Survey of Underwater Missile Tracking Instrumentation

The development of underwater missile tracking instrumentation is reviewed, and current underwater tracking ranges are described. Three approaches have been taken to the problem of tracking a torpedo: internal instrumentation, external fixed-site tracking ranges, and portable tracking arrays. The principal tracking method employed is that of a fixed-site tracking range. The technique is to plant an array of hydrophones, which receive sound pulses generated in the moving vehicle. The relative arrival tinle of the pulses, known array geometry, and propagation velocity are then employed to compute the coordinates, speed, and acceleration of the underwater missile.