Question about tactics

[stormrider_sp]

Does a Battlegroup while tactically operating, use their Active Sonar/Radar?

[Molon Labe]

Radar is probably a big no-no, especially considering that E-2s can be put up to survey the area without completely giving away the location of the group.

As for sonar, that probably depends on the threat level the commander feels they are operating under...and how much the environmentalists are whining about hurting dolphins...

[compressioncut]

More than likely, but keep in mind there are many different ways to set up a screen. It all begins with what the threat level is, and what the threat platform is.

Seeing as a Nimitz carrier is the loudest thing in the ocean, it doesn't matter too much if the close screen is banging away on active. But there would be other units spread out fore and aft, and out to the sides, in moving TAPA (towed array protection area) boxes. Helos dipping close in, more out behind as pouncers. I really, really doubt the carrier would be radar silent, but the units that have a hope of remaining undetected would - the ones doing towed array ops. A carrier isn't fooling anybody.

Pretty much, you can get plenty elaborate in how you want your group escorted.

But the main advantage a Nimitz carrier group has over a submarine is its speed. The carrier, Burkes, and Ticos are very very fast ships. The DDGs and CGs have 100,000 horsepower. My ship has a total of 50,000, but can do 26 knots using only 25,000. Use your imagination.

[SeaQueen]

Does a Battlegroup while tactically operating, use their Active Sonar/Radar?

It depends. Emission control is a balancing act, between the ability to defend one's self and the ability to frustrate the enemy's attack on you. Depending on what the enemy is capable of, a battlegroup might elect to emit, go entirely passive, or else "blink" the radars on and off some portion of the time. If you want to read about the sorts of issues one needs to think about while making a decision, read Fleet Tactics and Coastal Combat by Capt. Wayne P. Hughes. Surface ships don't generally rely on stealth as a defense, though, because it's not a very good one. With them, it's really only a way of delaying an adversary's attack, not preventing it entirely, so if they are trying to be stealthy, it's because they are trying to somehow position themselves against an adversary that might be able to strike effectively at them first.

Regarding sonar, in peacetime, unless they are anticipating hostilities, they try not to use active a lot because, like he said, there's some evidence that medium frequency active sonars might contribute to dolphin and whale beachings. In wartime, it's unlikely that they'd worry too much.

However whether active or passive is used, depends on a lot of stuff, like the environment, the groups speed of advance, the threats they're anticipating, etc. Regardless, they'd probably use whatever they estimated to give them the best detection range in that situation. For a group of warships, acoustic stealth is not usually their primary concern because the submarine is most likely to detect them first no matter what.

[swimsalot]

My ship has a total of 50,000, but can do 26 knots using only 25,000. Use your imagination.
What kinda ski boat do you have?
Mine does 50mph, and only has 285hp.
I think ya got ripped off :-j