SHIP OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS STUDY
The first of the "Revolution at Sea" studies to be completed
was the Ship Operational Characteristics Study (SOCS). SOCS was
convened in February 1987 by the Assistant Chief of Naval
Operations (Surface Warfare). The study, which was completed and
approved by the Chief of Naval Operations in April 1988, was to
recommend the required characteristics of the surface combatant
ship of the year 2010 as determined by Fleet and Headquarters
Unrestricted Line (URL) operators. SOCS details the ideal
operational characteristics that must be embodied in the design of
the 21st century surface combatant to enable it to perform its
missions against the forecast threat. The required operational
characteristics were developed from analysis of U.S. national
objectives, naval missions, the geopolitical environment, and the
threat expected in the early 21st century. SOCS also addresses
shortfalls in earlier warship design identified by representatives
of the operating forces. SOCS is, among other things, a Fleet
study. Essentially, the study group asked operational commanders
to design a ship, given a clean sheet of paper, listing those
characteristics considered most vital to accomplishing the mission.
The 21st century combatant will be capable of both independent
and Battle Force operations. The ability to operate independently
requires a stout self-defense capability in every mission area,
AAW, ASUW/STRIKE and ASW and an offensive capability in at least
one major mission area. To operate effectively with and contribute
to a Battle Force requires speed consistent with that of an
aircraft carrier and combat logistics ships and system
compatibility with the other ships and aircraft in the force.
SOCS did not undertake to define the 21st century surface
combatant's hull form. The study concentrated on identifying
required operational characteristics that would be suitable with
any of the hull forms familiar to the Navy. The operational
characteristics recommended in the study for surface combatants
will also be applicable to other 21st century ships such as ships
of the amphibious, combat logistics and mine forces.
The principal objective of SOCS was to gain the maximum
warfighting capability from every 21st century surface combatant.
There are numerous means of improving a combatant's warfighting
capability including increasing the weapons carrying capacity,
increasing endurance, improving survivability and thus the ships
ability to "fight hurt" and many others. Each recommendation in
SOCS is intended to maximize warfighting capability and put more
ordnance on target.
SOCS developed a list of 12 imperative characteristics which
were prioritized alpha-numerically in four sets of three. This
prioritization is based on the knowledge that funding constraints
preclude the immediate incorporation of all 12 imperatives. The 12
Imperative Operational Characteristics for the 21st century
combatant are:
- Cooperative engagement in all mission areas:
- Integrated machinery systems
- Survivability and the ability to "fight hurt"
- Embedded readiness assessment, mission planning and training
- Condition based maintenance
- Torpedo self defense
- Collocation of ship control (bridge) and Combat Information Center
- Access control and security
- Alternative use of volume
- Smooth topsides
- New information management
- Organic Aviation and other off-board vehicles
DEFINITIONS:
Cooperative Engagement: A multi-mission, integrated and
coordinated combat data and action system at the Battle Force
level. Cooperative Engagement characteristics are clustered into
three general areas: Intership Data Exchange, External Weapon
Control, and Automation and Integration.
Intership Data Exchange: A secure (difficult to intercept)
data-link for detection, classification (identification) and
targeting that is available to all ships in the Battle Force.
External Weapon Control: Each ship is capable of controlling
weapons fired from every other ship. This enables a damaged ship's
weapons to be used if the ship itself cannot provide targeting
data. It also permits a ship which has expended its weapons due to
high volume of attack, to use the weapons from another ship that is
not in an equally high density threat area.
Automation and Integration: Ship control throughout the Battle
Force via data-link between shipboard computers. This will
correlate and combine information from a ships own sensors with
information received from the sensors of other ships via data link,
thus significantly increasing the battle space. It will correlate
environmental information in the area and in a potential target
area and provide that information to shipboard weapon systems and
to other ships via data link. It will coordinate the use of decoys
throughout the Battle Force to prevent one ship from decoying an
incoming enemy weapon into another friendly ship. Automation and
integration will also provide the capability to maneuver the ship
automatically based on the shipboard computer's optimum course and
speed to avoid incoming enemy weapons and to unmask batteries for
launch of defensive#offensive weapons or decoys.
Precise Navigation System: A system such as NAVSTAR/Global
Positioning System, is imperative to Cooperative Engagement since
each unit must be able to locate itself exactly on the face of the
earth in relation to ships in the battle force and other contacts.
Integrated Machinery: The incorporation of a propulsion system
that also provides the necessary power for operation of ships
weapons, sensors and hotel services. An integrated system takes
advantage of great amounts of propulsion power which are untapped
in conventional systems where propulsion power is physically
separate from ship service power. Integrated Electric Drive
provides this necessary flexibility of operation.
Survivability and the Ability to "Fight Hurt": SOCS treated damage
control and survivability as a single issue because the 21st
century combatant should integrate both in to an effective total
system. Survivability and damage control involve all steps from
avoiding detection, avoiding being targeted and avoiding getting
hit, to minimizing damage if hit, damage control and restoration
after being hit, and "fighting hurt", the ability to continue to
fight after being hit. Signature management plays a significant
role in a ship's ability to avoid detection and targeting. A
reduced radar cross section (RCS) (return a target provides on an
enemy's radar), infrared signature (radiated heat), acoustic
signature (sound a ship makes in the water), and electro-magnetic
signature (frequencies, pulse rates, etc. of a given ship's
specific radars and radios) are all facets of a ship's overall
signature. Signature management is often referred to as STEALTH.
Defensive systems such as Close In Weapon System and decoys play a
significant role in preventing a ship from being hit after an enemy
weapon has been fired. Automated damage control systems will
provide rapid response to battle damage through the use of internal
sensors and computer which monitor and compare temperature levels,
water levels, smoke, etc. Similarly, designed survivability
provides redundancy of systems and power, armor, optimum internal
arrangement all with the intent of minimizing the effects of battle
damage.
Embedded Readiness Assessment, Mission Planning and Training: The
Commanding Officer of a 21st century combatant must be able to
perform mission and battle planning, conduct realistic combat
training for ship's teams at all levels and asses in real time the
readiness of the ship's systems and crew. Essentially, a
Commanding Officer, using advanced internal and external sensors
linked to an advanced computer processor, will have the capability
to examine the capability of his ship and crew to fight at any
given instant. The system also provides him the capability of
artificially changing sensor input as a means of training his crew
in how to fight the ship. Finally, the computer system provides
the capability to plan mission and battle actions based on sensor
input, ship/crew capabilities and operational requirements.
Condition Based Maintenance: Again, using advanced sensors linked
to a computer processor, the ship will tell its operators when
maintenance is required. This capability will reduce costly and
unnecessary time-based maintenance (which relies on the probability
of failure based on experience.) Condition based maintenance relies
on sensor indication of impending failure, permitting maximum safe
utilization of equipment and maintenance only as needed, thus
reducing parts expenditure and constant periodic man-hours required
to time-based maintenance.
Torpedo Self Defense: An active capability to detect, track and
destroy an incoming torpedo much as present AAW systems can detect,
track and destroy an incoming cruise missile.
Collocation of Ship Control and Combat Information Center: Reduces
unnecessary volume. Since modern combat operations rely largely on
long range sensor information rather than visual information (as in
times past) the need for a separate ship control area (bridge) and
Combat Information Center (CIC) is diminished. Since warfighting
capability is the primary purpose of the ship, it is logical to
combine all warfighting areas into a single area, thus sensor and
weapon information (CIC), ship control operations (bridge) and
damage control central functions could all be combined into one
location. For those times when visual information is required,
entering port, restricted maneuvering, replenishment alongside, a
small (size of a 747 cockpit) bridge can be located topside.
Additionally portable remote controllers can be provided so that a
conning officer could control the ship from selected locations
around the ship when it is necessary to see the ship's sides.
Access Control and Security: Provides for a positive, difficult to
circumvent means of identification of crew members; a single,easily
controlled, easily monitored access to the ship and means to bar
unauthorized persons from gaining access. Access control
emphasizes security over ceremony in moving the location of the
quarterdeck away from the point of access to the ship. Security
includes use of high intensity lighting above and below the
waterline, trained and qualified security force personnel equipped
with armament appropriate for use inside the ship and with personal
protective equipment. Internal sensors would be provided to
monitor the condition of water and stores. Finally, shipboard data
bases would be protected to prevent unauthorized access to
personnel files and classified information.
Alternative Use of Volume: This concept is as old as the Navy. A
gun deck on sailing ships became a berthing area for the crew as
easily as men hanging their hammocks. In the modern sense
Alternative Use of Volume recognizes the fact that a ship is home
to its crew. Thus in peace time areas such as crew lounges, large
berthing area and "luxury" stores are important to morale. In
wartime, there would be limited opportunity for such items and
areas, thus the space they normally occupy could be designed for
rapid conversion to an additional magazine or fuel storage space
with the associated increase in warfighting capability.
Smooth Topsides: Provide reduced radar cross section (RCS), better
topside safety, facilitate cold and heavy weather operations,
reduce electro-magnetic interference and decrease maintenance.
This will require general redesign of ships including use of
conformal array radars instead of mast mounted antennae, reduction
of exhaust stacks, removal of side mounted life boats in favor of
stern launched boats (similar to modern amphibious ships) and
removal of bulky alongside replenishment fittings to the delivery
ship.
New Information Management: Often referred to as the "paperless
ship." SOCS noted paper (in the form of logs, message traffic,
manuals, training books, etc.) and the requisite storage containers
add as much as 36 tons to modern surface combatants. Most of the
information contained could as easily be placed on magnetic or
laser disc with the associated reduction in weight and volume. The
"saved" weight and volume could then be applied to additional
weapons or fuel with the associated improvement in warfighting
capability.
Organic Aviation and Offboard Vehicles: The requirement for
embarked aviation assets (either helicopter or fixed wing) and
offboard vehicles (either tethered or untethered) is a response to
the expanding battle space of the 21st century. The range between
participants in future engagements, the minimum response time to
engage future incoming weapons and the sophistication of the battle
in general will require vehicles capable of leaving the base ship
to extend both offensive and defensive capabilities. Additionally,
modular construction of vehicle stowage will improve fleetwide
flexibility. Modules themselves must conform to the requirement
for smooth topsides as well.
Additional Characteristics: During the course of the study, SOCS
examined many additional characteristics which, while not adding to
a ship's warfighting capability, will improve operational
capability. These characteristics include work reduction items,
internal communications and IFF improvements, additional, less
vital security improvements and navigational aids. All are
contained in the Ship Operational Characteristics Study.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/socs.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Sunday, April 19, 1998 4:53:33 PM