| |
Explosives Development Engineering Department
(NEDED) at the Naval Weapons Station,
Yorktown, Virginia, and the Naval Ordnance
Station at Indian Head, Maryland.
UNDERWATER WEAPONS AND
UNDERWATER WEAPONS SYSTEMS
The Navy’s main research, development, test,
and evaluation activity for underwater combat
systems is the Naval Underwater Systems Center
(NUSC) at Newport, Rhode Island. NUSC is
committed to a diversity of complex technological
research programs concerning command and
control systems, underwater weapons and targets,
weapons launchers and tubes, underwater track-
ing ranges, sonar, surveillance, ocean engineering,
and fleet readiness. In addition to its Newport
facilities, NUSC has a major research and
development laboratory complex at New London,
Connecticut.
NUSC is tasked to perform research and
development of torpedo-type weapons. However,
the Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station
(NUWES) at Keyport, Washington, also conducts
some research and development and considerable
testing and evaluation of torpedoes. In addition,
NUWES, Keyport, serves as the sole proofing
activity for production torpedoes. Proofing
includes a series of tests that a sample of
production torpedoes must pass before the
torpedoes are accepted and delivered to the fleet.
SHIPBOARD PERSONNEL
PROTECTION
Wearing the right protective equipment is the
best way for personnel to prevent injuries.
Protective equipment protects personnel from
weapons effects in hostile actions; from fire,
smoke, and toxic effects in peacetime accidents;
and from hazardous and environmental effects
in the day-to-day workplace. Since the crew must
be able to function under all three of these
environmental conditions, wearing protective
equipment limits their exposure.
The following are some items of protective
equipment that have been, or are being,
developed:
• The naval battle helmet, the ballistic face
shield, the naval flak vest, and laser eye protection
for wear during hostile actions
• The fire fighter’s helmet, antiflash and
antiexposure clothing, fire-retardant working
clothing, and fire fighter’s breathing apparatus
for protection in peacetime accidents
• The auto-inflatable utility life preserver
and improved clothing for both cold weather and
hazardous material handling for protection
against the hazardous and environmental effects
in the workplace
SUMMARY
NAVAL AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
The principal field activity for the design and
cradle-to-grave management of the aircraft system
is the Naval Air Development Center (NADC) at
Warminster, Pennsylvania. The center conducts
research, development, test, and evaluation of,
and life cycle support for, major naval aircraft
systems. NADC was established in 1944. Its
capabilities were expanded substantially in 1973
when the Naval Navigation Laboratory (NNL),
formerly the Naval Strategic Systems Naviga-
tion Facility, was incorporated under NADC.
Approximately 60 percent of the research and
development at NNL deals with navigation for
surface ships and submarines. The other 40
percent is concentrated on airborne navigational
systems. NNL’s current and ongoing research and
development projects include ring laser gyro
technology, the global positioning system, and the
joint tactical information distribution system.
All the supporting elements of the Navy
discussed in this chapter share a common
thread—they all work to provide support to Navy
personnel and programs.
The Civil Engineer Corps oversees the
construction of our bases and facilities. The
Supply Corps provides parts, equipment, and
food and disburses our pay and allowances.
BUMED strives to keep us healthy or return us
to health if we are ill or injured. The Chaplain
Corps attends to our spiritual and moral needs.
The Judge Advocate General’s Corps helps us
with our legal problems. The Naval Security
Program helps to prevent the unauthorized
disclosure of our vital information. Naval
Intelligence provides us with information about
potential threats or enemies. And last but not
least, the Research and Development Program of
the Navy continues to develop and improve our
equipment.
13-13
|
