NAVIGATION TECHNIQUES USED IN THE THRESHER SEARCH

S. T. Knott

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	The effectiveness of the means employed in the search for THRESHER was related strongly to the quality of navigational control. Loran A, Loran C, DEcca Navigator, reference buoys, radar, and navigation by echo-sounding and acoustical ranging were all eventually available to the Research Vessel ATLALNTIS II during the period April 11 to May 27, 1963. All navigational data were taken as frequently as possible (every one to five minutes), to provide enough samples for statistical treatment. Especially in the case of Loran A early in the search, this procedure provided closer navigational control than oridinary would be estimated from the known characteristics of the system. Loran C provided but one good line of position. Combinations of lines of position from different systems were used repeatedly, but not generally successfully. Decca Navigator, buoys and radar, and soundings were the most effective of the tools used by ATLANTLIS II. With their use, the positions of known fixed objects, such a contact Delta, could be re-occupied reliably. On the other hand, it was not equally possible to relate teh positional data from several ships, probably because of differences in navigational technique. Determining the location of deply towed search instruments in relation to one's ship was another navigation problem, of equal or greater magnitude, which was solved adequately by a method of acoustical positioning.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 12, Number 1
Pages:	3 - 10
Cite this article:	Knott, S. T., "NAVIGATION TECHNIQUES USED IN THE THRESHER SEARCH", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 12, No. 1, Spring 1965, pp. 3-10.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In