| NAVAL ORDNANCE AND GUNNERY VOLUME 2, FIRE CONTROL CHAPTER 16 RADAR AND OPTICS |
| A. Introduction 16A1 Tactical information Effective operation in combat requires the collection and use of a large body of tactical information. It is desirable to know the location and disposition of all forces, both friendly and enemy, within range of the available intelligence. Before any target can be effectively engaged we must know, among other things, its range, bearing, and elevation, and the rate at which these factors are changing. This meant that, in World War II a way had to be found to pick up objects which lay beyond the horizon. 16A2. Sources of tactical information Radar is the principal source of tactical information on modern warships. It may be used to detect and identify targets, and to measure their range, bearing, and elevation. Optical instruments are a secondary source of such information, in the event of power failure, they become the primary source. Tactical information, regardless of source, is collected and evaluated by the ship’s combat information center (CIC). The functions of CIC are discussed briefly in the last section of this chapter. |