Anthony D. Bond
Naval Surface Warfare Ctr., Dahlgren Div. Detachment, 1650 S.W. 39th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
The Detachment controls an underwater test site extending from shore to a water depth of 2000 ft. Using a dedicated range support vessel and remotely operated underwater recovery vehicle known as TONGS, the Facility maintains an underwater field of cables and acoustic instrumentation. The cable field consists of coaxial, multiconductor, and fiberoptic cables terminating in water depths from 60 to 1800 ft. Attached to cable ends are acoustic ranging systems for active underwater target tracking, acoustic beacons, acoustic projectors, array test sites, and volumetric arrays for experiments in passive target tracking. Additional cable sites are maintained to test acoustic systems for other range users. Improvements to the Facility have been made as a result of more stringent accuracy requirements. New generation, three-dimensional, acoustic tracking arrays provide more accurate tracking data against submerged targets. Precision sonar systems and computer positioning interface on TONGS allows precise determination of bottom unit positions even in deep water. New telemetry gear enables high data rate transmission of acoustic information.