Tank

NS100
5 9 11 5 9 5 5 9 9

Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
9 11 11 9

9 9 11 11

15 20

19

pa

15 17

9 Fundamentals of 9 15 11 17 9 6 17 19 11 Naval Science

20 20 20 20

15

11

19
20

17 19
20

20

21 21

Lines of Position & Fixes

23 21 23 21 21 23 23 23 23

21

20

21

Lines of Position (LOPs)

LOP - A single observation that does not establish a fix but does mean the ships position is somewhere along that line. Label - a four digit time must be written above and parallel to the LOP.

Lines of Position (LOPs)

Visual LOP shooting tanks, water towers, church steeples, spires, radio and TV towers, daymarks, fixed navigation lights, flagpoles, or tangents to points of land.

Tank

Single LOP

Tank

Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
9 9 11 11 11 5 9 5 9 5 9 9 11 9 6
2 0

5 9 9

9 11 11

15
2 0

15

11

19

pa

15 17
2 0

15 17
2 0

19

11

17

19
2 0

17 19
2 0

21
2 0

21 23

2 0

21 23

21 23

2 0

21

21 23

21 23 23

Tank

Visual LOP
Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
5 9 11 5 9 5 9 9 11 9 6
2 0

9 9 11 11 5 9 9 11 11 9 9

15
2 0

15

11

19

pa

15 17
2 0

15 17
2 0

19

11

17

19
2 0

17 19
2 0

21
2 0

21 23

2 0

21 23

21 23

2 0

21

21 23

21 23 23

Visual Bearing LOP

TWR

Radar Range LOP

2246

Tank

Radar Range LOP

Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
5 9 11 5 9 5 9 9 11 9 6 5 9 9 11 11 9 9

9 9 11 11

15

15

11

19

pa

15 17

15 17 20 20 21 23
2 0

20
21 23 20 21 23

19 20

11

17

19 20

17 19 20

20
21 23

21 21 23

21

23

Lines of Position (LOP)

Visual Range - The most accurate type of LOP, when two known objects line up. Some ranges are man made: intentional and others are natural: coincidental.

COINCIDENTAL RANGE

INTENTIONAL RANGE

Visual Bearing can be measured in: Degrees Relative ( # # # oR ) Degrees per Gyro Compass ( # # # opgc ) Degrees Magnetic ( # # # opstgc or oM ) Degrees True ( # # # oT)

Lines of Position (LOPs)

The navigator must convert any of these types of bearings to True before they can be plotted on the chart.

Tank

Range Bearing

Tangent Distance Arcs

Plotting and Labeling a Fix

Fix - The point where two or more LOPs cross. This indicates the ships position on the chart. Label - Use the four digit time next to the fix, it should be parallel to the bottom of the chart. The times of the individual LOPs are not written on each LOP.

Using the Centroid Concept

Problem - If a large triangle is formed by a 3 LOP fix, mark the center of the triangle as the fix. Danger - If the large triangle is near a hazard then choose the part of the triangle closest to the hazard.

SPIRE 1145

TWR TANK

wk

1036

Visual Fix

TWR

6 6 12 12 6 12 Tank

Electronic Fix

6 12

Labeling Fixes
Symbol Type
Fix Fix DR EP

Meaning Accurate Visual Fix

Accurate Fix obtained by electronic means Dead reckoning position, advanced from previous fix. Estimated position. Most probable position of ship.

TR

1145

Visual Fix

TR

1843

Electronic Fix

Optimum Spread of LOPs

Best Fix LOPs must be widely spaced, two LOPs at nearly the same angle will be less accurate.
0

Formula

Both sides: 360 / number LOPs 0 One side: 180 / number LOPs

Example: There are three LOPs then optimum separation is 120 . Same side: 60 .
0 0

TWR

Visual Fix

1412

2 Fl R 4 sec

Tank

Visual Fix

0930

60

60

TWR

TANK

LT

Determining the Order of LOPs

Bearings LOPs Shoot Bearings: Beam to Bow Range LOPs Shoot Ranges: Bow to Beam

Navigational Aid Selection

Choose Nav Aids based on: - Provides the best bearing spread. - Lighted so that navaids can be used in low visibility and day or night. - Easily distinguishable by bearing takers.

Tank

Visual FIX
Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
5 9 11 5 9 5 9 9 11 9 6
2 0

9 9 11 11 5 9 9 11 11 9 9

15
2 0

15

11

19

pa

15 17
2 0

15 17
2 0

19

11

17

19
2 0

17 19
2 0

21
2 0

21 23

2 0

21 23

21 23

2 0

21

21 23

21 23 23

Tank

Electronic Fix
Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
5 9 11 5 9 5 9 9 11 9 6
2 0

9 9 11 11 5 9 9 11 11 9 9

15
2 0

15

11

19

pa

15 17
2 0

15 17
2 0

19

11

17

19
2 0

17 19
2 0

21
2 0

21 23

2 0

21 23

101521
23

2 0

21

21 23

21 23 23

Tank

Accurate / Inaccurate fix

Light
FL 6s 58ft 9M
5 9 11 5 9 5 9 9 11 9 6 5 9 9 11 11 9 9

9 9 11 11

15 20

15

11

19

pa

15 17

15 17 20 20 21 23 21 20 21

19 20

11

17

19 20

17 19
20

20 21 23

21 23

20 21 23

21

23

23

Frequency of Fixes
The primary concern is the proximity of hazards: - Every 15 min. coastal water with no immediate danger. - Every three min. when more accuracy is required. Open water, a fix every 30 min. is normally plotted.