Weapon Engineering Department
The WE Department, play a vital role within Ark Royal, supporting the Command and Warfare Departments. It enables the ship to proceed safely to sea as well as providing the means to control aircraft and fight the war; in addition we provide the little things that are taken for granted in day to day life; like internet, emails, television and telephone calls. The 62 strong Department work around the clock to maintain the ship's sensors, navigational aids, communications and safety equipment.
Flag Section's External Communications can be broken down into 4 major systems. Integrated Communications System Stage 3 (ICS3); covering High Frequency (HF) transmissions providing world wide communications and reception in the VLF-HF for broadcasts and other transmissions from shore; VHF/UHF systems covering the International Maritime Band for liaising with the Harbour Master, Coast Guard and merchant vessels; and the Naval UHF band used for communicating with the task force, ground troops and controlling aircraft. Satellite Communications Onboard Terminal (SCOT) 5; using a range of dedicated military geostationary satellites orbiting 22,000 miles from earth, giving as near as possible global access to high speed communications and real time video feeds. The system has 2x1.52M Antennas located either side of the mainmast maximising the ships access to the satellites. Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Phase 2; this is a world wide safety and information system managed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); used to provide vessels with navigational information and an aid to ships in distress. The equipment comprises of a VHF transceiver, MF/HF transceiver and an Inmarsat C Global Positioning System (GPS), all grouped via a data-brick PC and printer. Cryptographic Equipment; used to encrypt sensitive information be it spoken or telegraph.
The ships telephone exchange enables the crew to make call within the ship as well as to other military units via the SCOT system. The ship also has a selection of broadcast system for making safety announcements to the whole ship or individual parts i.e. the upper deck. The engine room and flight deck have a dedicated closed loop communications system enabling the personnel within the loop to hear instructions via headphones in their ear defenders.
The ship has a gyro stabilized Satellite TV system fitted on the rear of the superstructure providing a wide range of channels. In addition to these, videos and DVD's can be shown on the system; there are also 2 digital radio channels as well as a facility to play CD's.
Combat Section is the bigger of the three sub sections; with the Action Data Automated Weapon System (ADAWS) and Combat System Highway at its centre. The Combat System Highway is a rugged Local Area Network running throughout the ship connecting the ships above water sensors, underwater sensors, weapon systems and Navigation systems together to provide a full action picture in the Operations Room.
In recent years ADAWS would then formulate a firing solution for the data received from the Combat System Highway; however since the removal of Sea dart Missile System ADAWS now acts as another member of the Network correlating the data for display on the many screens in the Operations Room.
Ark Royal has 3 main types of RADAR (Radio Aid to Direction and Ranging): 1022 Long Range Surveillance, which has an optimum range of 250 miles and is used as an early warning system; 996 Medium Range Height Finding, was designed by Siemens especially for the Royal Navy. With a range of 96 miles, it gives early warning of missile attack; Navigation RADAR 1007 has a maximum range of 45 miles, used when transiting in confined waters, whilst entering and leaving harbour and when controlling Aircraft. The RADAR transmission is mixed with a secondary transponder frequency which is used to identify aircraft that are being controlled; Navigational RADAR 1008 is used as a back up device; all ships over 4000 tonnes are required to have two navigational RADAR.
Under Water Sensors are limited to a Electromagnetic Log for recording the ships speed and distance travelled, an Echo Sounder 778 used to measure the water beneath the keel and the Underwater Telephone and Challenge/ Reply Signal Generator for contacting and identifying submarines.
A Bathythermograph is also fitted to the quarterdeck, a probe is dropped over the ships side, this is used to measure temperature against depth, to produce a sound-velocimeter for depth/sound data.
Electronic Warfare is a purely passive system that detects a transmission and analyses it to give it's frequency, pulse the length and pulse repetition frequency (the amount of time it transmits in 1 second) this information can help identify the ship, aircraft or missile before it is picked up on RADAR.
Information Systems Section operates NavyStar, a RESTRICTED administration tool providing the Ship's Company with office facilities, access to shared files, intranet, internal and external email and the world wide web. Military Task Equipments are an array of mainly SECRET equipments fitted to the ship as required, to support the Ship's current operations. Special Intelligence equipments are also fitted in support of the ships operations. CSS is a Classified Administration system providing secure access between land and sea units.
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