Tomahawk is a highly survivable weaponagainst predicted hostile defense systems. Radardetection is difficult because the missile has a verysmall cross section and flies at low altitude.Similarly, infrared detection is difficult becausethe turbofan engine emits a low level of heat. Theantiship variant of Tomahawk uses a combinedsearch radar and passive detection of enemyelectronic radiation to detect a hostile ship at greatrange.READINESS TRAINING IN THEU.S. NAVYReadiness is defined as the ability of a force,a unit, a weapons system, or an equipment todeliver the output for which it was designed.Readiness includes the ability to deploy andemploy without unacceptable delays.To meet the sea power challenge, the U.S.Navy continually conducts readiness training. Thisreadiness training includes refresher training,routine drills, exercises, and inspections.REFRESHER TRAININGREFRESHER TRAINING is designed to turna materially ready and manned ship into a shipthat is fully capable of performing its assignedmission. The Navy operates two refresher traininggroups, one on each coast of the United States.The Atlantic group is located at Guantanamo Bay,Cuba; the Pacific group is located at San Diego,California. Refresher training consists ofinspections, exercises, drills, and battle problems.These are designed to test every capability of theship. Refresher training normally takes about 5weeks to complete under the watchful eye of arefresher training group. A ship must repeat allexercises failed during this period until it receivesa passing grade. Upon completion of refreshertraining, the ship is ready for deployment.ROUTINE DRILLSAfter refresher training the ship must holdfrequent drills to keep the crew in top shape.These may be of the operational, emergency,administrative, or special type. Ships base all drillson the ship’s bills and the basic bills outlined inStandard Organization and Regulations of theU.S. Navy, OPNAVINST 3120.32B. Ships holdroutine drills to ensure qualified personnel areassigned, bills are correct, and all equipment ison hand and in working condition. Drills mayseem repetitive, but this repetitiveness producesa set of automatic responses by crew members thatprepares them for any event. General quarters isthe most important drill held. A general quartersdrill covers various bills that provide for exerciseof the entire crew. It allows for damage-control,gun-crew, missile-firing, and medical-team drillsall at once. Other frequently held drills arecollision, man overboard, abandon ship, andrescue and assistance. Through routine drills eachperson in the crewthe most stressfulINSPECTIONSwill be able to perform underconditions.To ensure ships and crews are prepared tomeet operational commitments, higher authorityholds several formal inspections. Theseinspections ensure the ship is safe to operate andadministrative procedures are correct. They alsoensure the ship is prepared to operate in wartimeconditions and in battle. We will briefly cover fourof the most important inspections conducted.Operational ReadinessInspection (ORI)One of the most important inspections shipsreceive is the OPERATIONAL READINESS IN-SPECTION (ORI). Unit commanders normallyperform these inspections while the ship isunderway with the crew at battle stations or withcondition watches set. Type commanders placeheavy emphasis on the ORI. This inspection teststhe ability of the crew and ship to operate in battleunder wartime conditions. The most importantexercise is a lengthy and realistic battle problemwith the crew at general quarters. Normally theship will fire actual weapons during the exercise.Defense against all forms of attack will be testedalong with damage-control, collision, andabandon-ship drills.Propulsion Examination Board(PEB) InspectionThe PROPULSION EXAMINATION BOARD(PEB) INSPECTION is conducted to ensure thepropulsion system is safe to operate. It alsodetermines the adequacy of the administrative andoperating procedures directly related to thepropulsion plant and the capability of assignedpersonnel to maintain equipment and systems.1-20
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