Warfare Department
The Warfare Department is the largest department onboard HMS Ark Royal and forms the main stay of the ships fighting capability. The Department specialises in six different areas: Above Water Warfare; Under Water Warfare; Electronic Warfare, Communications, Seamanship and Navigation. Members of the department from each speciality work together as a team to gather, process and act upon the mass of information that flows into this modern ship from a wide range of sources.
The Above Water Warfare team compiles the surface and air pictures using the Ship's suite of radars. They also operate the data link - a means of passing positional information electronically between ships and aircraft when operating as part of a force. When required, the Ship's weapon systems can be brought to bear by the Above Water Weapons team, and if threatened, the Ship can defend herself against aircraft and missiles through the Close In Weapon System (CWIS) Phalanx, 20mm cannons, machine and mini guns.
Against a surface threat, the ship's best defence is the helicopters and planes that she carries and the Warfare Department directs them to their targets. A whole host of weaponry can be brought to bear against any hostile contacts and deployed from the aircraft at arm's length reducing the risk to the ship. This is particularly effective against small patrol boats operated by many countries around the globe.
The Under Water Warfare Team controls the battle beneath the waves. Submarines are operated by many countries around the world and provide an opportunity to approach and attack a ship by stealth. It is vital therefore that the ship has the ability to detect them before they can be of any threat. The ship operates helicopters with a 'dipping' sonar which can detect submarines at very long range, feeding their information back to the ship so that a plan of attack can be formulated before the submarine becomes a threat. She also carries towed array sonar which can be used to lure an incoming torpedo away from the ship.
The Electronic Warfare sub-department operates the equipment that detects other ships and aircraft passively by listening for and classifying their radio and radar transmissions. This means that a target vessel or aircraft can be classified before it can be seen visually gaining an indication of its position and providing a basis for a course of action. It can also give an indication of a suspect contacts intent towards the ship.
The communicators ensure a worldwide connection through HF and satellite systems and inter-ship communications via VHF/UHF radio. As with all walks of life communication is the key to success and without it, the co-ordination of forces to achieve a common goal is extremely difficult. It also enables the ship to communicate with the United Kingdom anywhere in the world and at any time, again keeping open the vital channels of communication from a tactical level right the way down to personal emails form the ship's company to their friends and families at home.
The Seaman Specialists, along with providing personnel to man the bridge, are also responsible for the safe execution of seamanship evolutions such as handling the lines as the ship comes alongside, replenishing at sea, towing and boat operations. They also maintain all of the ship's life saving equipment such as the life rafts and life jackets. The department is also responsible for flag hoists and the sending of signals by flashing light using Morse code whilst at sea. This skill can be a vital method of communication between ships when the use of a radio could potentially give away a ship's or even and task group's position.
The Navigation Sub-Department is manned entirely by Officers. They are responsible for the safety of the ship and all of her ship's company, all of the time. This is a 24 hour task when the ship is at sea and it is essential that the highest standards are maintained on watch on the Bridge. As well as being aware of navigational hazards, shipping and possible threats to the ship, the navigation team must also run the ship's routine, be mindful for the safety of the ship's company and consider fuel economy throughout any passage.
With the exception of the Navigation and Seamanship sub-departments, the majority of the Warfare Department's training and work takes place in the Operations Room - the Ship's war fighting nerve centre, where information from all the sensors is processed and displayed in a coherent picture so that the battle can be fought. Success at warfare requires application, skill and teamwork of the highest order.
However, the Warfare Department is not always functioning in its war fighting role, and the personnel have many other duties to perform. The department is crucial to the other tasking that the ship carries out such as disaster relief, where members of the department may be landed ashore to help in a humanitarian operation, or be involved in the boarding of a vessel at sea that is suspected of breaking international laws. The Department has a host of responsibilities and areas of work, and in the ever-changing environment of a complex and busy warship, it works hard to maintain the highest level of training, skills and effectiveness.
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