MC: Shipboard announcing system on board U.S. submarines (1MC is the main shipwide announcing system).
MIDAS: Mine detection and avoidance sonar fitted in improved Los Angeles class submarines. Also used under ice to avoid ice keels.
Mike: This was an advanced Soviet test submarine which was lost at sea in April 1989.
Ming: Chinese diesel attack submarine. Top speed: 18 knots submerged. Length: 249.3 feet. Displacement: 2,113 tons submerged. Major weapons: eight 53cm torpedo tubes.
Mk 41: Vertical launch system used on board several classes of U.S. surface warships.
Mk 46: American lightweight ASW torpedo carried by helicopters, aircraft, and surface ships. The Mk 46 has been widely exported.
Mk 48: Heavy torpedo carried by all American, and some allied, submarines. Can be used for attacks on both surface and submarine targets. The ADCAP is the newest type of Mk 48.
Mk 50: Advanced American lightweight torpedo. Replaces and supplements the Mk 46.
Nautical Mile: 6,076 feet or roughly 1.15 miles, usually rounded off to 2,000 yards.
Nimitz (CVN-68): The first of the nuclear-powered Nimitz class of aircraft carriers, which can carry over eighty-five aircraft.
Noisemaker: nickname for a submarine-launched countermeasure designed to decoy an enemy torpedo away from its target.
Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7): Large class of American multipurpose frigates. Top speed: 29 knots. Length: approximately 450 feet. Displacement: 4,100 tons full load. Major weapons: Harpoon, SM-1. Carries two LAMPS helicopters.
OOD: Officer of the deck. The U.S. Navy officer in charge of the ship or submarine. The OOD represents the commanding officer.
P-3 Orion: Long-range land-based maritime patrol and ASW aircraft operated by the U.S. and many of its allies. In Canadian service, the Orion is known as the Aurora.
Passive Sonar: Sonar that passively gathers its data from the noise an object radiates.
PBXN-103: High explosive, 650 pounds of which are found in the Mk 48’s warhead.
Phoenix: AIM-54. Long-range air-to-air missile carried by the F-14 Tomcat. Maximum range is more than 100 miles.
RBU-1200: Russian ASW mortar/rocket launcher.
Romeo: Russian designed diesel-electric class of submarines. Construction began in the 1950s. More than sixty are believed to remain in service with Chinese active and reserve forces. Top speed: 13 knots submerged. Length: 252 feet, 7 inches. Displacement: 1,700 tons submerged. Major weapons: eight 53cm torpedo tubes.
RORSAT: Russian radar ocean reconnaissance satellite.
S-3 Viking: Carrier-based long-range ASW aircraft. ES- 3 version used for carrier-based Signals Intelligence.
S6G: The pressurized water reactor that provides the main power source for the Los Angeles class of attack submarines.
SAET-60: 53cm Russian-manufactured anti-surface torpedo.
SEALs: Sea air land, U.S. Navy special operations units.
Seawolf (SSN-21): the newest class of nuclear attack submarine to be built for the U.S. Navy. Top speed: 35+ knots submerged. Length: approximately 350 feet. Displacement: 9,150 tons submerged. Major weapons: eight 30-inch torpedo tubes.
SET-53: 53cm Russian-manufactured active/passive ASW homing torpedo.
Seventh Fleet: U.S. Navy Fleet responsible for naval operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Headquarters: Yokosuka, Japan.
SH-60 Seahawk: U.S. Navy ASW and multipurpose LAMPS III helicopter.
Sierra: Advanced Russian SSN. Only slightly less capable than the Akulas. Top speed: 35 knots submerged. Length: 351 feet. Displacement: 7,900 tons submerged. Major weapons: four 65cm and two 53cm tubes.
Sierra Number: A designation representing a sonar contact on board a U.S. Navy submarine. Such contacts may be upgraded to Master Numbers if they are deemed possible threats or of other significance.
SLBM: Submarine launched ballistic missile.
SM-1/SM-2: Standard surface-to-air missiles carried on board U.S. and allied warships. SM-2 is the more advanced of the two and is also carried on board Aegis warships.
Snap Shot: Firing a torpedo in an emergency situation. Because no TMA has yet been conducted, the torpedo must be launched in the probable direction of the target.
Snorkeclass="underline" Device used by a submarine to draw air from the surface while remaining submerged. This allows a diesel submarine to recharge its batteries or all submarines to ventilate while remaining under water.
Sonobuoy: A small, air-dropped sonar device designed to detect submarines and transmit their data back to the aircraft.
Spruance (DD 963): Large class of anti-submarine destroyers operated by the U.S. Navy. Top speed: 33 knots. Length: 563 feet, 2 inches. Displacement: 8,040 full load. Major weapons: Harpoon, Tomahawk, and ASROC (anti-submarine rocket). Also carries two LAMPS helicopters.
SQR-19: Tactical towed array sonar carried by several types of U.S. Navy warship.
SSBN: Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
SSIXS: Submarine satellite information exchange system. Satellite system through which the U.S. Navy and its submarines can communicate.
SSK: Diesel-electric attack submarine.
SSN: Nuclear-powered attack submarine.
SSXBT: A submarine expendable bathythermograph device used to measure water temperature at varying depths.
Sturgeon (SSN 637): U.S. nuclear attack submarine class. Predates the Los Angeles class. Top speed: 30 knots submerged. Length: 292 feet. Displacement: 4,780 tons submerged. Major weapons: four 21-inch torpedo tubes.
SU-27: Highly advanced Russian air defense fighter. Operated by Russia, China, and other nations.
SUBGRU: Submarine group.
Submarine Tender: A ship designed to provide support to submarines, including logistical support and small repairs.
SUBRON: Submarine squadron.
TB-16: U.S. Navy submarine towed array. The array is 240-feet long and is towed at the end of a 2,600-foot cable. The array is stored in a shroud on the starboard side.
TB-23: U.S. Navy submarine thin line array. The array is four times longer than the TB-16 and housed in the submarine’s ballast tank.
TERCOM: Terrain contour matching. One of several missile guidance/navigation systems used in the Tomahawk cruise missile.
TEST-71: Russian 53cm, submarine-launched, active/ passive, wire-guided ASW homing torpedo.
Third Fleet: U.S. Navy fleet responsible for operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Headquarters: San Diego, California.
Ticonderoga (CG-47): The most powerful class of cruisers in the world, operated by the U.S. Navy. Fitted with the Aegis air defense system. Top speed: 30+ knots. Length: 567 feet. Displacement: approximately 9,500 tons full load. Major weapons: Harpoon, Tomahawk, and SM-2 missiles. Also carries 2 LAMPS helicopters.