by Clancy, Tom
CCS Mk 2: Command and control system carried on Los Angeles class submarines that is used to plan and control missions for the Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles.
CINCPACFLT: Commander-In-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
CIWS: Close-in weapons system. A last ditch antimissile system fitted on surface ships.
Cluster Bay and Cluster Gulf mines: Russian manufactured moored rising mines with an acoustic homing warhead.
COB: Chief of the boat. The senior enlisted sailor on board an American submarine.
COD: Carrier on board delivery. Delivery of support items, including mail, to an aircraft carrier while underway. The U.S. Navy’s primary COD aircraft is the C-2 Greyhound.
Conn: Control of a ship or submarine’s movements.
Convergence Zone: Phenomena whereby, if the water is deep enough, water pressure turns sound waves in the direction of the surface. This occurs at intervals of roughly 30 miles. Multiple convergence zone contacts are possible when the sound bounces off the surface and heads back down, eventually to be turned back upward again by the pressure.
CTF 74: Commander Task Force 74, also known as Commander Submarine Group 7.
Dipping Sonar: Sonar system carried by a helicopter that can be unreeled and dipped into the water to provide variable depth, active or passive sonar detection.
DSMAC: Digital scene-matching area correlation. One of several types of missile guidance used for Tomahawk cruise missiles.
E-2C Hawkeye: Carrier-based airborne early warning aircraft fitted with APS-145 search radar.
EA-6B Prowler: Radar jamming and electronic warfare version of the A-6 Intruder. Carries the ALQ-99 jammer.
ELF: Extremely low frequency radio band.
ELINT: Intelligence collected by electronic means.
ESM: Electronic support measures. A passive receiver system designed to detect radar emissions.
ET-80: 53-cm Russian-manufactured wire-guided, active/ passive homing torpedo.
F-14 Tomcat: Long-range fleet air defense fighter carried on board U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
F/A-18 Hornet: Dual purpose (fighter and attack) carrier- and land-based combat aircraft.
Fathom: Measure of length equal to six feet.
Floating Dry Dock: Movable dock, used to facilitate repairs to the underwater body of ships and submarines.
Floating Wire: Also called trailing wire. Similar to a receiving antenna that can be streamed underwater so that a submarine can remain submerged while it receives messages.
GPS: Global Positioning System. Satellite-based navigation system that can provide extremely accurate location fixes to forces on air, land, and sea. Can also be used in missile guidance systems.
H-5 Harbin: Chinese variant of the Russian I1-28 Beagle attack aircraft.
H-6 Xian: Chinese variant of the Russian Tu-16 Badger bomber.
Hainan: Chinese fast attack craft. Top speed: 30+ knots. Length: 193 feet. Displacement: 392 tons full load. Major weapons: can carry YJ-1 missile, ASW mortarrocket launcher, depth charges, or mines.
Han: This was Communist China’s first nuclear attack submarine. Only five units of this class were built. Top speed: 25 knots submerged. Length: 321 feet. Displacement: 5,500 tons submerged. Major weapons: six 53cm tubes.
Harpoon: Medium range anti-ship missile used by the U.S. Navy and its allies. Air (AGM-84), surface (RGM-84), and submarine torpedo tube (UGM-84) launched variants are all in use.
Huchuan: Chinese torpedo-carrying hydrofoil. Top speed: 50 knots foil-borne. Length: 71 feet, 6 inches. Displacement: 46 tons full load. Major weapons: two 53cm torpedo tubes.
HULTEC: The U.S. Navy’s library of ESM information.
HUMINT: Intelligence collected by human operatives.
HY-2: Chinese anti-ship missile with a range of over fifty nautical miles.
Independence (CV-62): The sole surviving active member of the 1950s era Forrestal class aircraft carriers—the first of the American “supercarriers.” Capable of carrying over seventy aircraft.
IUSS: The U.S. Navy’s integrated undersea surveillance system, the combination of SOSUS (sound surveillance systems) and SURTASS (surface towed array surveillance systems) ships.
J-7: Chinese variant of the Russian MIG-21 fighter.
Jianghu: Chinese frigate. Jianghu I, II, III, and IV variants are in service. Jianghu I: Top speed: 26 knots. Length: 338 feet, 6 inches. Displacement: 1,702 tons full load. Major weapons: HY-2 missiles, ASW mortars /rocket launchers, depth charges, and mines.
Kilo: This is the newest class of Russian diesel-electric submarines. Top speed: 17 knots submerged. Length: 229 feet. Displacement: 3,076 tons submerged. Major weapons: six 53cm torpedo tubes.
Knot: Unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour.
Komar: 1960s-era Russian missile-armed fast attack craft. Top speed: 40 knots. Length: 83.7 feet. Displacement: 80 tons full load. Major weapons: anti-ship missiles and guns.
LAMPS: Light airborne multipurpose system. Multipurpose helicopter carried by many American warships. The latest variant is the SH-60 LAMPS III.
Los Angeles (SSN 688): With the exception of the USS Seawolf class, this is the most advanced nuclear attack submarine class in the world. Built to several major configurations, the 688 class of submarines can be divided into three categories:• Flight 1: SSNs 618-718. Original Los Angeles class
• Flight 2: SSNs 719-750. VLS added along with an upgraded reactor core
• Flight 3: SSNs 751-773. BSY-1 added, along with bow planes, improving under-ice capability and quieting. This is referred to as the improved Los Angeles class, and received the designation 6881
Top speed: 30+ knots. Length: 360 feet. Displacement: 6,927 tons submerged. Major weapons: four 21-inch torpedo tubes and twelve VLS in later boats.
Luda: Chinese destroyer. There are three variants: Luda I, II, and III. Luda I: Top speed: 32 knots. Length: 433 feet. Displacement: 3,670 tons. Major weapons: HY-2 missiles, ASW mortars-rocket launchers, mines and depth charges. Type II carries two helicopters.
Luhu: New, relatively advanced Chinese destroyer. Top speed: 31 knots. Length: 468 feet. Displacement: 4,200 full load. Major weapons: YJ-1 missiles, ASW mortars/rocket launchers. Carries two helicopters.
MAD: Magnetic anomaly detector. A device that can detect a submerged submarine from a low-flying aircraft or helicopter by detecting the distortion of the earth’s magnetic field caused by the metal hull of a submarine.
MAG: Russian manufactured moored ASW contact mine.
Master Number: Designation on board U.S. Navy submarines that represents a contact attained by combining one or more signals and/or sensors.
MC: Shipboard announcing system on board U.S. submarines (1MC is the main shipwide announcing system).
MIDAS: Mine detection and avoidance sonar fitted in improved Los Angeles class submarines. Also used under ice to avoid ice keels.
Mike: This was an advanced Soviet test submarine which was lost at sea in April 1989.
Ming: Chinese diesel attack submarine. Top speed: 18 knots submerged. Length: 249.3 feet. Displacement: 2,113 tons submerged. Major weapons: eight 53cm torpedo tubes.
Mk 41: Vertical launch system used on board several classes of U.S. surface warships.
Mk 46: American lightweight ASW torpedo carried by helicopters, aircraft, and surface ships. The Mk 46 has been widely exported.
Mk 48: Heavy torpedo carried by all American, and some allied, submarines. Can be used for attacks on both surface and submarine targets. The ADCAP is the newest type of Mk 48.
Mk 50: Advanced American lightweight torpedo. Replaces and supplements the Mk 46.
Nautical Mile: 6,076 feet or roughly 1.15 miles, usually rounded off to 2,000 yards.
Nimitz (CVN-68): The first of the nuclear-powered Nimitz class of aircraft carriers, which can carry over eighty-five aircraft.
Noisemaker: nickname for a submarine-launched countermeasure designed to decoy an enemy torpedo away from its target.
Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7): Large class of American multipurpose frigates. Top speed: 29 knots. Length: approximately 450 feet. Displacement: 4,100 tons full load. Major weapons: Harpoon, SM-1. Carries two LAMPS helicopters.
OOD: Officer of the deck. The U.S. Navy officer in charge of the ship or submarine. The OOD represents the commanding officer.
P-3 Orion: Long-range land-based maritime patrol and ASW aircraft operated by the U.S. and many of its allies. In Canadian service, the Orion is known as the Aurora.
Passive Sonar: Sonar that passively gathers its data from the noise an object radiates.
PBXN-103: High explosive, 650 pounds of which are found in the Mk 48’s warhead.
Phoenix: AIM-54. Long-range air-to-air missile carried by the F-14 Tomcat. Maximum range is more than 100 miles.
RBU-1200: Russian ASW mortar/rocket launcher.
Romeo: Russian designed diesel-electric class of submarines. Construction began in the 1950s. More than sixty are believed to remain in service with Chinese active and reserve forces. Top speed: 13 knots submerged. Length: 252 feet, 7 inches. Displacement: 1,700 tons submerged. Major weapons: eight 53cm torpedo tubes.
RORSAT: Russian radar ocean reconnaissance satellite.
S-3 Viking: Carrier-based long-range ASW aircraft. ES- 3 version used for carrier-based Signals Intelligence.
S6G: The pressurized water reactor that provides the main power source for the Los Angeles class of attack submarines.
SAET-60: 53cm Russian-manufactured anti-surface torpedo.
SEALs: Sea air land, U.S. Navy special operations units.
Seawolf (SSN-21): the newest class of nuclear attack submarine to be built for the U.S. Navy. Top speed: 35+ knots submerged. Length: approximately 350 feet. Displacement: 9,150 tons submerged. Major weapons: eight 30-inch torpedo tubes.
SET-53: 53cm Russian-manufactured active/passive ASW homing torpedo.
Seventh Fleet: U.S. Navy Fleet responsible for naval operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Headquarters: Yokosuka, Japan.
SH-60 Seahawk: U.S. Navy ASW and multipurpose LAMPS III helicopter.
Sierra: Advanced Russian SSN. Only slightly less capable than the Akulas. Top speed: 35 knots submerged. Length: 351 feet. Displacement: 7,900 tons submerged. Major weapons: four 65cm and two 53cm tubes.
Sierra Number: A designation representing a sonar contact on board a U.S. Navy submarine. Such contacts may be upgraded to Master Numbers if they are deemed possible threats or of other significance.
SLBM: Submarine launched ballistic missile.
SM-1/SM-2: Standard surface-to-air missiles carried on board U.S. and allied warships. SM-2 is the more advanced of the two and is also carried on board Aegis warships.
Snap Shot: Firing a torpedo in an emergency situation. Because no TMA has yet been conducted, the torpedo must be launched in the probable direction of the target.
Snorkel: Device used by a submarine to draw air from the surface while remaining submerged. This allows a diesel submarine to recharge its batteries or all submarines to ventilate while remaining under water.
Sonobuoy: A small, air-dropped sonar device designed to detect submarines and transmit their data back to the aircraft.
Spruance (DD 963): Large class of anti-submarine destroyers operated by the U.S. Navy. Top speed: 33 knots. Length: 563 feet, 2 inches. Displacement: 8,040 full load. Major weapons: Harpoon, Tomahawk, and ASROC (anti-submarine rocket). Also carries two LAMPS helicopters.
SQR-19: Tactical towed array sonar carried by several types of U.S. Navy warship.
SSBN: Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
SSIXS: Submarine satellite information exchange system. Satellite system through which the U.S. Navy and its submarines can communicate.
SSK: Diesel-electric attack submarine.
SSN: Nuclear-powered attack submarine.
SSXBT: A submarine expendable bathythermograph device used to measure water temperature at varying depths.
Sturgeon (SSN 637): U.S. nuclear attack submarine class. Predates the Los Angeles class. Top speed: 30 knots submerged. Length: 292 feet. Displacement: 4,780 tons submerged. Major weapons: four 21-inch torpedo tubes.
SU-27: Highly advanced Russian air defense fighter. Operated by Russia, China, and other nations.
SUBGRU: Submarine group.
Submarine Tender: A ship designed to provide support to submarines, including logistical support and small repairs.
SUBRON: Submarine squadron.
TB-16: U.S. Navy submarine towed array. The array is 240-feet long and is towed at the end of a 2,600-foot cable. The array is stored in a shroud on the starboard side.
TB-23: U.S. Navy submarine thin line array. The array is four times longer than the TB-16 and housed in the submarine’s ballast tank.
TERCOM: Terrain contour matching. One of several missile guidance/navigation systems used in the Tomahawk cruise missile.
TEST-71: Russian 53cm, submarine-launched, active/ passive, wire-guided ASW homing torpedo.
Third Fleet: U.S. Navy fleet responsible for operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Headquarters: San Diego, California.
Ticonderoga (CG-47): The most powerful class of cruisers in the world, operated by the U.S. Navy. Fitted with the Aegis air defense system. Top speed: 30+ knots. Length: 567 feet. Displacement: approximately 9,500 tons full load. Major weapons: Harpoon, Tomahawk, and SM-2 missiles. Also carries 2 LAMPS helicopters.
TMA: Target motion analysis. The process of determining a target’s course, speed, and range in order to direct a weapon in its direction.
Tomahawk: Family of long-range cruise missiles used by the U.S. Navy. Several variants exist: TASM (antiship variant), TLAM-N (nuclear land attack variant), TLAM-C (conventional land attack version with high explosive warhead), and TLAM-D (conventional land attack with bomblets).
Trafalgar Class: Advanced class of British Royal Naval SSN. Batch 1 is in service, batch 2 is planned for the next century. Data for batch 1—Top speed: 32 knots submerged. Length: 280.1 feet. Displacement: 5,208 tons submerged. Major weapons: five 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Type 2: Optics-only attack periscope carried on board U.S. submarines.
Type 18: Search periscope carried on board U.S. SSNs. Also contains still and video camera systems as well as ESM and communications receivers.
Typhoon: This Russian nuclear ballistic missile submarine is the world’s largest. The Typhoon is constructed of titanium with a double hull, making it extremely difficult to kill. Top speed: 25 knots submerged. Length: 560 feet, 11 inches. Displacement: 25,000 tons submerged. Major weapons: six torpedo tubes (65cm and 53cm) and twenty SS-N-20 SLBMs.
UHF: Ultra high frequency radio band.
Underwater Telephone: Device that allows two submarines to communicate verbally with each other while submerged and in close proximity to one another. Also allows submerged submarines to communicate verbally with nearby surface ships.
VHF: Very high frequency radio band.
VLF: Very low frequency radio band.
VLS: Vertical launch system used to launch missiles from warships and submarines.
WAA: Wide aperture array. Advanced sonar system, fitted to the Seawolf submarine, employing passive sensors to rapidly determine the location of targets and give more accurate target range and tracking data.
WLR-9: Acoustic intercept receiver. This system is used to alert the crew of a submarine if someone is using active sonar against them.
Ying Ji (YJ-1 and YJ-2): Chinese antiship missiles with a range of over twenty (YJ-1) and sixty (YJ-2) nautical miles.
Z-9 Harbin: Chinese version of the French SA-365 Dauphin II helicopter. Used for ASW. Some Z-9s carry the French HS-12 dipping sonar.
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