AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array SONAR (TACTAS)
The AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array SONAR (TACTAS) provides very long-range passive detection of enemy submarines. TACTAS is a long cable full of microphones that is towed about a mile behind the ship. It is towed so far behind the ship so as to not let noise radiating from the shipitself interfere with the noise picked up from
targets. Using that noise can determine exactly what ship or submarine is being tracked. The AN/SQR-19B Tactical Array SONAR (TACTAS) is a passive
towed array system which provides the ability to detect, classify, and track a large number of submarine contacts at increased ranges. TACTAS is a component sensor of the AN/SQQ-89(V)6 ASW Combat System, and provides significant improvements in passive detection and localization, searching throughout 360 degrees at tactical ship speeds. Processing of complex TACTAS data is performed by the largest computer program assembly ever developed for surface ship anti-submarine warfare.
Meteorology and Oceanography Center Detachment TACTAS support products describe
oceanographic and acoustic conditions (using range dependent models) in
the prosecution area for towed array ships tasked by CTF-69 for ASW
operations. This message is provided when own ship Sonar In-situ Mode
Assessment System (SIMAS) or the Mobile Environmental Team’s Mobile
Oceanographic Support System MOSS) are not available. It is tailored to
the specific towed array carried onboard. The message is transmitted
prior to the start of a prosecution and daily thereafter or as requested.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/an-sqr-19.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Saturday, December 12, 1998 7:17:49 AM