OneShot
06-04-2005, 07:07 PM
Taken from the Landlubbers Guide to DW (v0.4) ...
What is MAD/SAD ?
MAD sensors are used to detect the natural and manmade differences in the Earth's magnetic fields. Some of these differences are caused by the Earth's geological structures and sunspot activity. Other changes can be caused by the passing of large ferrous objects, such as ships, submarines or even aircraft through the Earth's magnetic field. MAD sensor operation is similar in principle to the metal detector used by a treasure hunter or the devices used by utility companies to find underground pipes. For ASW purposes, the ASW aircraft must almost be essentially overhead or very near the submarine's position to detect the change or anomaly. The detection range is normally related to the distance between the aircraft sensor ("MAD head") and the submarine. Naturally, the size of the submarine and its hull material composition normally determines the strength of the anomaly. Additionally, the direction travelled by both the aircraft and the submarine relative to the Earth's magnetic field is also a factor. Nevertheless, the close proximity required for magnetic anomaly detection makes the MAD system an excellent sensor for pinpointing a submarine's position prior to an air-launched torpedo attack. In order to detect an anomaly, the MAD head of the aircraft tries to align itself with the noise produced by the Earth's magnetic field. Through this alignment, the noise appears as a near-constant background noise value which enables the operator to recognize any contrasting submarine magnetic anomalies from the background noise. However, any rapid changes in aircraft direction or the operation of certain electronic equipment and electric motors can produce so much aircraft electro-magnetic noise that makes the detection of the submarine's magnetic signature virtually impossible. Special electronic circuitry is enabled to compensate and null out this aircraft magnetic noise. Additionally, the MAD head is placed the farthest distance away from all the interfering sources. That is why the P-3C Orion aircraft has its distinct tail stinger or "MAD boom". With continuing advances in both compensation and sensor technology, the detection ranges for MAD sensors may be enhanced for the search and localization phases of ASW missions. Currently all naval ASW aircraft use variations of the AN/ASQ-81 MAD system. A few P-3C aircraft use an advance MAD system, the AN/ASQ-208, that uses digital processing. The SAD is an addition to the MAD that distinguishes between surface and subsurface contacts and reports only contacts beneath the surface.
How to use MAD/SAD on the MH-60R
Firstly, .. although the MAD sensor is streamed, ... it is not automatically ON. You need to turn the MAD on from the MAD/ESM station. The autocrew does not need to be on for them to report MAD/SAD detections. The only time you will need to turn the Autocrew on, at the MAD/ESM station, is for ESM detections. Although every situation could be different, a good MAD/SAD search altitude would be ~250 to 300 Feet. Speed is not critical, but, keep it below ~80 knots.
Taken from the P-3C DW OWTOP manual (page 12)
MAD/SAD on the P-3C
The MAD/SAD Sensor (see manual page 9-15 for details) in the game works up to an altitude of 1000ft (Ownship). Best employment altitude is 300ft at which you have roughly 2700ft coverage below the surface (see above left). Further you are in the middle of a 1000yds Corridor, so you can detect submarines up to 500yds to either side of your Aircraft (above right).
Since this sensor is located on your tail, you have to actually fly past the submarine before you get a reading. Take note that you don’t have to turn on Autocrew to be notified of a MAD detection. If you get a MAD hit you will hear “MAD!, MAD!, MAD!” from your crew and it will show in the chat/messages window as “Mad!, Mad!, Mad!”. On top of that you will see a new Unknown mark on the NAV Map. If you have already detected that particular contact with your MAD sensor, then the old marker will be moved to the new location. Therefore it’s advisable to immediately mark the location of a MAD return (as described in the tactics chapter) and classify the contact as good as possible.
Since this sensor reacts to large chunks of metal in or on the ocean, you will get hits when you fly over or fly close to surface ships as well. Surface ships will only generate a MAD return, while submarines generally give you a MAD and a SAD return. The exception to this rule happens, when a submarine dives below the maximum SAD Range. Example for that would be the Seawolf diving at Max Operating Depth. Even if you fly at 300ft or lower you won’t get a SAD return. Remember, whenever you get a MAD call, check the MAD readout for SAD and compare with your tactical picture. If you get a return and nothing can be found on the surface, chances are pretty good that you stumbled upon a submarine, even if you don’t get a SAD return (that only means it’s pretty deep).
If a submarine is trying a “Down Periscope” and hiding beneath a surface ship, you will get two Unknown Contact markers in close proximity, or if the sub skipper is really good, then you will just get one marker, but either way the SAD return will be visible.
What is MAD/SAD ?
MAD sensors are used to detect the natural and manmade differences in the Earth's magnetic fields. Some of these differences are caused by the Earth's geological structures and sunspot activity. Other changes can be caused by the passing of large ferrous objects, such as ships, submarines or even aircraft through the Earth's magnetic field. MAD sensor operation is similar in principle to the metal detector used by a treasure hunter or the devices used by utility companies to find underground pipes. For ASW purposes, the ASW aircraft must almost be essentially overhead or very near the submarine's position to detect the change or anomaly. The detection range is normally related to the distance between the aircraft sensor ("MAD head") and the submarine. Naturally, the size of the submarine and its hull material composition normally determines the strength of the anomaly. Additionally, the direction travelled by both the aircraft and the submarine relative to the Earth's magnetic field is also a factor. Nevertheless, the close proximity required for magnetic anomaly detection makes the MAD system an excellent sensor for pinpointing a submarine's position prior to an air-launched torpedo attack. In order to detect an anomaly, the MAD head of the aircraft tries to align itself with the noise produced by the Earth's magnetic field. Through this alignment, the noise appears as a near-constant background noise value which enables the operator to recognize any contrasting submarine magnetic anomalies from the background noise. However, any rapid changes in aircraft direction or the operation of certain electronic equipment and electric motors can produce so much aircraft electro-magnetic noise that makes the detection of the submarine's magnetic signature virtually impossible. Special electronic circuitry is enabled to compensate and null out this aircraft magnetic noise. Additionally, the MAD head is placed the farthest distance away from all the interfering sources. That is why the P-3C Orion aircraft has its distinct tail stinger or "MAD boom". With continuing advances in both compensation and sensor technology, the detection ranges for MAD sensors may be enhanced for the search and localization phases of ASW missions. Currently all naval ASW aircraft use variations of the AN/ASQ-81 MAD system. A few P-3C aircraft use an advance MAD system, the AN/ASQ-208, that uses digital processing. The SAD is an addition to the MAD that distinguishes between surface and subsurface contacts and reports only contacts beneath the surface.
How to use MAD/SAD on the MH-60R
Firstly, .. although the MAD sensor is streamed, ... it is not automatically ON. You need to turn the MAD on from the MAD/ESM station. The autocrew does not need to be on for them to report MAD/SAD detections. The only time you will need to turn the Autocrew on, at the MAD/ESM station, is for ESM detections. Although every situation could be different, a good MAD/SAD search altitude would be ~250 to 300 Feet. Speed is not critical, but, keep it below ~80 knots.
Taken from the P-3C DW OWTOP manual (page 12)
MAD/SAD on the P-3C
The MAD/SAD Sensor (see manual page 9-15 for details) in the game works up to an altitude of 1000ft (Ownship). Best employment altitude is 300ft at which you have roughly 2700ft coverage below the surface (see above left). Further you are in the middle of a 1000yds Corridor, so you can detect submarines up to 500yds to either side of your Aircraft (above right).
Since this sensor is located on your tail, you have to actually fly past the submarine before you get a reading. Take note that you don’t have to turn on Autocrew to be notified of a MAD detection. If you get a MAD hit you will hear “MAD!, MAD!, MAD!” from your crew and it will show in the chat/messages window as “Mad!, Mad!, Mad!”. On top of that you will see a new Unknown mark on the NAV Map. If you have already detected that particular contact with your MAD sensor, then the old marker will be moved to the new location. Therefore it’s advisable to immediately mark the location of a MAD return (as described in the tactics chapter) and classify the contact as good as possible.
Since this sensor reacts to large chunks of metal in or on the ocean, you will get hits when you fly over or fly close to surface ships as well. Surface ships will only generate a MAD return, while submarines generally give you a MAD and a SAD return. The exception to this rule happens, when a submarine dives below the maximum SAD Range. Example for that would be the Seawolf diving at Max Operating Depth. Even if you fly at 300ft or lower you won’t get a SAD return. Remember, whenever you get a MAD call, check the MAD readout for SAD and compare with your tactical picture. If you get a return and nothing can be found on the surface, chances are pretty good that you stumbled upon a submarine, even if you don’t get a SAD return (that only means it’s pretty deep).
If a submarine is trying a “Down Periscope” and hiding beneath a surface ship, you will get two Unknown Contact markers in close proximity, or if the sub skipper is really good, then you will just get one marker, but either way the SAD return will be visible.