ISWOS COMBAT INFORMATION

CENTER WATCH OFFICER

K-2G-0390
SEPTEMBER 2014

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CPA and Relative Motion

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 Terminal Objective
Upon successful completion of this topic, the
trainee will be able to CALCULATE a Closest Point
of Approach (CPA) solution within +/- 3 degrees,
+/- 3 knots, +/- 5 percent of range, and +/- 3
minutes of time using a maneuvering board.

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 Enabling Objectives
• IDENTIFY the maneuvering board and
associated tools.
• DESCRIBE basic maneuvering board plots and
terminology.
• CALCULATE true and relative bearings, target
angle, and Closest Point of Approach using a
maneuvering board and associated tools.

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 References
• Operations Specialist, Vol. 1, NAVEDTRA
14308A
• Radar Navigation & Maneuvering Board Manual,
Publication 1310

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 Lesson Overview
• Maneuvering Board (MOBOARD)
• Relative Motion
• Cardinal Points
• Labeling MOBOARDS
• Target Angle
• Closest Point of Approach

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 Historical Perspective
• On 25 July 1956 while approaching coast of
Nantucket, Massachusetts in heavy fog, Andrea
Doria collided with MS Stockholm
• Andrea Doria sunk in 1956 with 52 people killed
• Andrea Doria had capacity of about 1,200
passengers and 500 crew members
• Andrea Doria was an icon of Italian national pride
• Collision became one of history’s most infamous
maritime disasters

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 Historical Perspective
• Andrea Doria immediately listed to starboard,
leaving half of its lifeboats unusable
• Ship’s technical design allowed it to stay afloat for
over 11 hours after collision
• Actions of crew, improvements in
communications, and rapid responses averted
disaster similar to Titanic
• 1,660 passengers and crew were rescued

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 Historical Perspective
• Andrea Doria capsized and sank the following
morning
• Accident remains worst maritime disaster to
occur in United States (US) waters since 1915
• Collision of Stockholm and Andrea Doria
generated media interest and many lawsuits
• $32M in total damages eventually settled out of
court

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 Historical Perspective
• Stockholm misread the radar thinking it was on
15-mile setting when actually it was on a 5-mile
scale.
• The two ships approached each other at a
combined speed of 40 knots
• Each ship was guided only by radar
• Andrea Doria failed to calculate Stockholm's
course and speed using radar and plotting
equipment
• Andrea Doria did not follow rules of the road. As
Stockholm turned right, she turned left
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 3-Minute Rule
• Calculate a contact’s speed by determining
distance covered in 3 minutes and drop the last
two numbers
– If a contact travels 1,700 yards in 3 minutes, its speed is
17 knots
– If a contact travels 1,200 yards in 3 minutes, its speed is
12 knots

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 Maneuvering Board
• Polar-coordinate plotting sheet used to solve
relative motion problems
• Polar diagram with equally spaced radials and
concentric circles
• 10-inch circle numbered from 0° through 360°
with graduations at each 10° radial
• Vertical distance scales located in left-hand and
right-hand margins
• Logarithmic time-speed-distance scale is printed
at bottom

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Maneuvering Board

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 Dividers
• Dividers provide
accurate
measurements of time,
distance, and speed
using MOBOARD
• Place one point at
position A and other
point position B
• Spread and measure
distance using
appropriate scale
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 Parallel Ruler
• Assists with accurately
drawing parallel lines
of motion
• Consists of two straight
edges joined by two
arms
• Allows operator to
move lines closer or
further away while
remaining parallel to
each other
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 Weems and Plath
• Used to plot courses
and parallel lines
• Characteristics
– Parallel plotter mounted
on roller
– Roller keeps plotter
parallel as it slides
across MOBOARD
– Uses less space than
traditional parallel rulers

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 Relative Motion
• MOBOARD problems are uncomplicated if
relative motion is understood
• Motion is change of position
• All motion is relative to some frame of reference
• Relative motion is movement of one object with
respect to another
• Only motion (both direction and speed) between
two objects is considered
• Object is defined in terms of direction and rate of
movement relative to another object

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Ship Cardinal Headings

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Labeling MOBOARDS

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 Bearings
• Direction of object from ship
• Measured in degrees clockwise around a circle
from 000° to 360°
• Relative Bearings (RB) use ship’s bow as
reference point
• True Bearings (TB) use true north as reference
point
• Magnetic bearings use magnetic North Pole as
reference point

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 Target Angle
• RB of Ownship from
target ship
• Angular measurement
from target’s head
clockwise to RB of OS
• Target Angle (TA) = TB
± 180° - Target Course
(TCO)

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 Closest Point of Approach
• Position of contact when at minimum range to OS
• Intersection of perpendicular line from OS to
contact’s LRM
• Expressed in TB and range from OS and time
contact reaches that point
• Two plots minimum needed to get accurate
Closest Point of Approach (CPA)
• Any change in course or speed of Ownship or
maneuvering ship results in change to CPA

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 23

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 Summary
• IDENTIFY the maneuvering board and
associated tools.
• DESCRIBE basic maneuvering board plots and
terminology.
• CALCULATE true and relative bearings, target
angle, and Closest Point of Approach using a
maneuvering board and associated tools.

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 Questions

Any Questions?

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