--- Hull Mounted Sonar (Active) ---
The Oliver Hazard Perry FFG uses the AN/SQS-56 Sonar Array. The system is an Active/Passive system capeable of detecting and tracking sub-surface and sometimes surface contacts at a medium to long range (dependent on the sea floor and sub-surface enviromental conditions [ie. water temprature, density, ect.]).
1. Go to your Sonar Station.
2. The default setting for your sonar is in an active, single beam, single ping mode.
3. The Sonar station consists of a large rectangular display (when inactive it shows black), two collums of buttons, and a smaller rectangular display at the top right of the screen.
4. First, we will try the active sonar. Press the "Active" button to begin.
5. Now, the four buttons under "Active" say in this order: "Single Beam," "Omni," "Omni Rotational," and "High Frequency."
6. The first mode, "Single Beam," Projects a Sonar ping into the water, and the display only shows a Twenty (20) degree wide beam of what is reflected from the ping. This is a good way to narrow a search for a target down to a specific bearing. Notice that while you only see the small beam projected onto the large display, the Sonar Ping will be heard outside of that area shown, alerting all to your presence.
7. The Second Button, "Omni," projects a full-width ping into the water at once, and the display shows all that is reflected. Reflected contacts, like subs, are usually clearly shown as wide "blips" on the screen.
8. The Third, "Omni Rotational," projects a 'beam' of sound, almost like a underwater RADAR, in a sweeping motion through the water. It does this quite fast though, so its hard to notice it directly. Because it directs the noise, it's much more accurate and has a bit farther range than the 'Omni' mode.
9. The fourth, "High Frequency," emits a undetectible (I think), very high frequency, continiuous sound directly forward and down, and can be used for very close target tracking in a real time, actual imageing, of what's right infront of you. Use it to detect mines and, if you are really good, to track a shallow sub that is infront of you.
10. The Buttons "Single Ping" and "Continuous Ping" are pretty self explanitory.
--- Hull Mounted Sonar (Passive) ---
Although you may hear alot about how the FFG's Passive Sonar sucks really bad, it still DOES work!
1. Select "Passive" on the Sonar Sation.
2. Contacts appear as virtical lines falling downward on the display.
That simple really, there isn't much left to the passive sensor.
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