August 22, 2007: The U.S. Navy
is continuing to take advantage of LAN (local area networks) now installed in
most ships. A major new feature made possible by the LAN is DCTMS (Damage
Control Tactical Management System). This is basically a laptop computer
equipped with damage control system software. The DCTMS laptops are stored in
the damage control lockers (large closets, scattered around the ship, holding
gear needed for fighting fires, making emergency repairs and providing first
aid). When the ship suffers a hit, or some other major damage, sailors assigned
to damage control duty, go to their assigned locker, grab the needed gear and get to work. But one
of the sailors fires up the DCTMS laptop, plugs into the LAN, and keeps in
touch with the bridge (and damage control center), and the other damage control
teams. Because the data is sent electronically, it is saved on the ships
servers, and provides the captain, and all the damage control teams, a
real-time view of what's happening, and what happened. Before DCTMS, the
information was transmitted by phone or radio, and status was only seen on the
bridge or damage control center, where sailors updated data using grease
pencils. If a fire or flooding force a damage control team away from their
locker, the DCTMS laptop can be carried
away and plugged into another LAN connection.
The DCTMS also makes possible
more realistic training drills. That's because damage control scenarios can be
run through the software, as leaders of the damage control teams respond with
the right, or wrong, solutions. Or you can just train the officers and sailors
manning the damage control center, where they have to figure out the best
overall strategy to save the ship.
Ships are also being fitted
with wireless networks, as a backup, or supplement to the wired LANs.
