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United States Naval Reserve Intelligence Program
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Ready-for-Sea Handbook United States Naval Reserve Intelligence Program |
MODULE 5—The OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
5-*
A. The Combat Direction Center (CDC) 5-*
1. OI Division 5-*
2. OW Division 5-*
3. OX Division 5-*
4. OEM Division 5-*
5. Meteorology (OA Division) 5-*
6. Strike Operations Division 5-*
B. Intelligence Function 5-*
1. OP Division 5-*
2. OS Division 5-*
3. OZ Division 5-*
C. Air Operations (OC Division) 5-*
D. Electronic Materials Office (EMO) 5-*
E. OE Division 5-*MODULE 5—The OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
This module will cover the organization within the operations department. As with ship’s organizational structure in the previous module, the Operations Department from ship to ship will vary slightly. As before, we will use an example from a typical carrier for purposes of instruction. Elements of a typical carrier Operations Departments include the Combat Direction Center, Air Operations, Intelligence Center, Meteorology, Electronics Material Office, and Strike Operations. Already mentioned in the previous module, the Carrier Intelligence Center (
CVIC) is administratively located within the Operations Department. A majority of CVIC’s contacts will be with other divisions within Operations and the Air wing. Specific functions within each division of the Operations Department are abbreviated by a two-letter code beginning with "O" for Operations. They are listed below:A. The Combat Direction Center (
CDC)The
CDC is not a specific department per se, but a function within operations (see below). The CDC’s mission is to keep the Commanding Officer apprised of the overall tactical situation and recommend courses of action as appropriate. CDC accomplishes this mission by collecting, processing, displaying, evaluating, and disseminating tactical information in a timely fashion. CDC is vested with tactical decision making responsibility with respect to ship’s defensive systems and makes recommendations to warfare commanders for overall battlegroup defense. Specific divisions are listed below:OI Division is responsible for tracking all surface and air contacts. This division provides tactical information support, control of the ship’s defenses, and supports ship’s safe navigation. Enlisted Operations Specialists (OSs) typically man this division.
OW Division analyzes data collected from the electromagnetic spectrum. Its mission is to detect, identify, and classify air, surface, and subsurface contacts via passive detection means aided by the use of electronic support measures (ESM) equipment. Enlisted Electronics Warfare Technicians (EWs) typically man this division.
The OX Division provides mission support to the battlegroup’s undersea warfare assets. It is responsible for the ship’s USW defensive systems and is the fusion center for all USW operations conducted by the carrier’s USW aircraft such as LAMPS helicopters and S-3A/Bs (see Module 2).
This division maintains the Phalanx Close In Weapons System (CIWS) for short-range defense against cruise missiles or aircraft. Most every ship has this system to help protect it from anti-ship cruise missiles. Enlisted Fire Control men (FCs) typically work in this division.
Meteorology (which is often referred to as "Metro") monitors environmental conditions affecting the battlegroup and provides data to use weather for possible tactical advantage. This is accomplished by providing forecasts of radar effectiveness and acoustic propagation conditions to aid in optional positioning and use of accompanying ships and aircraft. Enlisted Aerographer Mates (AGs), the navy’s weathermen, work in this division.
Strike Operations Division coordinates with all warfare commanders to establish a viable
AIRPLAN for battlegroup functions. During air operations, Strike Operations coordinates with Air Operations (see below), CDC, and the Air Department (AB, AP) to ensure that air sorties are managed to meet the requirements dictated by combined warfare commanders. In support of the air wing, Strike Operations aids in weaponeering of ordnance (i.e., determines what ordnance will best be employed to destroy either individual or specific sets of targets).On a carrier, the
CVIC supports the battlegroup’s intelligence requirements by supplying the Commanding Officer, embarked staffs, and air wing with operational, technical, and strike planning information. This is accomplished with a variety of intelligence related systems located in CVIC and in the Supplementary Plot (SUPPLOT) spaces (see Module 10 for a description of systems). These systems provide operational intelligence (OPINTEL) information, intelligence research data, and reports on the collection efforts of the air wing aircraft. Note that if you are assigned to a smaller vessel the intelligence spaces will vary.Like
CDC, a carrier CVIC actually encompasses several individual divisions, which are listed below:OP
Division provides photographic support to the ship, air wing, and the embarked staff. OP has two labs onboard a typical carrier. The main photo lab handles photographic support for administrative and official events. The CVIC photo lab processes hand held photography from aircrew as well as TARPS film (the TARPS system is discussed in Module 10).The
OS Division is responsible for providing special intelligence communications to the warfare commanders both internal and external to the battlegroup. Typically, OS Division personnel are enlisted cryptologic specialists (i.e., CTs). In some cases, ships will receive a special NAVSECGRU Direct Support Element (DSE) consisting of additional CTs, which provide tailored support (e.g., CTIs for specific area interception operations).The personnel in this division are responsible for the day-to-day operation of
CVIC and SUPPLOT spaces. Personnel in the OZ Division include intelligence officers (1630s), enlisted Intelligence Specialists (ISs) and Data Processing Technicians (DPs), Electronics Technicians (ETs), and Interior Communications Technicians (ICs).C. Air Operations (OC Division)
The Air Operations Division is responsible for airspace management around the carrier, and monitoring the status of all airborne aircraft. These functions are performed in the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (
CATCC). Enlisted Air Traffic Controllers (ACs) work in this division.D. Electronic Materials Office (EMO)
The
EMO Division is responsible for all electronic maintenance of tactical and navigational radar systems onboard the ship. The EMO also provides maintenance for the ship’s internal and external communications systems, ship’s computers, and tactical display systems. Enlisted Data Systems Technicians (DSs) man these ADP systems.The OE Division is the formal name to the division within the
EMO which provides electronic maintenance electronic systems ranging from radar to the ship’s television system. Enlisted Interior Communications Technicians (ICs) man and upkeep the various communications and electronic systems within the ship.The following figure graphically illustrates the various functions and divisions of the Operations Department discussed above:
Figure 3.6. Typical CV Operations Department.
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