I salute the Navy SEALs (and all personnel in the United States Armed Forces). They keep us safe, get the bad guys, and many make the ultimate sacrifice. They are heroes one and all. But can they act in a motion picture?

In “Act of Valor,” the rock and roll tribute to Navy SEALs who counter an array of national security threats around the world, actual SEALs star in the film. Unfortunately, there are no budding Audie Murphy’s or R. Lee Ermey’s among them. When the SEALs are in action they are entirely believable and compelling, but when authentic pathos in the form of non-fighting dialogue is required of them they come up short.

But it really matters little because the point of this movie is not to delve into the inner lives of the characters too much. “Act of Valor” is about kicking terrorist ass, and in that regard it delivers like a well-placed shot from an assault rifle. If you like guns, equipment, technology, and double taps to the head this movie has it all. We travel the world with a SEAL team which, at first, simply rescues a hostage from a terrorist camp. At the camp, however, they recover intelligence that leads to something much, much bigger, and they then race from Asia to the South Pacific to Mexico to neutralize the threat.

In this movie, there’s no shortage of sky diving, submarines, Chinook helicopters, UAVs, exotic firearms, mountains, deserts, and so much more. At times I thought I was watching the kind of military recruitment advertisement that one sees on NFL Sundays. There’s no question that films like this have the cooperation of the Department of Defense, but “Act of Valor” also capitalizes on the gaming trend, and frequently the audience’s point of view is similar to what one would see in a video game such as “Call of Duty.”

I’m guessing the reason for casting real SEALs was mainly to hype the film, but I think it was a mistake. I have no doubt they make the battle scenes more realistic, but I did not notice any more technical competence in this movie than I did in, say, Black Hawk Down. Indeed, “Black Hawk Down” used an array of very good, professional actors as leads, and the comparison, in that regard, to “Act of Valor” is stark.

“Black Hawk Down” also did not indulge in clichés—the wife and child who seem there solely to set up an eventual tragedy, the heirlooms passed from previous generations of soldiers, and the soldier who jumps on a grenade to save the rest of his squad. In Act of Valor, any depth the producers give to the characters feels contrived (along with the toothpick that dangles from the mouth of the team leader through the whole of the movie). And since the performances aren’t quality enough to give the quieter scenes any life, they feel that much more mannered. By comparison again, “Black Hawk Down” simply felt much more organic and original.

Nevertheless, “Act of Valor’s” production value is enough to keep you engaged throughout—the battle on the river at the terrorist training camp is masterfully filmed and will thrill any war-film junkie.

I do have one plot quibble, and please read no further if you don’t want the story spoiled. I am by no means a geopolitical expert, but I simply don’t see Mexican drug cartels, which have no ideology, wanting to aid suicide bombers hoping to gain entry into the United States. This is where the entire film leads and ends up, with the SEALs tracking down would-be suicide bombers as they attempt to cross into tunnels on the southern border with the help of the cartels. The cartels exist to make money off drugs, so why would they risk bringing down the wrath of the entire American military apparatus by helping some radical jihadist? Is there some of this activity on our southern border and in Latin America? I’m pretty sure there is, but I’m not sure it would receive major cartel support and the sacrifice of dozens of their fighters, which is what happens in the final shoot out.

“Act of Valor” is an interesting glimpse into what the Navy SEALs do around the world, and it’s probably no coincidence this movie comes just a short time after SEAL Team Six found and killed Osama Bin Laden. If you are looking for a wild, two hour ride, then this is your movie. If you’re looking for a memorable war film in the mold of “The Dirty Dozen,” “Platoon,” or “Black Hawk Down,” then you’re best off returning to base, mission not accomplished.

The US military has launched a missile attack against Libyan air defenses, the Associated Press ahs reported.

The missiles were aimed at coastal military targets and launched by Navy vessels in the Mediterranean, according to reports.

No other details were available.

Senator John Kerry is calling on the Department of Defense to investigate the US Navy’s actions following the murder of a 20-year-old sailor from Massachusetts who was killed by her ex-boyfriend.

Kerry sent a letter on Thursday to Secretary of Defense Robert Dates requesting a “thorough, objective investigation” into the Navy’s handling of the death of Caitlin Trask, of Bradford, who was killed in February 2009 by Darren Mackie, who is also a sailor.

Mackie received a 10 year prison sentence for Trask’s after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, but he wasn’t even dishonorably discharged by the Navy.

"I want justice for the Trask family. The notion that an active duty sailor could shoot and kill another sailor but avoid a dishonorable discharge is beyond comprehension,” Kerry said. “No family deserves to go through this — first burying their daughter, then being forced to live with the nightmare of knowing that her killer will walk free in 10 short years without even a dishonorable discharge..”

Mackie received an “other than honorable” discharge, but Kerry said that “doesn’t cut it, and it certainly doesn’t live up to the Navy’s high standards.”

Kerry is a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that military sonar exercises actually kill marine wildlife?‚ ‚ – John Slocum, Newport, RI‚ 

Unfortunately for many whales, dolphins and other marine life, the use of underwater sonar (short for sound navigation and ranging) can lead to injury and even death. Sonar systems-first developed by the U.S. Navy to detect enemy submarines-generate slow-rolling sound waves topping out at around 235 decibels; the world’s loudest rock bands top out at only 130. These sound waves can travel for hundreds of miles under water, and can retain an intensity of 140 decibels as far as 300 miles from their source.‚ 

These rolling walls of noise are no doubt too much for some marine wildlife. While little is known about any direct physiological effects of sonar waves on marine species, evidence shows that whales will swim hundreds of miles, rapidly change their depth (sometime leading to bleeding from the eyes and ears), and even beach themselves to get away from the sounds of sonar.‚ 

In January 2005, 34 whales of three different species became stranded and died along North Carolina’s Outer Banks during nearby offshore Navy sonar training. Other sad examples around the coast of the U.S. and elsewhere abound, notably in recent years with more sonar testing going on than ever before. According to the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which has campaigned vigorously to ban use of the technology in waters rich in marine wildlife, recent cases of whale strandings likely represent a small fraction of sonar’s toll, given that severely injured animals rarely make it to shore.‚ 

In 2003, NRDC spearheaded a successful lawsuit against the Navy to restrict the use of low-frequency sonar off the coast of California. Two years later a coalition of green groups led by NRDC and including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the League for Coastal Protection, Cetacean Society International, and Ocean Futures Society upped the ante, asking the federal courts to also restrict testing of more intense, harmful and far ranging mid-frequency types of sonar off Southern California’s coastline.‚ 

In filing their brief, the groups cited Navy documents which estimated that such testing would kill some 170,000 marine mammals and cause permanent injury to more than 500 whales, not to mention temporary deafness for at least 8,000 others. Coalition lawyers argued that the Navy’s testing was in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.‚ 

Two lower courts upheld NRDC’s claims, but the Supreme Court ruled that the Navy should be allowed to continue the use of some mid-frequency sonar testing for the sake of national security. “The decision places marine mammals at greater risk of serious and needless harm,” says NRDC’s Joel Reynolds.‚ 

Environmental groups are still fighting the battle against the sonar, lobbying the government to curtail testing, at least during peacetime, or to at least ramp up testing gradually to give marine wildlife a better chance to flee affected areas. “The U.S. Navy could use a number of proven methods to avoid harming whales when testing mid-frequency sonar,” reports IFAW’s Fred O’Regan. “Protecting whales and preserving national security are not mutually exclusive.”‚ 

CONTACTS: NRDC, www.nrdc.org; IFAW, www.ifaw.org.‚ 

Dear EarthTalk: How does the microwave compare in energy use, say, to using a gas or electric stove burner to heat water for a cup of tea?‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ – Tempie, Dexter, MI‚ 

The short answer is that it depends upon several variables, including the price of electricity versus gas, and the relative efficiency of the appliances involved. Typically, though, a microwave would be slightly more efficient at heating water than the flame on a gas stove, and should use up a little less energy. The reason: The microwave’s heat waves are focused on the liquid (or food) inside, not on heating the air or container around it, meaning that most if not all of the energy generated is used to make your water ready.‚ 

Given this logic, it is hard to believe that a burner element on an electric stovetop would be any better, but an analysis by Home Energy Magazine found otherwise. The magazine’s researchers discovered that an electric burner uses about 25 percent less electricity than a microwave in boiling a cup of water.‚ 

That said, the difference in energy saved by using one method over another is negligible: Choosing the most efficient process might save a heavy tea drinker a dollar or so a year. “You’d save more energy over the year by replacing one light bulb with a CFL [compact fluorescent lightbulb] or turning off the air conditioner for an hour-not an hour a day, one hour at some point over the whole year,” says consumer advocate Michael Bluejay.‚ 

Although a microwave may not save much energy or money over a stove burner when heating water, it can be much more energy-efficient than a traditional full-size oven when it comes to cooking food. For starters, because their heat waves are concentrated on the food, microwaves cook and heat much faster than traditional ovens. According to the federal government’s Energy Star program, which rates appliances based on their energy-efficiency, cooking or re-heating small portions of food in the microwave can save as much as 80 percent of the energy used to cook or warm them up in the oven.‚ 

The website Treehugger.com reports that there are other things you can do to optimize your energy efficiency around the kitchen when cooking. For starters, make sure to keep the inside surfaces of your microwave oven clean so as to maximize the amount of energy reflected toward your food. On a gas stovetop, make sure the flame is fully below the cookware; likewise, on an electric stovetop, make sure the pan or kettle completely covers the heating element to minimize wasted heat. Also, use the appropriate size pan for the job at hand, as smaller pans are cheaper and more energy-efficient to heat up.‚ 

Despite these tips for cooking greener, Bluejay reiterates that most of us will hardly put a dent in our overall energy use just by choosing one appliance over another. According to his analysis, for someone who bakes three hours a week the cheapest cooking method saves only an estimated $2.06/month compared to the most expensive method.‚ 

“Focusing on cooking methods is not the way to save electricity [at home],” says Bluejay. “You should look at heating, cooling, lighting and laundry instead.”‚ 

CONTACTS: Home Energy Magazine, www.homeenergy.org; Treehugger, www.treehugger.com; Michael Bluejay, www.michaelbluejay.com.‚ 

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

Scene 1

• It can’t be 0630 yet, XO, what’s up?
• You handle it, XO, I’m beat
• Have someone bring it to me
• Dismissed, wheeler, and have the XO come to my cabin
• This is as serious as it gets XO, take a look at this
• How she got out is anyone’s guess….

Scene 2

• I want you supervising sonar, Mr. Foster. Drag a cot in here if you have to
• We’re liaison-authorized to talk to the Carrier Battle Group. Get him on the horn
• I received your message from CONSUBLANT…

Scene 3

• At best speed, what are the probable…
• Kilo Class submarine, probably a performance upgrade
• Standard speed will be sufficient…

Scene 4

• How’s your readiness posture Weps?
• I’d like to put us on an increased readiness footing. Double your watch until further notice.

Scene 5

• Was it a malfunction in your gear?
• You said the volume changed with speed. It it some kind of hull effect?
• Do we have a problem here, or are we worrying about nothing?
• How long would a hull search take?
• I want to lock out a diver, XO. I want a thorough hull search.

Scene 6

• Let me see it
• Get it back to ChEng..and i want answers

Scene 7

• I’m willing to hear a list of suspects. Who had the opportunity…or motive to stick that thing on the hull?
• Anything strange happen….
• Everyone’s a suspect, Mr. Wheeler, until I can find out who put that whistle on the hull of my ship.

Scene 8

• Why were you late?
• That thing was found at 9 feet…
• Who told you? Who told you to do it?
• Why were you late?
• I’m placing you under arrest…

Scene 9

• Sound the general alarm. Take evasive action.
• Return fire. Break contact
• Continue to move closer
• Standby

Scene 10

• Is it the kilo?
• Can you give me a course and speed on this contact?

Scene 11

• I think i have a grasp of the tactical situation. I’d like to hear some suggestions.
• You mean the Akula’s trying to give away her location?
• You got about 20 seconds to get me interested, Master Chief…start talking.

Scene 12

• Get me a firing solution
• Fire tube 1
• Prepare to fire second torpedo
• Fire tube 2
• Place m48 in command mode..Order it to kill sierra 25
• I gave you an order XO….

Scene 13

• Place him under arrest XO

Scene 14

• Put the gun down wheeler. You don’t want to hurt anyone

Scene 15

• Break contact. Get us out of here

Scene 16

• Come to periscope depth and give them a nav fix
• Shoot!
• Ready tube 2

From here, you’ve won. Save the game (CTRL-S) and reload (CTRL-L) to watch the three happy endings.

We thank The Spoiler Centre, which put up the first Silent Steel walkthrough many years ago.

“A Sinister Plot. An Enemy Sub on the Prowl. And You, Carrying Enough Fire Power to Destroy the Entire Planet.

Silent Steel…a dangerous undersea cinematic adventure of hide and seek. The enemy is out there, and they’re hunting the USS IDAHO.

As captain of the Fleet Ballistic Missile Sub Idaho, you are in command of the most powerful weapons system ever devised. With 24 Trident missiles on board, you carry enough firepower to destroy the entire planet. You’re on war footing te moment you submerge–no such thing as a routine patrol here.

With fear and uncertainty undermining the morale of your crew., the orders you issue will seal the fate of your ship as you attempt to unravel the intricate plot threatening the stability of the free world.

This all-video Strategy Adventure is the most advanced cinematic multimedia game ever released. Silent Steel’s branching storyline provides a greater depth of game play than other simulations. If you like a good Strategy Adventure game, you’ll love Silent Steel.”

Indeed you will love Silent Steel, but not quite as much today as you would have in the mid-90s, as the all-video game was meant to run on Windows 3.1 and 95, and despite repeated attempts, some of the character voices don’t work in Windows XP.

Tsunami’s Silent Steel is a dialog-driven adventure, where gameplay is completely based on choosing the right sequence of things for your character, the captain of the USS Idaho, to say. In Silent Steel, every choice you make — every order you give your submariners — has a major affect on whether you end up winning the game or being blown to the blimey deep.

This game was amazingly advanced when it came out. It was 100 percent video with a full cast and sets that included shots off aircraft carriers, Seahawk helicopters, submarines, and more with plot twists that included CIA interference and betrayal.

The original version was four CD’s, but a DVD came out later that removed the swapping of discs during gameplay.

The cast is perhaps the most impressive aspect of the game. Silent Steel stars Brian McNamara as the executive officer. McNamara, of “Army Wives” fame, also played Carson Ward on “The O.C.” and got a Golden Globe nomination in 1987 for “Billionaire Boys Club.” He and Jim Metzler, who plays the comical master chief, also have Star Trek acting credits. The traitor, Lt. Wheeler, is played by Fred Lehneg who was Marshal Edward Mars on “Lost.”

Silent Steel came out near the Crimson Tide submarine craze and gives a player a visually amazing perspective over their own submarine without the need for technical knowledge. It’s a classic piece of video game history, and it has held its value, still selling for over $20 online.

Don’t miss the blooper reel either! (ALT-B)

The full package:
Original readme file
Original glossary of submarine/game terms
Quick-win walkthrough

Ye Olde System Requirements:

• Windows 3.1 or Higher
• 486-66 MHz or better
• SVGA (256 color) display or better
• 8MB RAM
• 2MB Hard disk space
• 2X or higher CD-ROM drive
• 8 or 16 bit sound card

This is the original glossary of terms from the 1995 PC game Silent Steel. These terms are only valid for the video game and should not be taken as scientific.

1-MC: The ship-wide intercom system aboard U.S. submarines.
Acoustic Beacon or Generator: A noisemaker.
Acoustic Homing: Modern torpedoes use either acoustic homing or wire guidance. An acoustic homing weapon uses on-board sonar to direct itself into its target.
Acoustic Library: A computer listing of all known sonar sounds, both natural and man-made, against which unknown contacts are compared in order to assist in identifying the unknown contact.
Active Homing: When a torpedo’s acoustic homing sonar is activated, the weapon is in “active homing” mode.
ACTUAL: A radio call-sign designation indicating that the officer-in-charge is responding to the transmission.
ADCAP–ADvanced CAPability: Latest version of the Mark 48 torpedo used by U.S. submarines.
Admiral “Wild Bill” Plaskett: Commander of Task Force Charlie One Tango, operating in the Atlantic Ocean near the Straits of Gibraltar.
Aft: The rearmost section of a ship.
Air Wing: Two or more squadrons of naval aircraft.
Akula: NATO designation for a Soviet submarine type. The Soviets do not reveal the actual class names of their vessels, so NATO randomly assigns designations based on the phonetic alphabet. The nuclear-powered Akula is the most advanced Soviet hunter-killer submarine and is on a par with early U.S. attack submarines.
Ambient Sound: Those sounds ordinarily occurring in nature.
ASROC–AntiSubmarine ROCket: Fired from ships, it is used to attack submarines. A solid fuel rocket boosts a homing torpedo to within 60 miles of the presumed location of an enemy submarine. Upon arrival in the target area, the torpedo is lowered into the water by parachute. Once in the water, the torpedo’s built-in acoustic homing guides it to the target.
ASW–AntiSubmarine Warfare: The art and science of hunting and destroying submarines.
Baffles: The cone-shaped area extending directly behind a submarine underway where sonar cannot detect any sounds due to the noise caused by the submarine’s own propeller.
Ballast: Large tanks are filled with seawater, which acts as weight, causing the submarine to lose buoyancy and sink. To surface, compressed air is pumped into the tanks, forcing the seawater out and restoring positive buoyancy.
Battle Stations: Areas throughout the ship which crew members man during engagements with the enemy. These may or may not be their standard assigned sections.
Bearing: The direction to a target in relation to your ship (the nose of your ship being 000 degrees).
Best Speed: The fastest speed a ship can maintain when sailing from one point to another, considering the need to refuel, snorkel, avoid restricted or dangerous areas, or slow to allow less capable vessels to keep up.
Biologic Effect: Sounds picked up by hydrophone or sonar which are caused by biological entities native to the sea.
Blow: A command issued to release ballast from a submarine by pumping compressed air into ballast tanks to force out seawater.
Blue-On-Blue Engagement: !122 Naval term for two or more U.S. ships believing the other to be the enemy and engaging one another.
Boat: Submarines were originally referred to as boats due to their smaller size. They are now as large or larger than many naval vessels and are considered ships. Generally a boat is a vessel that can be carried by a ship.
Bow: The nose or front of a ship.
Bow Planes: !125 Fin-like appendages, located on the bow of the submarine, used to control the angle of the dive.
Bridge: On a submarine, the small observation area on top of the fairwater or sail.
Burst Transmission: A pre-encoded transmission which is compressed and sent in its entirety in less than a second. Burst transmissions are used to minimize the exposure of the sender.
Captain’s Mast: Session aboard ship at which the captain administers non-judicial punishment or commends outstanding performance.
Carrier Battle Group: The most powerful tactical unit of the U.S. Navy, consisting of one or more aircraft carriers as well as ASW and anti-air escorts.
Cavalla: Submarine aboard which the XO of the USS Idaho once served.
Cavitation: In shallow water or during quick acceleration, a partial vacuum forms around the blades of the propeller resulting in the formation of tiny air bubbles which cause increased noise levels.
Charleston: Port city and naval base in South Carolina, home to the USS Idaho.
Charlie One Tango: Carrier Battle Group commanded by Admiral “Wild Bill” Plaskett.
ChEng–Chief Engineer: The officer in charge of maintaining the ships propulsion systems.
Chopped: Slang for a temporary duty assignment.
Class: Ship types are assigned to various classes based on type of construction and mission assignment. In the U.S. Navy, the name of the first vessel constructed within each class is assigned to the class. In the Soviet Navy, NATO assigns class names unless the Soviets release the class name.
Combat Depth: The maximum emergency depth at which a submarine can safely operate without jeopardizing the integrity of the hull.
Communication Buoy: A radio transmitter buoy released from a submerged submarine. The buoy may float for several hours before transmitting its message in an effort to frustrate any tracking attempts undertaken by an enemy to determine the actual location of the submarine.
Compartmentalized Information: The practice by which information is revealed on a “need-to- know” basis in order to maintain security.
COMSUBLANT–COMmander SUBmarines AtLANTic: The admiral in charge of all submarines in the Atlantic Ocean.
Conn–Conning Tower: The control room from which navigation and attacks are directed.
Contact: Sonar reference referring to receiving a return or picking up sound from an unknown source. Contacts are then assigned a designation as in “Sierra 25″ or “Sierra 27″, with the numerical designation referring to the chronological order in which the contact was made.
Convergence Zone: In deep water, the pressure can turn sound waves upward toward the surface. The sound waves then bounce off the surface to return to the depths where the pressure again forces it to the surface. This phenomenon may result in sonar contacts at greater than normal distances.
Corfam: The standard black U.S. Navy shoe.
Countermeasures: Devices launched from a submarine which imitate the noises generated by the submarine in an effort to draw enemy fire away from the actual submarine.
Dead Slow: Reference to a ship’s speed; in this case, only enough headway is maintained to allow steerage.
Deck Division: Those sailors assigned to work on deck when a submarine is surfaced.
Deputy Director Matthews: CIA official in charge of the information and events surrounding the USS Idaho.
Destroyer: A naval vessel, slightly larger than a frigate, usually equipped for either ASW or anti-air operations.
Diagnostic: A system’s check, usually performed by the operator when a malfunction is suspected.
Diesel Boat: Diesel submarines are actually powered by electric batteries. When the batteries run down, the submarine must recharge them by running diesel engines which require the submarine to either surface or use a snorkel device to provide sufficient air to run the diesel engines. When running on electric motors, these submarines are virtually silent.
Dipping Sonar: A helicopter-borne sonar which is lowered into the water by means of a cable, usually from an ASW helicopter. Data is transmitted from the sonar up the cable to the helicopter. After data has been gathered, the sonar is reeled back into the helicopter and re-lowered at a new location.
Diving Officer: The officer on a submarine responsible for overseeing submerging and surfacing the ship as well as maintaining the desired depth.
Down Bubble: A device used to measure the degree of downward incline when diving a submarine.
Drift Net: Type of fishing net set loose and allowed to drift which is later retrieved by the boat that dropped it off.
ELINT–ELectronic INTelligence: Sonar, radar and communications signals detected by receivers aboard patrol aircraft. This information is used to determine type and location of enemy vessels.
EMCON–EMission CONtrol: Electronic equipment sends out active signals, called emissions, that can be detected. Emission Control is used to restrict such transmissions and reduce the chance of detection.
Emergency Blow: Command reference to release ballast from a submarine by rapidly pumping compressed air into ballast tanks, without regard to noise generated, to force seawater of ballast tanks and enable an endangered submarine to reach the surface.
Enchilada: The whole kit n kaboodle. The whole shebang. Everything including the kitchen sink. A tasty Mexican food item wrapped in a tortilla and usually filled with chicken, beef and/or cheese. Slang meaning everything.
Engineering: Ship’s section responsible for maintaining equipment and systems.
Ensign: Lowest naval officer ranking.
Ensign Foster: Navigational and sonar officer aboard the USS Idaho.
Escape Trunk: A special hatch in a submarine built to allow entry and exit of individuals while submerged.
Evil Empire: Slang reference to the Soviet Union, popularized by former President Ronald Reagan.
EYES ONLY: Secrecy classification indicating that the message is to be read only by the person to whom it is addressed.
Fairwater: U.S. Navy term for the sail on a submarine.
Fast Attack: A class of submarines tasked with hunting and sinking other submarines.
Firing Point Procedure: Standard operating procedures used when launching a torpedo from a submarine.
Fish: Slang for torpedo.
Flank: Reference to a ship’s speed; in this case, the fastest emergency speed.
Foxtrot: NATO designation for a Soviet submarine type. The Soviets do not reveal the actual class names of their vessels, so NATO randomly assigns designations based on the phonetic alphabet. The Foxtrot is an older model, diesel-powered submarine often sold to Soviet block nations.
Frame 180: Submarines are constructed using numbered bulkheads or frames. Frames are numbered beginning at the bow and working aft. The numbering system allows for rapid location of damage or other events throughout the ship.
Full: In reference to a ship’s speed, the maximum standard power setting.
General Quarters: Command reference which indicates that crew members must man their battle stations.
Gertrude Telephone: Term originating from World War II to describe any equipment used for underwater communications.
Good Quiet: A condition under which all non-essential machinery and equipment is shut down in order to minimize the noise generated by a submarine.
Head: An original naval term for a toilet.
Helmsman: Crew position from which the attitude within the water and direction of travel of the submarine are controlled.
Homing Device: A device which produces a sound or signal which can be used for tracking any vessel to which the device is attached.
Hull Effect: Noise caused by the hull of the ship or by something attached to the hull.
Hydrophone Effect: Contact made via hydrophones.
Hydrophone: A passive sonar. Hydrophones are sensitive listening devices used to pick up sound waves moving through the water. Passive sonar has the advantage of not making any noise and, therefore, not alerting an enemy to your presence.
Ice Cream 27: Call-sign designation for the ASW helicopter in Silent Steel.
Ivan: Slang term referring to Soviet forces or equipment.
Kilo: NATO designation for a Soviet submarine type. The Soviets do not reveal the actual class names of their vessels, so NATO randomly assigns designations based on the phonetic alphabet. The Kilo is an older model, diesel-powered submarine often sold to Soviet block nations.
King’s Bay: The harbor in Charleston, South Carolina.
Knots: A measurement of speed; one nautical mile-per-hour.
Kodiak, Alaska: The last naval station on Earth a naval officer would want to be assigned, except maybe Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean.
LF Signal–Low Frequency Signal: Radio frequency used for submarine communications.
Liaison-Authorized: Terminology included in a ship’s orders allowing communication between that ship and a named recipient.
Line Handling Party: Those sailors in the Deck Division responsible for the various lines used to secure the submarine to a dock or pier.
Locator Operations: Search operations aimed at locating an enemy vessel.
Lock Out: To put a diver outside a submarine while submerged, via the airlock.
Los Angeles Class: A class of U.S. Navy high-speed nuclear attack submarines.
Lt. Wheeler: Communications Officer aboard the USS Idaho.
Main Control: The control room from which navigation and attacks are directed.
Master Chief Jollen: Chief of the Boat aboard the USS Idaho.
Master Chief: Highest enlisted rank.
Med–Mediterranean: Mediterranean Sea.
Mister: Reference which may be used when speaking to any naval officer below the rank of Commander.
Mark 48 ADCAP Torpedo: An advanced capability wire-guided or acoustic homing torpedo which is faster, can dive deeper, and has improved electronics and acoustics over its predecessors.
Missile Deck: The area on deck directly above the missile silos on a ballistic missile submarine.
Movement: Term referring to a ship’s scheduled departure for a cruise or patrol.
Nautical Mile: 1852 meters; almost two kilometers.
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Nav Materials: The various charts, courses and speed required to navigate a ship at sea.
New London: New London, Connecticut, home of General Dynamics Electric Boat Company, builder of submarines for the U.S. Navy.
Noise Signature: The sounds generated by the normal operation of a ship. Each vessel has a unique noise signature.
Nuke–Nuclear Power: Nuclear-powered ships use a nuclear reactor to heat water, which in turn drives a steam generator to provide power. While nuclear-powered submarines do not need to recharge batteries and, therefore have virtually unlimited range coupled with the ability to stay submerged indefinitely, the pumps required to circulate coolant for their nuclear reactors make them noisier than their diesel counterparts.
OOD–Officer Of the Deck: An officer on duty aboard ship acting as the commanding officer’s representative, usually on the conn.
On Watch: A sailor’s assigned duty period.
On-Line: Fully functional; up and running.
One-third: A reference to ship’s speed. In this reference, one-third of full speed.
Ordinance: Weapons, such as torpedoes, SUBROCs, ASROCs and missiles.
Ordinance Technician: Crew member responsible for maintaining all ordinance.
Out-chopped: Slang for “exited”.
Outer Doors: The doors in the hull of a submarine covering the exit of the torpedo tubes. More accurately called SHUTTER DOORS.
Page-13: A disciplinary sheet which may be found in the permanent record of military personnel.
Passage Chart: The map on which a specific, and in the case of ballistic missile submarines, secret patrol route has been marked.
Passive Sets: Sonar listening devices which use no active means of data gathering in order to remain silent.
Patrol: In the case of ballistic missile submarines, a cruise of a specific number of days within a designated area for the purpose of being in position to launch missiles at an enemy, should the orders for launch be given.
Patrol Box: The area in which a ballistic missile submarine conducts its secret patrol.
Performance Upgrade: Additions or modifications to an existing vessel for the purpose of improving the mission capabilities of that vessel.
Periscope Depth: The depth at which a submerged submarine can extend its periscope above the surface.
Periscope: Any one of several varieties of optical instruments allowing submarines, while remaining submerged, to view activity on or above the surface.
Pinging: Sound generated by active sonar.
PMS–Preventative Maintenance, Scheduled: Routine maintenance performed at regularly scheduled intervals in order to maintain peak equipment efficiency.
Polishing the Cannonball: An attempt to generate a near-perfect firing solution before issuing the command to fire.
Port: The left side of a ship relative to an individual facing forward.
PRC 1000: Video communications device used aboard the USS Idaho.
Prop–Propeller: More accurately called a screw, the device which, when turned by the ship’s engines, propels a submarine through the water.
Rain Locker: Slang for a ship-board shower.
Ready Service: Reference to equipment which has been placed at its normal readiness posture.
Red Phone: Usually a specific phone reserved for only the highest priority communications.
Rig for ….: Command reference indicating that the ship needs to be placed in some specified condition as in “Rig for dive” or “Rig for good quiet”.
Rocket-Delivered Torpedo: Launched from submarines against other submarines, a solid fuel rocket boosts a homing torpedo to within 60 miles of the presumed location of the enemy submarine. Upon arrival in the target area, the torpedo is lowered into the water by parachute.
Rota: Naval base in the city of Rota, Spain which serves as the Operations Center for the Mediterranean SOSUS net.
Rudder: A movable waterfoil attached to the stern of a ship, used to determine the lateral direction of travel of the ship.
Sabotage: Destruction or obstructive action carried out by an enemy in order to impede a nation’s war effort or undermine their security.
Sail: The streamlined conning tower protruding from the top of a submarine.
Sail Planes: Fin-like appendages, located on the exterior of the conning tower or sail of the submarine, used to control the angle of the dive.
Sat Phone: Telephone communications device using a satellite link.
SATCOM–SATellite COMmunications: Any communications means which uses a satellite link.
Screws: The technical term for a ship’s propeller.
Sea Mount: An under-sea mountain.
Self-Destruct: A safety feature built into modern torpedoes allowing them to be destroyed after launch by means of a signal sent via the wire-guidance system.
SET-65 Torpedo: Latest design Soviet submarine torpedo.
SH-60B Seahawk: A twin-engine helicopter equipped with powerful, advanced electronics, the Seahawk can search for surface ships and submarines and attack both types.
Silent Running: A condition under which all non-essential machinery and equipment is shut down in order to minimize the noise generated by a submarine.
Silent Service: Nickname for the submarine service.
Sleeve: Derogatory reference referring to a sailor with no rank or time-in-service.
Snap Shoot: An emergency torpedo launch in which a torpedo is launched down the reciprocal bearing of an incoming enemy weapon or on the straight-line bearing of a close contact. Analogous to the fastest draw in a gunfight.
Sneak-n-Peek: Idiom meaning to move slowly and with great caution while looking for any sign of enemy presence or activity.
Snorkel: A device which, when extended above the surface from a submerged submarine, allows air to be pumped into the submerged submarine to enable diesel engines to be run for the recharging of electric batteries. A noisy and dangerous activity when engaged in combat operations.
Sonar–SOund NAvigation and Ranging: Generally refers to active sonar which emits a sound wave or ping which is reflected back to the source from any solid object which the sound wave encounters. Active sonar provide very reliable information about any contact, but also alerts the enemy to your location.
Sonar Watch: The officers and men on duty in the sonar room constitute the sonar watch.
Sonobouys: Small, air-droppable sonar devices used to detect submarines. They may be either active pinging sonars or passive listening devices. ASW aircraft usually carry large numbers of sonobouys.
SOP–Standard Operating Procedure: Standardized instructions covering the optimum procedures for many different types of operations and conditions.
SOSUS–SOund SUrveillance System: A series of fixed passive sonar arrays used by NATO to provide information regarding movement of Soviet submarines.
SSN-16: Soviet designed rocket-delivered torpedo.
Standard Speed: Reference to a ship’s speed; in this case, the normal cruising speed.
Starboard: The right side of a ship relative to an individual facing forward.
Stern: The rear section or tail of a ship.
Strategic Asset: In the U.S. Navy, any ship or weapon system designed to strike the enemy at the sources of his military, economic or political power.
Stripe: A designation for level of rank among enlisted personnel.
Surface Layer: The water between the ocean’s surface and the first thermal layer. The depth of the layer is determined by water conditions and may vary from 30 to 200 feet.
Surface Impact: Sonar reference to the sound generated by an object striking the surface of the water.
SURFLANT–SURFace Forces AtLANTic: Designation referring to all U.S. Navy surface vessels assigned to the Atlantic Ocean.
Swim Buddies: U.S. Navy SEAL term for a pair of swimmers working as a team.
Swiss Combat Medals: A humorous reference, since Switzerland is well known for its historically neutral political stance.
Tactical Problem: Term usually referring to small-scale weapons or forces put into action at a battle area with only a limited or immediate end in view.
Tactical Dump: Briefing materials related to a tactical problem.
TB-23: Integrated towed sonar suite and fire control system stored on a reel in the aft ballast tank area.
Theatre-Level: Operations which take place within a specified geographical area of responsibility assigned to a naval battle group.
Three Whisky Gulf: Phonetic alphabet designation for the USS Idaho.
Torpedo Door Event: Sonar reference to the sound of a submarine opening its outer torpedo doors in preparation for firing.
Torpedo Room: That part of a submarine designed for the storage, maintenance and launching of torpedoes.
Torpedo: Primary offensive weapon of a submarine.
Towed Array: A long, tapered cable connected to a collection of hydrophones. By separating the hydrophones from the ship, the array is not limited by noise generated by the submarine, thereby increasing detection range. While helpful, towed arrays limit a submarine’s speed and maneuverability.
Traffic: Communications reference to incoming or outgoing messages.
Two-thirds: Reference to a ship’s speed; in this case, two-thirds of full speed.
Udaloy: The Udaloy class is designed primarily for antisubmarine warfare, although its dual purpose SS-N-14 cruise misslies can also be employed against surface targets. This was the first Soviet destroyer-sized design to carry two helicopters and is equipped with bow-mounted and towed, variable-depth, low-frequency sonars.
Uncertainty Zone: An area into which an enemy has traveled estimated by calculating time and best speed from a known location.
Underway: A ship steaming under its own power is said to be “underway”.
Uniform Code of Military Justice: The set of rules and regulations which govern military conduct.
Up Bubble: Used to measure the degree of upward incline when surfacing a submarine.
USS Biloxi: Los Angeles class attack submarine in Silent Steel.
USS Idaho: Ohio class ballistic missile submarine aboard which Silent Steel takes place.
VLF Wire–Very Low Frequency Wire: Communications antenna extended from the submarine at periscope depth. Allows transmission of communication signals.
Wardroom: The dining area and social center for officers on a submarine.
War Shot: A fully-armed weapon.
Watch Profile: The specific duty assignments of a particular watch section.
Watch Section: The officers and men on duty in a specified area constitute the watch section for that area.
Waypoint: Navigational points at which course changes may take place.
Weapons Envelope: The parameters under which a particular weapon is designed to function.
WEPS–Weapons Officer: Officer in charge of maintaining all weapons and weapons systems aboard ship.
Whisky: NATO designation for a Soviet submarine type. The Soviets do not reveal the actual class names of their vessels, so NATO randomly assigns designations based on the phonetic alphabet. The Whisky is an older model, diesel-powered submarine often sold to Soviet block nations.
Wire-Guide Capability: Modern torpedoes use either acoustic homing or wire guidance. A wire- guided weapon is connected to the submarine by a thin wire, through which course and speed changes can be passed to the weapon en route to its target.
WLR-9: Acoustic intercept receiver (passive sonar) found aboard U.S. submarines.
XO–Executive Officer: Second in command of a naval vessel. The XO is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the ship while the captain keeps track of the “big picture”.
Yankee Victor: Phonetic alphabet designation for the patrol area of the USS Idaho.