoy panel. 

1.      (buoy name) Shallow = 90 Feet

2.      (buoy name) Deep = 400 Feet

CIWS OPERATION: (Phalanx Close in Weapons System)

            This weapon can be placed in the following modes: 

1.      Hold Fire:  Stops the CWIS from firing, or stops it when firing.

2.      Auto:  CIWS automatically engages incoming tracks with speed in excess of 200 knots.

3.      Full Auto:  CIWS automatically engages any track within range of the CIWS radar. (INCLUDES FRIENDLY PLATFORMS)

            The Phalanx Close In Weapon System consist of a six barreled 20mm rotary cannon, on top of the cannon is mounted two tracking radars, one is used to track incoming air targets the other for tracking the outgoing projectiles, the CIWS can operate in autonomous mode (AUTO or FULL AUTO) or can be manually slaved to a target, this is done by pressing HOLD FIRE and then ACQUIRE on the target you want to engage, then pressing the ENGAGE button to fire.

Note. The CIWS when in FULL auto mode will engage ANY targets it can acquire so make sure to put it in auto mode when launching Helicopters

WEAPONS CONTROL SYSTEMS:

            The weapons control station is used to launch SM-2 and Harpoon missles, and train and fire the MK 75 (76mm) gun and the close in weapons system (CIWS).  The weapons control VABpanel has four modes, missle control, Gun control, Harpoon planning, and CIWS control. 

NOTE: You can not fire a Harpoon or SM-2 at a target that is behind your own ship!

NOTE: Be sure to understand the steps before using a Harpoon.  The harpoon MUST be launched or jettisoned once it has warmed.  It can not be returned to stores.

            There are two fire control radars available on the FFG.  They are CAS (Combined Antenna System) and STIR (Separate track and Illumination Radar).  CAS can guide SM-2 missiles or control the gun.  STIR can only guide the SM-2 missile.  A fire control radar can only track one target at a time.  The Harpoons do not require a fire control radar assignment.

            Both the CAS and STIR status areas allow for assigning (and de-assigning) a radar system to a target and for shutting down the missile once it is launched.

NOTE:  The fire control radar begins radiating as soon as the target is assigned and can be picked up by enemy ESM.  That announces that you have hostile intent.

TIP:  The STIR can only guide SM-2 missiles while the CAS can guide both SM-2 missiles and the gun.  By using the STIR to guide the SM-2 you leave the CAS available for gun engagements.  You are prevented from assigning an SM-2 to the CAS unless the STIR is currently guiding a missile.  The Harpoon has a built in radar and does not use the CAS or STIR.

NOTE:  The Harpoon has a standoff range of 5 NM.  It can not be fired against targets closer than 5 nautical miles to the ship!

NOTE:  The gun has a range of 10nm. (approximately 20,250 yards)

The SM-2 can be used to engage aircraft, missiles and surface vessels, in the game it has a maximum range of 81 NM but on the FFG it is limited to the range of the director controlling it, you have two directors for the SM-2 (CAS and STIR) each is capable of controlling one missile in flight, you need to assign a target to a director before firing the missile.

The Harpoon is an Anti Ship Cruise Missile, after launch it will follow a sea-skimming flight path along it’s pre-programmed waypoints, it has a maximum range of 60 NM, you can enter one dogleg for the Harpoon, that way allowing it to attack a target from an unexpected direction, you cannot load the Harpoon unto the launcher before a valid Harpoon plan has been entered into the Fire Control System, this is done in the Harpoon Plan page, if you load a Harpoon onto the launcher that weapon can only be fired or jettisoned (this has to do with the fact that the missile fins will pop out when loaded onto the launcher), a jettisoned Harpoon is dumped and lost.

MAXIMUM RANGE FOR WEAPONS:

            SM-2:  0-81 Nautical Miles

            Harpoon:  5-70 Nautical Miles

            CIWS: 0-2 Nautical Miles (4,050 yds)

            Gun:  0-10 Nautical Miles (20,250 yds)

The FFG carries a fully automatic 76mm (3 inch) the weapon is capable of single fire or rapid fire in rapid fire mode it will continue to fire until the rapid fire button is pressed again. The Mk 75 can engage surface and land targets out to a maximum range of 10 NM, to fire the gun assign a target for it with the CAS director, that will slave the gun to the director, manual corrections are possible using the designated buttons, you also have a gun camera to assist you in manual correction of the gun fire

TORPEDO CONTROL:

            In the torpedo control station torpedoes in specific tubes are selected, assigned to a target and presets are entered.  The circular torpedo control display helps the operator visualize the best course to steer and gyro setting for an effective shot.  The torpedo control panel provides the means to select targets, view the target solution and enter presets for the weapon.

NOTE:  Loading an empty tube takes 30 minnutes.  All tubes in the bank are disabled while a tube is reloaded.

MAXIMUM RANGE FOR WEAPONS:

            MK-46: 0-6 Nautical Miles (12,000 yds)

            MK-50: 0-7 Nautical Miles (14,177 yds)

ACOUSTICS STATION:

1.      Air Mode: All eight channels are reserved to process buoy data sent via link by your deployed helicopter.

2.      Ship Mode: All eight channels are reserved to process buoy transmissions within range of the FFG’s receiver.

3.      AIR/SHIP Mode: Channels A-D are used to process incoming data from the deployed helicopter, and channels E-H are used for buoy data within range of the FFG’s receiver.

NOTE: The FFG’s sonobuoy processor can handle 8 different channels of sonobuoy data at once.  Buoy data can take up multiple channels depending on the sensor mode (Omni, Directional, or Active) to witch the receiver is set.

            The 8 channels are designated A-H.

            Only channels A-D can be set to directional or active mode.

            The FFG carries 4 types of sonobuoys: DICLASS (active, directional, and omni modes), DIFAR (directional and omni modes), VLAD (directional and omni modes), and BT (bathythermograph) sonobuoy. It can also tune to LOFAR buoys.

SONOBUOYS: Sonobuoys have different sensor detecting and reporting capabilities.  Depending on the buoy, up to three modes are available. 

1.      Omni Mode: (PASSIVE) returns received non-directional frequency data.  Omni mode is useful for classifying the source of a signal and alerting you to the fact that there is something out there.

2.      Directional Mode: (PASSIVE) returns received frequencies and bearings and requires two channels.  The selected channel must be set to directional mode in data display windows A-D. 

3.      Active Pinging Mode:  returns bearing and range data, and requires three channels.  Selected channel must be set to active in data display windows A-D.

NOTE:  If receiver mode is set to AIR/SHIP ship sonobuoys can be in Omni mode only. 

HULL SONAR STATION:

            The FFG is equipped with the SQS-56 active passive hull sonar.  The hull sonar station is used mainly to control active sonar emissions and view returns in the sonar display window.  The active sonar operates in 4 different modes: Single beam, Omni-directional, Omni-directional rotational, and high frequency.

            Passive sonar mode is also available.  Passive sonar mode supports detection of broadband contacts and has no narrowband or tracking capability.

ACTIVE MODE: Single beam/ omni modes:

            When single beam, Omni or omni rotational mode is selected, the Y axis of the active sonar display is range, from 0 at the bottom to the selected range at the top and the X axis is relative bearing from -180 to 180, with 0 at the center.

ACTIVE MODE: High Frequency

            When high frequency is selected, the sonar display window depicts the outline of the underwater contacts directly in front of the ship.  High frequency contacts are not given contact numbers and do not appear in TMA.  They appear as a map marker with the label HF Sonar mark at the exact location of the detection.

PASSIVE MODE DISPLAY:

            When passive mode is selected, detected broadband data will appear as bright lines in a waterfall display in the sonar display window.  The cursor appears as a line above the waterfall.  Contacts can be marked only; no trackers can be assigned in passive mode.

NOTE:  IN HEAVY SEAS YOU MAY NOTICE GAPS IN NOISE IN THE PASSIVE DISPLAY.  THESE OCOUR WHEN THE BOW SONAR BREAKS THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.

TOWED ARRAY STATION:

            The towed array station is used to detect, mark, track and classify contacts of interest.  At this station DEMON processing is also available; witch is used to determine the speed of a contact.  The frequency profile library in the single beam display mode provides for classification of contacts that match known sound signatures.

            The FFG utilizes the AN/SQR-19 tactical towed array sonar system (TACTASS).

 The towed array is dragged a mile behind the ship.  Because of the great distance the ship does not mask any part of the environment, thus the FFG’s towed array provides 360 degree detection.

            The towed array station provides access to three display modes for the purpose of marking, tracking, and classifying tags of interest: Broadband, LOFAR, and Single Beam.

ASTAC STATION:

            ASTAC stands for anti-submarine warfare tactical air controller.  The ASTAC station is used mainly to direct in flight helicopters during an ASW (Anti-submarine warfare) Search.  The ASTAC assigns helicopters to fly points that designate the helicopters course, sonobuoy and or weapon drop points.

ELECTRONIC WARFARE:

            The electronic warfare station is used to mark and classify electronically detected contacts. Each type of radar emits recognizable signals.  Once an emitter is detected, a list of ship or aircraft classes known to have that emitter is provided in the known classes list.  Contacts can be marked immediately.  Once the probable ship or aircraft class and alliance classification of a contact is known, it can also be classified in the EW panel.

            The following abbreviations are inuse following aircraft names:

1.      AEW- Airborne Early Warning

2.      ASW- Anti-Submarine Warfare

3.      ER- Electronic Reconnaissance

4.      EW- Electronic Warfare

5.      F/A- Fighter Attack

6.      H- Helicopter

7.      Hyb- Hybrid

8.      MP- Maritime Patrol

9.      UAV- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 

APPENDIX A.

ACROMYMS

ADT- Air Detector Tracker

ASTAC- ASW/ASUW Tactical Air Controller

ASUW- Anti-Surface Warfare

ASW- Anti-submarine Warfare

ATT- Automated Target tracker

BT- Bathythermograph

CAS- Combined Antenna System

CPA- Closest Point of Approach

CWI- Continuous Wave Illumination

CWIS- Close in Weapons System

DDI- Data Display indicator

DICASS- Directional Command-Activated Sonobuoy

DIFAR- Directional Frequency Analysis Recording

LOFAR- Low Frequency Analysis and Recording

NTDS- Naval Tactical Display System

OTS Buoy- Over The Side Buoy

REMRO- Remote Radar Operator

SDT- Surface detector Tracker

SENSO- Sensor Operator

STIR- Separate Track Illumination radar

VLAD- Vertical Line Array Directional frequency Analysis and Recording

APPENDIX B.

SENSOR SYSTEMS/ WEAPONS READOUTS

FRIGATE SONAR TYPES:

SQS-56 ACT. – HULL SONAR (ACTIVE)

SLQ-32 – ESM SONAR

SQS-56 PBB – HULL SONAR (PASSIVE)

SQR-19 – TOWED ARRAY

AN/SPS-49 –AIR SEARCH RADAR

AN/SPS-55 – SURFACE SEARCH RADAR

MH-60R SONAR TYPES:

AQS-22 ACT. – DIPPING SONAR (ACTIVE)

AQS-22 PASS – DIPPING SONAR (PASSIVE)

ALQ-210 – ESM SENSOR

AN/APS-147 - RADAR

MAXIMUM RANGE FOR WEAPONS:

SM-2:  0-81 Nautical Miles

Harpoon:  5-70 Nautical Miles

CIWS: 0-2 Nautical Miles (4,050 yds)

Gun:  0-10 Nautical Miles (20,250 yds)

MK-46: 0-6 Nautical Miles (12,000 yds)

MK-50: 0-7 Nautical Miles (14,177 yds)