1000. INTRODUCTION.
COMINCH P-013 RADAR BULLETIN NO. 6 (RADSIX) CIC MANUAL UNITED STATES FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEFPart I. INTRODUCTION
- As stated in USF 10, "Maximum combat efficiency of individual ships and task organizations can best be attained through full utilization of all available sources of combat intelligence. By the evaluation of all available information by trained personnel, such data can be quickly disseminated to the flag and commanding officers, to other control stations concerned over interior communication circuits, and to other ships and aircraft via exterior communication facilities." To carry out this principle, USF 10 further states that "a space designated as CIC shall be established in all combatant vessels (PF and larger) and in large amphibious vessels. In other craft adequate plotting facilities and communication circuits shall be established."
The space designated as CIC is defined by the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (conf ltr to U.S. Fleet dated 7 March 1945) as follows:
"Combat information center is a space containing radar equipment, plotting devices and communications (internal and external) equipment manned by specifically trained personnel and charged with keeping the commanding officer and higher commands embarked informed of the location, identity, and movement of friendly and/or enemy aircraft and surface ships within the area. Other principal functions which may be assigned are: (1) Target indication, (2) control of aircraft in the area, both offensive and defensive, (3) control of small craft in the area, and (4) location of ship in close proximity to land (amphibious landings, shore bombardments, etc.)."
Two additional functions listed in USF 10 are:
- Control of Radar Countermeasures.
- Assisting in ASW operations.
Other spaces association with CIC are further defined by the Commander in Chief, United States Fleet as follows:
"Auxiliary combat information center is a space similar to CIC but smaller, containing fewer facilities, but designed to assume in an emergency the duties of CIC as space and facilities permit."
"Radar room is a space occupied by the radar control indicator units when installed in a separate space."
"Radar transmitter room is the space occupied by the radar transmitters when installed in a separate space."
"Radar intercept room is the space occupied by radar intercept receivers when installed in a separate space."
"Radar jamming room is the space occupied by radar jamming transmitters, with associated look-through receivers, when installed in a separate space."
- Positions. Major positions filled by officer personnel connected with CIC are defined by the Command in Chief, United States Fleet (conf ltr to U.S. Fleet dated 7 March 1945) as follows:
- "Task force CIC officer. A position filled by an officer who by his qualifications and experience is well versed in all matters pertaining to the operational use of CIC and its associated equipment. This officer is usually on the staff of the task force commander and acts as his advisor for matters pertaining to CIC functions."
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- "Task group (unit) CIC Officer. A position filled by an officer with similar qualifications to 1201 above, who is assigned to act as an advisor to task group (unit) commander on CIC functions."
- "Electronics officer. A position filled by an officer technically qualified in electronics to act as an advisor to the task force (group) (unit) commander on the technical aspects of radio, radar, NANCY, sonar, countermeasures equipment and other associated electronic equipment."
- "Evaluator. A position filled by a tactically experienced officer capable of analyzing and evaluating combat information. This officer by his qualifications and experience is well versed in all matters, both air and surface, pertaining to the operational use of CIC and associated equipment."
- "CIC Officer. A position filled by an officer who by his training and experience is responsible for the functioning of the CIC. He is the division officer of the CIC organization and as such is responsible for the training and welding of the CIC team into an efficient whole. In carrier types the former title of this positions was the fighter director officer."
- "Fighter director. A position filled by an officer who is proficient in fighter direction. He is responsible for the coordination and control of aircraft assigned to his unit. This position was formerly called the intercept officer."
- "CIC watch officer. A position filled by an officer who is assigned to stand CIC watch during condition of readiness watches."
- "Radar officer. A position filled by an officer who is assigned to the duty of maintenance of all radar equipment. He usually functions, when not required for maintenance supervision, as coordinator of radar operation."
The following definitions are of other positions associated with the operation of CIC and filled by officer or enlisted personnel:
- Visual fighter director. A position held by a fighter director officer in an exposed position topside who directs interceptions visually.
- Gunnery liaison officer. A position held by an officer responsible for passing to the gunnery control stations all CIC information of pertinence and for coaching weapons onto targets. In large combatant ships there may be both a main battery gunnery liaison and an antiaircraft gunnery liaison officer.
- Ship's information officer. A position held by an officer who supplies filtered information which must be made available to shipboard stations, such as remote plots, over the ship's information circuit. This officer is often necessary with the complex carrier organization to relieve the evaluator of necessity for liaison with any stations other than command.
- Radar control officer. A position held by an officer (primarily on carrier) who controls own ship's radars as directed by CIC officer, controls air search radars of the force (group or unit) as directed by force (group or unit) combat information center officer. He filters radar information and passes it to other ships over the radar information channel. In training he instructs the summary plotters and the radar operators in their duties.
- CIC communications officer. A position held by an officer (usually on large combatant vessels) who has general supervision of exterior communications in CIC, including decoding, encoding, supervising radio recorders, stowage and maintenance of publications, communications plans, etc.
- Geographic plotter(s). A position held by an officer or enlisted man who maintains a geographic plot, whether on the DRT or on a chart, by dead reckoning own ships. There are usually two, one of which on larger ships may be an officer, in which case he will be known as the geographic plot officer.
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- Surface plotter(s). A position held by an officer or enlisted man who maintains a surface plot from information obtained through radar, radio, or lookout. There are usually two or more on larger ships. If one is an officer he will be known as the surface plot officer.
- Summary plotter(s). A position held by an officer or enlisted man who maintains a summary plot from information obtained through radar, radio, or lookout. There are usually two or more on larger ships, one of which may be an officer, known as the summary plot officer.
- Air plotters. A position held by an officer or enlisted man who maintains an air plot from information obtained through radar, radio, or lookout. There are usually two or more on larger ships. If one is an officer, he will be known as the air plot officer.
- Intercept plotter(s). A position held by an enlisted man who plots specific raids on the intercept plot. He may, in addition, keep a dead reckoning track of own fighters.
- DR plotter. A position held by an enlisted man or officer who keeps a DR track of own fighters. (In small vessels the functions of DR plotter and intercept plotter may be performed by one man.)
- Plotter-computer. A position held by an enlisted man who determines indicated heading and air speed of target by applying wind direction and velocity and altitude to the plotted track of a target. This plotter is used primarily in night fighter direction.
- Remote plotter. A position held by an officer or enlisted man at a control station outside CIC who maintains a plot of filtered information from the ship's information circuit.
- Surface recorder. A position held by an enlisted man who keeps track of time, records all bearings and ranges from surface search radar, and aids plotters in displaying surface information.
- Air recorder. -- A position held by an enlisted man who keeps track of time, records all bearings and ranges from air search radar, and aids plotters in displaying air information.
- Status board keeper(s). -- A position held by an enlisted man who maintains surface and/or air status boards. May be, in addition, a talker.
- Radio recorder(s). A position held by an enlisted man who maintains a log of designated radio circuits, and/or operates recording devices.
- Radar operator(s). A position held by an enlisted man who operates the radar equipment and reports bearing and ranges and other information derived therefrom over the appropriate JS circuit.
- Definitions of Displays.
- Summary plot. This is a display of the relative movement and positions of friendly and enemy units, air and surface. It may be kept on a polar plot, vertical or horizontal, or on a projection PPI. It affords--
- Comprehensive pictures of the tactical situation, both air and surface.
- Means of identification.
- Means for conversion plotting.
- Means to insure that own ships are not endangered by ship's own fire.
- Display of the approximate location of surrounding land masses.
- A direct source of information for the gunnery liaison officer.
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- Surface plot. This is a display of the relative movement and position of friendly and enemy surface units. It may be kept on a polar plot, vertical or horizontal, or a projection PPI. It affords--
- A comprehensive picture of the surface tactical situation.
- Means of identification.
- Means of indicating danger of collision.
- Means of indicating whether or not ships are in proper station.
- Means for conversion plotting.
- A direct source of information for the gunnery liaison officer.
- Air plot. This is a display of the relative movement and position of friendly and enemy aircraft. It may be kept on a polar plot vertical or horizontal, or projection PPI. It affords--
- A comprehensive picture of the tactical situation in the air.
- Means of identification.
- Display of the approximate location of surrounding land masses.
- Direct source of information for the gunnery liaison officer.
- Intercept plot. A display of the relative movements of friendly and enemy aircraft for fighter direction purposes. It is usually kept on a horizontal polar plot.
- Geographic plot. This is a display of true movement. It may be kept on the dead reckoning tracer (DRT) or by dead reckoning own ship on a chart or specially prepared plotting sheet. Its principal uses are--
- Tracking surface targets for course and speed.
- Maintaining a navigational plot, i.e., maintaining continuous position of own ship relative to land.
- Shore bombardment.
- Plotting the geographical track of enemy or friendly planes for purposes of identification.
- The following are definitions of the equipment used in CIC upon which the various display may be kept.
- The projection plan position indicator (the VG (VG1 or VG2)). By means of an optical projection system, this equipment reproduces the radar pattern of a conventional PPI scope on a large flat horizontal surface. The plotting surface thus provided is 24 inches in diameter. Display is performed directly and instantaneously on a scale which facilitates rapid tactical calculations. The model VG is the right-hand unit and the model VG-1 is the left-hand unit for purposes of installation in CIC. The model VG-2 is the projection PPI combined with the DRT for compactness. The summary, surface, air, or intercept plots may be kept on this equipment.
- Vertical plotting board, 60-inch, MK 4, Mod. 4. The vertical plotting board is a 6-inch plastic (Lucite or Plexiglass) board edge lighted at bottom, for use in CIC on Carriers and AGC's. It has communication facilities similar to the HPT, MK 1 Mod. 1. The Mod. 4 vertical plotting board will have a 5-inch OSC dial in the center of the board. Plotting is done from the back or front of the board as required to provide a summary of combat information which is easily visible from all parts of the CIC.
- Vertical plotting board, 36-inch, Mk 6 Mod. 2. This plotting board is approximately 36 inches square and constructed of plastic. It is provided with edge illumination at the bottom of the board and with a hand operated 6-inch OSC dial in the center of the board.
- Horizontal plotting table, 36-inch, MK 1 Mod. 1. This horizontal plotting table is D-shaped and measures approximately 39 inches outside diameter.
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It contains a Bendix own ship's course projector with a 16-inch projected image, 3 sound powered telephone switch panels each with 20 toggle switches, three 110-volt utility plugs and tracks for mounting collapsible seats. The plotting surface is a 36-inch diameter Herculite glass top with a pencil finish on which No. 1 and 2 pencils write and erase with ease.
- Plotting board synchro, 24-inch, MK 2 Mod. 3. This is a plotting board for CIC, flag plot or chart house and radar plot in combatant ships where space requirements will not permit the installation of a horizontal plotting Table, MK 1 Mod. 1. This board is also used for visual fighter director stations. It contains an optical OSC projector with an 8-inch projected image and a 24-inch plotting surface of Herculite glass with a pencil finish the same as the horizontal plotting table, MK 1 Mod. 1. An alternate plotting surface of plastic with 20-inch rotatable center will be provided.
- Plotting Board SXS, 24", MK 3 Mod. 2. This is a plotting board for use in CIC, flag plot or chart house and radar plot on vessels which do not have synchro-gyro compass transmission, and will be installed in a chart desk or separately mounted. It is similar to the MK 2 Mod. 3 except a step-by-step motor and dial is used to provide an 8-inch shadow projection instead of a synchro optical OSC projection. The plotting surface finish is the same as the HPT, MK 1 Mod. 1.
- The DRT (dead reckoning tracer). This equipment mechanically indicates the true movement of own ship. A selection of several scales is provided for plotting purposes. Three sizes are now manufactured for the Navy to fit the requirements of the various type units: (Classes I, II, and III). The geographic plot is usually kept on this equipment.
- Status boards. These are boards upon which all pertinent, tactical, intelligence, and radar information is presented for ready visual reference by all CIC personnel. Unmarked edge-lighted plastic status boards are now furnished by the Bureau of Ships.
- Disposition diagrams. These are the various disposition plans issued in the operation orders, generally plotted on small maneuvering board sheets, and used for identification of friendly units when stations are changed.
- Strategic Chart. This is a small scale chart which displays the location of all units, friendly and enemy, over a large operating area, which is obtained from intelligence information.
- Tactical chart. This is a large scale chart of the immediate operating area, used to display information pertinent to a bombardment or amphibious operation.
- RCM data board. This is a board upon which data on signals being intercepted, such as bearing, frequency, pulse rate (PRF), pulse width (PW), condition of antenna rotation, and signal strength is displayed.
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