ASWnut101's FFG-7 "Field Manual"

[ASWnut101]

Before I start, take notice that it will take me some time to complete this, meaning I will be adding it in "sections."


First, The Eyes and Ears of your ship: The sensors.

---RADAR---


RADAR stands for "RAdio Detection And Ranging." It works by emitting a beam of high intensity radiation from a device mounted on the ship's masts. the energy is easily reflected by metal surfaces, and a computer calculates the time it takes for the energy to hit the target and come back, giving a VERY accurate range.

1. Go to the Weapon's Coordinator.

2. At the bottom of the screen, you will see Three butons labled something like SDT, ADT, and REMRO.
-the one with the "S" is the surface search radar. It's completely line of sight, so its effective range is at most like ~60 miles.
-the one with the "A" is the air search radar.
-REMRO stands for "REMote Radar Operator" This is the deployed onboard Helo's radar. Ill go into it later.

3. Once they are on, be patient and go do something else for about a minute. The RADAR's are of the 'doppler' type. this means that they will scan the same target for a few sweeps of the RADAR beam. This is to reduce false contacts and such. The confirmed RADAR 'detectee' will appear on screen soon.

4. Targets are automatically tracked, and you don't really need RADAR info in the TMA.

5. Be aware that the RADAR is an 'active' sensor. It can be detected by any vehicle with an ESM sensor (more on this later). If you plan on being 'stealthy', which IS possible in the FFG, leave them off. otherwise, turn them on.

-- More on Surface Search RADAR --

1. The FFG-7 uses the AN/SPS-55 Surface Search RADAR. It is capeable of detecting targets as close as 50 yards and as far out as 50 miles and beyond.

-- More on Air Search RADAR --

1. The FFG-7 uses the AN/SPS-49 Very Long Range Air Survailence RADAR. It operates on the "L" band, and has a maximum range of ~250 miles.


---ESM---


The FFG comes with an onboard ESM sensor, just like the subs and aircraft. It's called the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare (EW) system. It detects RADAR energy that is derected at your vessel. It is automatically on, and cannot be turned off. It's completely passive, and emits nothing that can be counter-detected. Notice that the ESM sensor can easily detect energy from very long ranges, even long enough that the incoming energy may not even be capeable of detecting you, making the ESM very effective.

1. Go to the ESM station.

2. When RADAR energy is detected by the sensor, a 'spike' is displayed on the circular screen, and is projected on the heading of the incoming energy beam. When the spike is displayed, a noticeable 'buzz' is also sounded. The intensity of the 'spike' tells the strength of the incoming energy, and the weaker, more narrow spikes usually means that the emitting station is probably far off.

3. move the triangle thingy over the spikes to detect and mark the contact.

4. the other screens are for classifing the incoming energy's possible source.


---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.



...(more to come soon!)...

[kage]

I have the following things to add:

All the radars are governed by the horizon, though the helo radar, due to its increased elevation, suffers the least from this restriction.

ESM is also very dependent on the radar horizon. A strong signal out of the blue is one of two things; a nearby contact started radiating, or a strong radar just came over the horizon.


Knowing what the doppler effect is, I find this one... well... :
"The RADAR's are of the 'doppler' type. this means that they will scan the same target for a few sweeps of the RADAR beam."
Doppler is, in the context of radar, the ability to discern non-lateral movement. A doppler radar would be able to immediately paint anything going above a certain speed limit. If used as a filtering mechanism, it would immediately stop showing anything that stopped or put you on 90/270 degrees relative. This is the case in some aircraft mounted radars.


Active sonar: In the game, it seems that omni directional is superior to omni in every way. I believe a guide for the game should reflect that. If anyone comes up with a reason to use omni rather than omni directional (other than wanting to act like a sonar beacon) I'd like to hear it. (I'm also interested in any reasons it might still be available in the real platform, btw.)

I might provide a writeup on the towed array.

[Sub Sailor]

ASW;
Would it be a big problem for you post this in a manner that FFG Dummies, like me, could have it at hand to study and refer to. I just looked this over and it appears to address many of the problems I have and that keep me form even playing the FFG.
I know it is extra work for you and I do apologize, but I believe this could help me a lot. If it is less time consuming for you here is my e-mail and you could forward an attachment.

Thank you,

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(Ret)

[ASWnut101]

Originally Posted by kage

I might provide a writeup on the towed array.

ooohh! please do! I've been waiting for a good one for ever now.

[Nexus7]

Originally Posted by kage

I might provide a writeup on the towed array.

Please do do do do

The non understanding of the TA prevents me from playing the Frigate