2. Navy Surface System Genealogy
3. Navy Systems' Descriptions
NTDS R&D Systems (Six Systems) 1955-1959
Remington Rand Univac (RRU) developed the solid state unit computer (AN/USQ-17), some associated equipment, and computer programs for the computerization of the Combat Information Center (CIC) of navy ships. RRU developed the interface standards which allowed the computers to communicate with other equipment including displays and communications gear. RRU also developed a software compiler for building computer programs for the system. The system was called the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). The several unit computers on a ship were able to communicate directly with each other without an intervening device which was a first [Design Specification, DS4772, designated these Input/Output channels as Inter-computer channels which functioned slightly differently than computer to peripheral channels.]
NTDS Service Test Systems (Two Destroyers and one Aircraft Carrier) 1960-1962
The solid state computers were redesigned using newer technology transistors which made them more reliable and twice as fast. Multiple computer systems were installed on the three ships and the systems successfully passed service test. The redesigned computer was designated CP-642. Production versions of the unit computer were designated CP-642A.
POFA (Programmed Operational Functional Appraisal Tests - 1960
Remington Rand Univac developed the concept of testing the interfaces and functions of the equipment connected to the digital NTDS computers utilizing computer programs operating in the digital computer. This allowed the systems to be integrated in a systematic manner, one equipment at a time.
Interface Equipment critical to many ships:
Interconnecting Digital to Analog Converter (IDAC) interface between digital NTDS and analog weapon system - 1960. The IDAC equipment developed by RRU allowed the NTDS computers to communicate with the analog weapon direction equipment and designate targets for engagement by the missile launchers and guns.
Keyset Central (KSC) Interface Equipment - 1960. The KSC equipment developed by RRU provided the interface which allowed the input of a variety of analog shipboard devices and manual input devices to the digital computers.
Keyset Central Multiplexer (KCMX) interface between NTDS and several analog and digital systems - 1964. The KCMX developed by Univac greatly expanded the capabilities of the KSC adding many analog to digital converter channels, discrete input and output signals, and output channels for connection to digital to analog converter boxes. The KCMX allowed the NTDS computers to interface with the systems of different ship types.
NTDS for Navy's first nuclear powered surface ships [Cruiser Long Beach CGN 9 and Aircraft Carrier Enterprise CVN 65] - 1962
During the service test phase computer systems were ordered for and installed aboard the U.S. Navy's first nuclear powered warships. These computer systems interfaced with the Navy's first digital phased-array radars which were aboard these ships.
Weapon Direction System (WDS) Mark 11 - 1964
The WDS Mark 11 system was a digital system developed by Univac to replace the analog weapon direction systems aboard Navy ships. As NTDS was performing many of the same functions as the analog weapon direction systems, it was possible with the addition of a few digital displays, a weapons control panel developed by Univac and some digital computer programs to eliminate a huge amount of analog equipment aboard Navy ships.
DLG 6 and 16 Class NTDS - 1966
An NTDS system including the newly developed WDS Mark 11 Weapon Direction System and a new digital radar were installed on the DLG 6 and 16 class destroyers significantly improving the operational capabilities of the combat systems of these 19 ships. In addition, the underwater battery fire control system was connected to NTDS. The DLG 6 and 16 Class ships were some of the first ships to use the CP-642B version of the unit computer. The CP-642B was twice as fast as the CP-642A.
ASW Ships Command & Control System (ASWSC & CS) NTDS systems for antisubmarine warfare.
Implemented on Destroyer Escorts and ASW Aircraft Carrier - 1966: The ASWSC & CS although implemented on only three ships allowed the development of improvements in antisubmarine warfare using digital computers. These improvements were implemented in other ship classes which also have an ASW capability. Univac defined the equipment and developed the software to incorporate ASW functions.
German DDG Combat System - 1966
Univac developed a one computer system and the computer programs for the combat system for three German Navy guided missile destroyers.
Digital TALOS Shipboard Missile Fire Control System - 1967
Univac utilized a smaller word length digital computer (CP-848, Univac type 1219.) We developed and wrote the software to digitize the former analog fire control computer which controlled the TALOS shipboard missile system. The system was implemented on several Navy cruisers.
Junior Participating Tactical Data System (JPTDS)System for Small Ships - 1969
JPTDS was one of the first systems developed using the new generation of powerful shipboard computers, the AN/UYK-7, developed by Univac. The AN/UYK-7 used integrated circuits and was many times more capable than the original NTDS computers. It was now possible to perform all command and control functions for small ships in a single computer. Although JPTDS wasn't implemented on any ships, many of its concepts were implemented in emerging shipboard systems.
DD 963 Combat System - 1972
Univac provided much of the computer system hardware including computers and KCMX for the combat system aboard the new construction DD 963 destroyers.
DLGN 38 Combat System (first AN/UYK-7 multiprocessor NTDS) - 1973
The DLGN 38 Combat System incorporated the new AN/UYK-7 multiprocessor computer system developed by Univac. Univac also developed the operating system for the multiprocessor system and the initial command and control programs for this ship class.
DDG 993 Combat System - 1977
Univac utilized the DLGN 38 computer system design and modified the software to be implemented on four guided missile destroyers the U.S. Navy sold to the Iranian Navy. A shipboard combat system and a computer program development center were implemented in Eagan for system development and training. Iranian Navy personnel came to Eagan for training. The four ships had not been delivered to Iran when the Iranian government was overthrown so the U.S. Navy ended up with the very capable ships.
Univac developed the command and control systems and software for several classes of Japanese Navy ships and trained Japanese Navy personnel on the systems.
German F 122 Combat System - 1978
Univac developed the command and control system utilizing the new AN/UYK-7 multiprocessor for this new class of German Navy Frigates. Univac developed the software to simulate many of the German developed shipboard systems which interface to the AN/UYK-7 so that the command and control software developed by the German Navy could be thoroughly tested.
Canadian SHINPADS (Serial Data Bus System) - 1980
Univac developed the serial data bus and associated control software for implementation with a distributed computer system.
Canadian Patrol Frigate Combat System - 1984-1989
Univac developed the combat system hardware and software for the new construction Patrol Frigates being built by Canada. The system implemented distributed AN/UYK-20 computers and the SHINPADS serial data bus developed by Univac. Much of the system development was performed in Canada by Univac personnel (American and Canadian) working in the Winnipeg facility.
SPY-1 [Aegis] Combat System Computer System - 1984 - 200X
Univac provided the AN/UYK-7 [and later the AN/UYK-43] multiprocessing computers and system support engineers for implementing the Aegis phased array radar of the Aegis system implemented on new construction cruisers and destroyers.
4. Submarine systems by Quint Heckert
MK 113 Mod 8 R & D - Also referred to as the Pargo display program. This was an effort undertaken with Electric Boat to prove the feasibility of performing passive acoustic fire control system computations with required accuracies and the display of the solution data in a meaningful way for operators. This effort was one of the milestones for introducing digital computers and displays into the submarine community. It was the basis for the FCS MK 113 Mod 10 System which was installed in initial flight of SSN 688 Class Submarines.
Los Angeles (SSN 688) Class & MK 113 Mod 10 – This program introduced several new technologies and concepts, all developed by UNIVAC, to the US Navy Submarine Fleet. The MK 113 Mod 10 system, initially installed in SSN 686 and 687 consisted of a single frame AN/UYK – 7 for Fire Control System use only. UNIVAC Items produced for this system were:
AN/UYK-7 Computer
UYK-7 Operating System (Common Program)
Peripheral equipment tests
Software generation Guidelines and Specifications
For the Los Angeles Class, UNIVAC produced and performed the following:
Development and delivery of the first multi-processing capability to the US Navy
System Design and Specification
Development of the first US Navy Shipboard system featuring full automatic recovery from processor, memory, I/O and peripheral equipment failures. When a primary power failure occurred, a reduced capability was automatically instantiated in less than 4 seconds in order to preserve navigation system accuracy.
First on line system equipment test and diagnostic capability
UNIVAC developed the Dual Miniaturized Inertial Navigation System under contract to Autonetics.
Fog Cutter - A broadband passive detection and tracking system for use with AN/BQR-7 passive Sonar System. This effort introduced the UNIVAC 1616 computer which was upgraded to the AN/UYK-15 and latter the AN/UYK-44.
Trident – Developed, and delivered the Trident Common Program/Trident Service Programs (a multi processing operating system based on the 688 Common Program for the Trident Defensive Weapon, Ship Control, and Navigation System
SN 700 MK 117 - Continued System Engineering and integration for total combat system which introduced the digital end-to-end Submarine Weapons System
In Service Engineering – Provided all levels of system support for all classes of submarines including establishment of forward area supply and repair capability
SSN 713/716 CCS MK 1 - Incorporated the Gyro Static Navigator into the system in replacement of the DMINS of the earlier 688 class.
SSN ADF/TWS – Advanced Direction Finding and Tactical Weapons System. System was developed by UNIVAC with Sperry Marine and provided the capability to perform target localization and weapon order generation using passive intercepted electronic emissions.
Hellenic Navy Submarine (Kanaris) – Provided a turnkey Submarine Command and Control and Weapons Control Program for the Hellenic Navy Submarines. System is TMD based and is capable of firing US/NATO MK 37 Torpedoes, HARPOON, and German SUT and SST4 torpedoes. We were responsible for and implemented all phases of the program including test firing of all the weapons to prove system accuracy and capability through acceptance by the Hellenic Navy. The system is capable of tracking and localizing targets/contacts based on active, passive, and optical inputs.
AN/BSY-1 – System Design and integration support and development of the AN/UYK-44 Operating system and system architecture under contract to IBM.
Egyptian Romeo Class Submarine C&C and FCS – Turn key system from system specification and design through total system installation, test and acceptance on board each of the Egyptian Navy Romeo Class submarines. The Romeos are a Russian design/modified design of the earlier German Submarine, which the Soviets leased/gave to the Chinese who than built many of them and sold them to various 3rd world countries. The system developed by us is a 680xx based system embedded in the Multifunction Control Console developed by us for this effort. It is capable of tracking and localizing contacts based on active and passive sensor input and is capable of firing HARPOON, the US/NATO MK 37 torpedo and two Russian/Soviet torpedoes. Our system is required to compute firing solutions for and control all of these weapons.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force New Design Submarine - UNISYS provided System Engineering and Management to Hitachi including system architecture specification and design and Fire Control/Command and Control System capability definition.
NSSN System Architecture and Platform Integration – As UNISYS and Loral we were subcontracted by Electric Boat for System Architecture Definition and System Integration planning and specification including the COATS for the NSSN. We were the designated contractor, by the US Navy for digital/electronic system integration and management until the time when UNISYS was purchased by Loral. Since Loral also purchased IBM Federal Systems Division in Manassas who was a contender along with Lockheed Martin, Syracuse for system development the Navy wanted to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest and our effort were stopped.
NSSN ECS – Developed and delivered he entire radio room (External Communications System) for the NSSN.
5. Aircraft Carrier Ride by Don Lovely and Mike Kokesh
My most memorable event occurred early in my 37-year career at Univac/Lockheed Martin. In 1966, Mike Kokesh and I were given the task of writing a comprehensive System Alignment Test (SAT) programs for the radars and sonar aboard the Destroyer Escorts (DEs) 1047/9 and the CVS-18. The CVS-18 was the aircraft carrier USS Wasp that became famous for recovering the Gemini astronauts whenever and whereever they landed in the ocean. Developing these sizable programs from scratch by two relatively inexperienced programmers proved rather challenging and probably was my most difficult assignment in my years at the company.
Finally in March 1968, we were called to ride the CVS-18 from the Boston Naval Shipyard down to Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) range in the Bahamas for Sea Trials. On the way down, the ship experienced a very bad three-day storm (70 knot winds and 25 foot waves), the ship and its aircraft suffered some damage. After safely traversing the worst of the storm, the ship received a distress call and the captain ordered the ship to turn back into the storm. The ship's helicopters were ordered to air lift the crew off of a merchant tanker at risk of breaking up in the storm. The rescue was performed under dangerous conditions, but was successful. The coordinating S2 aircraft, on returning to the carrier crashed very hard on the rolling flight deck, tearing off its landing gear and antenna, setting off the flares in the aircraft nose and rupturing its fuel tanks. By some miracle the aircraft fuel flowed down the deck of the pitching, rolling ship in the opposite direction of the burning flares.
On arriving in the Bahamas I was requested to meet with the Carrier Operations officer, who was a Commander and the third ranking officer on the ship. He immediately asked me what my plan was for the ship's course during the tracking and alignment testing of the three search radars, the four Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) radars and the sonar system. I then asked him what he recommended. He briskly replied, “You are the Univac engineer. You tell me. I can drive this carrier any way you want me to.” Quickly making up some thing, I said: "How about a figure eight at 10 knots going out 10 miles in both directions from the buoy target?” The buoy target contained a radar reflector and a sonar transponder). “No problem” he said. “Be in the CIC (Combat Information Center) and ready to go at 0300 and we will run your test.”
At 0300, Mike and I very nervously started the test with CIC display consoles manned and several officers observing. Within a short while complaints started coming in that the GFCS radars could not maintain track. Because of the several-foot-high waves, they would lose the target. The sonar operator complained that he lost contact with the transponder because it was too far away.
The CIC officer turned to me and said, “Your test is no good, it is not working. What do you want to do now?” I nervously responded, “Uh, Uh, can we try a figure eight at 5 miles and 5 knots.” He immediately phoned the Bridge and said, “The Univac engineer wants the ship moved insto 5 miles and at 5 knots.” Soon I could feel the carrier turning. I looked up at the heading and speed gauges and the carrier was turning and slowing down. "Wow, I thought to myself - I am in control of an aircraft carrier!"
Soon the sonar and GFCS operators each reported in that they were now tracking the target with no problem. At the end of the SAT test we typed out the results and they showed that the navigation radar (SPS-10) had a 2.6 degree alignment error. The CIC officer looked at the results and said,” Your test is not any good. There is no way our 'Nav' radar has such an error.” He then phoned the navigation radar operator who arrived shortly. He took one look at the test results and said, “This is good information. I always thought my radar was off 2 or 3 degrees. I know you are right. I’ll correct the alignment of the radar right away.”
For the next two days Mike and I were able to relax and watch the daily flight operations. Then we got to be catapulted off the carrier in an S2 aircraft and were flown to Miami International Airport.
After a colorful history, the USS Wasp (CVS 18) was officialy decommissioned on 01 July 1972, then subsequently sold for scrap.
VIP Page 67 updated June 06, 2008