Naval Weapons Systems

We Know:

How the target is detected,

How the target is tracked,
How the weapon is launched,
How the weapon is propelled,
How the weapon finds the target,
How the weapon knows when to detonate,
How the weapon detonates.
 The Fire Control Problem
Factors affecting the problem:

• Effects of relative motion during flight

• Effects of physical phenomena

(exterior ballistics)
 Relative Motion
 Present target position
 Relative velocity
 Own ship motion
 Target motion
 Bearing rate
 Speed across line-of-sight
 Future target position
 Relative Motion
The apparent motion of an object
when viewed from a point.

mph
20
p h
10 m
B ph
10 m

A
 Affects of Target Relative Motion
on Range and Bearing

Present Future
Position Position
nge
Ra

Ship’s Bearing
t
sen

Heading Change Range Change

Pre

ge
r e Ra n
Present Fut
u
Bearing
Solving the Relative Motion
Problem
INPUT
Launch Platform Sensors
Navigation Systems (location) Output
Gyrocompass (course)
Electromagnetic Log (speed)
Dead reckoning Analyzer
Target Course
Depth indicator Target Speed
Target Range
Target Position Target Bearing
Radar (search and fire control)
Sonar
Electronic warfare equipment
Data Systems (NTDS)
 Exterior Ballistics
 Gravity
 Drag
 Wind
 Drift
 Coriolis Effect
Effects of Gravity
Line of Fire

Line of Sight
 Effects of Drag
Drag is loss of energy of a projectile during flight.

Energy is lost through:

a. Creation of air waves (function of projectile shape)
b. Creation of suction and eddy currents (shape)
c. Formation of heat (friction)

Drag will change the speed of the projectile

- increased flight time
- increased curve caused by gravity
- changes intercept!
 Effects of Drift

Drift is caused by the rotation of a projectile.

Drift results in a lateral right displacement in flight path.
MAGNUS Effect.
Vertical Plane
Drift

Fire
o f
in e
L

Horizontal Plane
 Effects of Wind
Line of Fire
Line of Fire

Wind Wind
Wind

Wind

Horizontal Effects Vertical Effects

 Coriolis Effect
Caused by the earth’s rotation. Results in apparent a
right curve in the northern hemisphere, left in southern.

10 mph

20 mph
 Fire Control Problem
 Input
 Target data
 Own ship data
 Computations
 Relative motion procedure
 Exterior ballistics procedure
Fire Control Problem Con’t.
 Solutions
 Weapons time of flight
 Bearing rate
 Line of Sight(LOS): The course the weapon must
follow to intercept the target
 Speed across LOS
 Future target position
 Launch angles
 Launch azimuth
 Launch elevation
 Weapon positioning orders
The Iterative Process to the
Fire Control Solution

Step 1
Step 2

Step 3 Last Step

A 3-Dimensional Problem

e Line of Sight
a ng
t R
e sen
Pr

Target
Elevation
Gun
Elevation
Horizontal Reference Plane
Naval Weapons Systems
 Gun Description
 Caliber:
Measurements of Bore
Diameter vs Bore
Length
 3 inch and larger guns
 5 inch 54 caliber
(5”/54)
 5 inch bore
 54 calibers bore
length = 270 inches
(54x5)
 Uses of 5”/54
 Shore Bombardment
 Close In firepower for surface action
 Counter Small patrol craft
 Political presence (shot across the
bow!)
 Basic Definitions
 Gun: Barrel or whole assembly
 Mount: Fixates gun to ship’s
structure
 Houses Recoil/Counter recoil system
 Train: Bearing position of the gun
 Elevation: Upward angle from
horizon
Rifling
 Bore Deterioration
 Corrosion
 Dirt
 Erosion
 Copper Fouling