NUWC’s
We’ve all heard warnings about being careful about whom we talk to in a chat room. After all, you never know who’s on the other end of that instant message. But during Operation Enduring Freedom, NUWC Division Newport brought a chat room to a submarine thousands of miles away and started a highly successful distance-support capability for the Tomahawk weapon system. It started in October 2001 with an overseas communication from an enlisted fire control technician who had been previously detailed to NUWC. He was now assigned to a deployed SSN supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and had run into a problem with an onboard Tomahawk missile. It was a long shot, but he knew if anyone could help, it was the NUWC engineers who had the resources
DISTANCE CHAT CAPABILITY
Gets THUMBS
UP from the Fleet
and corporate knowledge to provide troubleshooting and technical guidance. Utilizing the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), NUWC contacted the boat and provided direct real-time feedback and chat-room capability. The problem was discussed, troubleshooting was conducted, and an All Up Round (AUR) was returned to service and later employed operationally. The theater commander saw the immediate benefit of this chat-room access. Based on its success, the Submarine Tomahawk Action Board took the initiative and assigned NUWC to develop a chat capability for all deployed platforms in theater. In response to a Type Commander (TYCOM) request for contingency planning for Operation Iraqi Freedom, NUWC implemented 24/7 chat capability over the SIPRNet with COMFIFTHFLT, COMSIXTHFLT, COMSUBLANT and COMSUBPAC. This capability was stood up in February 2003, and it is supported by all 8
S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 U N D E R S E A WA R FA R E
