In major warfare, I think its a consensus that priority one is to knock out communications of the enemy. regardless of the times. BUt now instead of not being able to communicate, it also destroys our ability to control the weapons at hand.
Geez, I hope they are not a simple as this article would imply. I never have my navigation system connected to the internet except when doing maintenance in port. But Something is wrong as hell. A bum GPS signal doesn't account for getting a Destroyer T-boned. Crap! getting run down by a frigging Tanker and nobody saw it on the bridge, AIS or Radar??? Short of a cloaking device, I can't find a reason.
have you traveled these waters? I know in Alaska some of the passes are extremely narrow with cpa's uf under a hundred yards occasionally. things were compounded by ship speeds of 30+ knots so closing speeds with or against the tides could leave very little margin for error. many of the commercial carriers bridge officers spoke halting English on late night watches so coordinating maneuvers in close quarter situations could get"exciting"even with ARPA radar plotting in real time. edit; these waters as in the straits where the latest collision occurred as I have not.
Yes. Yea Alaska is a different deal, well most of the NE Pacific is, narrow channels and fog, wind, rain so damn hard you thought you sunk. But dang man, the Straits of Malacca are another matter. That is probably the busiest water in the world. I can't imagine running a Destroyer through there without expecting a wise ass testing the US Navy. I should think all tools would be applied Radar, Sonar, AIS, Radio, and Look outs, lots of Look outs. I remember running that slot, and that's just how we did it. The Skipper was in his chair on the bridge the whole damn time.
Most dangerous sea on the planet. One day when I have more time Ill type up one of the scariest moments of my life that has to do with sailing a 55' purse sain from Valdez to Seattle.
One day when I have more data I'll type up my story of how one day I sat at home on dry land and read your scary story about sailing. barfo
One day, when I actually type it up... IF I type it up I will remind you that that is indeed the day to gather more data.
