other ship’s course is approximately 270° and,depending upon the speed of the two ships, thepossibility of collision exists. Your target angle reporthas alerted the OOD that a change of course or speed orboth may be required. A change in target angle canmean that the contact has changed course, which is notalways immediately apparent to the radar plotters inCIC.REPORTING POSITION ANGLEAn object located in the sky is reported by itsbearing and position angle. The position angle of anaircraft is its height (in degrees) above the horizon asseen from the ship. The horizon is 0° and directlyoverhead is 90°. A position angle can never be morethan 90°, as shown in figure 3-4. Position angles arereported in one or two digits and spoken as awhole—not digit by digit.Position angles should be reported on all aircraft.Look at figure 3-5. As the aircraft approaches the ship,the position angle increases. Whenever the positionangle changes significantly, all stations should beinformed. To help you more accurately determine anaircraft’s position angle, you can use the aids shown infigure 3-6. The width of the thumb between the horizonand the aircraft is approximately 2°; the width of theclosed fist, approximately 8°; and the open hand,approximately 15° (at arm’s length).REPORTING RANGESMost of the time, if you give reasonably goodbearings and position angles when reporting contacts,the OOD will have little difficulty in locating them. Butsuppose you sight a submarine periscope, a person, orsome other object low in the water. In these instances,you can save valuable time by reporting the object’sapproximate distance. Ranges are always reported inyards. Estimating distances over water is difficult for the3-15Student Notes:Figure 3-3.—Target angle.Figure 3-4.—Position angle.Figure 3-6.—Position angle aids.Figure 3-5.—Position angle.
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