Position Finding by Underwater Sound Signals

Abstract

The ability of a navigator to fix the true position of his ship at sea under the adverse conditions of storm and fog has been made possible through synchronized radio and underwater sound signals. Hydrographic survey vessels are fixing their position with ease and accuracy by means of radio acoustic sound ranging and underwater sound spotting. The point of impact of a projectile fired from coast artillery is being determined by underwater sound spotting. Ships are checking their position at sea by taking a series of echo depth soundings. Coast defense fortifications are using underwater sound direction finding for the detection and location of distant invisible ships. In each case underwater sound signals are playing an important part. The paper describes some of the more important technical aspects of these methods of position finding by underwater sound signals.