machinery and radar antennas; and the cracking ofseams above and below the waterline.Damage from Underwater ShockThe pressure pulse created in water by an explosionon or below the surface is called an underwater shock. Ittravels much faster than an air blast and can inflictdamage to ships at a distance of several miles. Possibleeffects include damage to the hull, heavy machinery,gun mounts, and electronics systems.Damage from Water WavesAn underwater nuclear burst may result in wavesover a hundred feet in height, but water waves areseldom the primary source of ship damage. The impacto f wa t e r wave s m a y c a u s e d i s t o r t i o n o f t h esuperstructure, carry away deck gear, or flood throughdamaged weather doors.Damage to Ships Tactical SystemsNuclear detonation can cause considerable damageto tactical systems, including electrical and electronicsystems, sonar, radar and communications. Suchdamage can be a result of an electromagnetic pulse(EMP), transient radiation effects on electronics,blueout, or blackout.ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE (EMP).—Shipboard damage occurs when metal conductors, suchas electrical cables, antennas, and sensors, absorb EMP.Computers and other equipment using solid-statecomponents are most vulnerable to EMP. Vacuum-tubeequipment is less susceptible. Personnel aren’t directlyinjured by EMP, but they may suffer electrical shock ifthey are in contact with a large conductor of electricalenergy.Preventive measures to protect or h a rd e nequipment against damage by EMP include metalshielding, good grounding, use of surge arresters, andthe proper arrangement of electrical wiring.TRANSIENT RADIATION EFFECTS ONE L E C T RO N I C S ( T R E E ) . — T R E E o c c u r s i nelectronics systems as a result of exposure to gamma orneutron radiation. The actual effects are determined bythe characteristics of the circuits in the electronicspackage, the components in the circuits, and theconstruction techniques and materials used to make thecomponents. In general, radios, radar, computers,cables and wiring, and inertial guidance systems aresusceptible to TREE. The response of such systems toradiation depends on the nature of the radiation and onthe specific components and operating status of thesystems.B L U E O U T . — B l u e o u t i s t h e p r o l o n g e ddisturbance of an underwater nuclear detonation and iscaused by ocean basin shock reverberations thatinterfere with passive sonar systems. The noiseresulting from the initial nuclear weapon detonation(the interaction of steam and water and the pulsations ofthe steam bubble) masks out all other sound for a shortperiod of time making it impossible for sonar operatorsto listen for target data. The effects of blueout aretemporary.B L AC KO U T . — B l a c k o u t , c a u s e d b y a natmospheric nuclear explosion, is the interference ofradio transmissions through ion fields formed in adetonation. In a tactical situation, straight-linecommunications (radar and radio transmissions)between ships on opposite sides of the fireball will belost. Following a high altitude detonation, satellitecommunications may be affected or lost. Blackoutalters or inhibits radar or radio waves and affects allfrequency bands.Procedures to counteract the effects of blackoutinclude providing alternate paths for communications,shifting radio operating frequencies, changingtransmission modes, and waiting for blackout effects todiminish.REVIEW 3 QUESTIONSQ1. List the four types of nuclear weapon explosionclassification.a.b.c.d.13-12Student Notes:
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