drifting

[Draka]

In navigation, Heading is the direction the bow is pointing - the helmsman will attempt to maintain that based on his compass. Be advised that a VERY good helmsman will still stray 3-5 degrees at best from that depending on sea state, etc. The actual course made over the ground will vary from that based on wind, current and sea state.

I agree that the use of waypoints simulates the entire chain of the Helmsman, Officer of the Deck and the Navigator all inputting their functions into the maintaining of a plotted course. However, once you are on manual it SHOULD vary based on all the above - but as also been stated it would take a lot of CPU cycles and code to do anything like a good job at simulating ALL the effects.

Just as a case in point - the helmsman was maintaining his plotted course, but the navigator didn't correctly factor in a current - and the result was seven US destroyers out of action. See http://www.pointhondamemorial.org/.

Originally Posted by Draka

In navigation, Heading is the direction the bow is pointing - the helmsman will attempt to maintain that based on his compass. Be advised that a VERY good helmsman will still stray 3-5 degrees at best from that depending on sea state, etc. The actual course made over the ground will vary from that based on wind, current and sea state.

I agree that the use of waypoints simulates the entire chain of the Helmsman, Officer of the Deck and the Navigator all inputting their functions into the maintaining of a plotted course. However, once you are on manual it SHOULD vary based on all the above - but as also been stated it would take a lot of CPU cycles and code to do anything like a good job at simulating ALL the effects.

Just as a case in point - the helmsman was maintaining his plotted course, but the navigator didn't correctly factor in a current - and the result was seven US destroyers out of action. See http://www.pointhondamemorial.org/.

Excellent post.
The event in your link has been referred to as Whiskey On The Rocks.
From that moment on all USN ships in in any and all formations were responsible for maintaining their own plot.
An interesting side note is that in situations such as this, the QM stands before a Court Martial, right beside the CO.

Straying 3 - 5 degrees during an UNREP could have very seriouse and possibly fatal consequenses. That's UNSAT. There are certain situations when very good isn't good enough and only the best will do.