Cony (DDE 508) - Naval Cruise Book

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objectives. This required first, that each crew of each vehicle learn the cap- abilities and limitations of all other vehicles, second, it required the provi- sion of the necessary communications devices and techniques between the units, and third, all types had to learn to work together in increasingly greater combinations until all units were employed simultaneously on a single problem. This progressive team development resulted in the formation of a coordinated team with a greater cumulative capability than the sum of the individual capabilities of the units involved. TACTICAL DEVELOPMENT No burglar alarm ever caught a burglar. Thus, no matter how complex and effective future warning systems may become, they will need to be backed up by ready mobile forces capable of contacting, holding and if neces- sary, destroying any submarine not known to be friendly, within the defense perimeter. Determination of how best to utilize these mobile forces was the first objective of Task Group ALFA Tactical Development. The result has been the formulation of doctrine and procedure for area search, for control of forces over a wide area, for necessary communications and coordination on an area basis, and for concentration of all these forces in the contact area. Tactics such as these required that forces be utilized in a new way: the carrier serving as a mobile air base, logistics center and com- mand post of the group, controlling and supplying forces throughout the operating area. At most times, it must remain outside the actual area to avoid interference with investigative forces and for its own safety. The destroyers, except for serving minimum requirements as carrier screening and plane guard elements, must be dispersed where they can be near probable con- tacts, conduct searches and be used for deception. Fixed wing aircraft cover the area visually and by radar. VW aircraft keep track of surface contacts, furnish radar and vital communications links, and guide aircraft to investi- gate contacts. Helicopters are utilized in search and localization of contact. EQUIPMENT IMPROVEMENT No matter how great the improvement resulting from better tactics and coordination, eventually there must be a point beyond which further progress can come only from improved equipment. Task Group ALFA by its nature has been able to make only limited efforts in equipment improvement. It has obtained existing equipment that would give an immediate increase in cap- abilty to any vehicle. It has adapted existing equipment to meet obvious needs, such as placing aircraft communication devices in destroyers. lt has gone to laboratories and manufacturers to determine how to obtain highest perform- ance for installed equipment. This has resulted in obtaining, in many cases, greater than designed performance and better reliability from much of its equipment. Beyond this Task Group ALFA has been able to follow closely research and development programs and has attempted to maintain a com- patible direction of its own tactical development with the direction of equip- ment improvement programs throughout the fleet. 27

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On 1 April 1958, Antisubmarine Defense Group ALFA was established by the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet under the operational control of Commander Antisubmarine Defense Force, Atlantic. lt was commanded by RADM ,l.S. Thach with additional duties as Commander Carrier Division SIXTEEN and Commander Hunter-Killer Force. It consisted of an augmented Hunter-Killer Group and had a primary mission of advancing antisubmarine defense readiness in the Atlantic Fleet. Forces were assigned to operate with the Group on a semi-permanent basis. Under the original directive, the group was set up for an eighteen month period, although present indications are that it will be continued for an indefinite period. Logically, the first step in accelerating antisubmarine defense was the establishment of a group with a single mission and forces assigned for a long enough period to permit determination of the full potential of the anti- submarine vehicles and equipment available. From such a group might be determined a standard of antisubmarine performance for all fleet units. ln addition to the forces normally comprising a Hunter-Killer Group, a carrier, destroyers, carrier fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, Task Group ALFA was augmented by two anti-submarine submarines, and a patrol plane squadron. All were placed under the operational control of the Task Group Commander. ' Task Group ALFA consisted, on its establishment, of the carrier VALLEY FORGE CVS-45, with Air Antisubmarine Squadron 36 and Heli- copter Antisubmarine Squadron 7, embarked, Destroyer Squadron 28, Patrol Squadron 8, and the submarines SEA LEOPARD and CUBERA. Later, a detachment of AD-SW aircraft was added, Detachment 52 of VAW-12. Since its establishment, ALFA's permanence of assigned forces has been only relative, due to Naval Shipyard overhauls and other considerations. Changes in units have resulted in some slowing down of tactical development, but have offered other advantages. Units detached and returned to the Group have newer equipment installed, bringing increased technical capability to the group. Also, methods of achieving maximum continuity during change- over periods have been developed, and these should be of great value to the fleet as a whole, which experiences continual change of units. Also, by tempor- ary operations with nuclear submarines, it has been possible to gain experi- ence against the ultimate opponent: nuclear powered, missile launching submarines. Since the original, formal objective was too broad in concept for opera- tional assignments, it was broken down into three major missions, including Team Development, Tactical Development and Equipment Improvement. TEAM DEVELOPMENT In initial operations, major efforts were concentrated on bringing all units up to high levels of individual competence and performance. Then, it was necessary to train all units in working together towards their common 26

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ALFA's operations have repeatedly demonstratedtllat H0 equipment of unit can do the job alone. To gain a significant capability for Ielfectlve 8163 surveillance in the near future, every piece of equipment existing and every known technique must be exploited to the utmost. As each new piece Of equipment becomes available it must now be integrated into the weapons system in the same way in which the Task Group itself became an integrated force: first by establishing maximum effectiveness of the equipment by itself, then in combination, and finally through tactical application. ALFA,s more than two years of operation have led to many conclusions about its effectiveness as a highly specialized anti-submarine force. It has become increasingly clear, first of all, that anti-submarine defense is as big a problem as continental air defense and must be approached on as broad a basis. Until both are equally effective, the defense of the United States will not be complete. Then, it has been established that anti-submarine defense must be approached on an area basis. Whether the area is fixed or moving, will not affect the validity of tactics involved. lf surveillance of a fixed area can be successfully accomplished many of the methods developed will be equally applicable to a moving area. It has become apparent, third of all, that the success of an antisubmarine force is not limited to a carrier group alone. The important factor is that it be an effective combination of vehicles whose primary mission is antisub- marine warfare. The vehicles comprising the group must be tailored to forces available, the area of operations, availability of intelligence systems, weather and the overall situation. The group must be operated as an integrated unit to gain the fullest potential of the vehicles and equipment used. Another apparent conclusion is that the antisubmarine group, whether a carrier group, an escort group, or a support group, must be considered as a completely integrated weapons system. At present, ALFA gains this integra- tion through coordination and teamwork, but in the future it will undoubtedly be necessary to integrate through automatic systems to provide precise navi- gation, adequate communications and means of data presentation and analysis. Every unit must know where it is, where every other unit is and the command center must know the location of all units. The commander of the group must have quick, reliable means of gaining needed information and transmitting orders and permitting rapid decisions. ALFA is working towards such auto- matic systems at present, by developing best forms for data to make it adapt- able for automatic transmission and processing, by recommending best con- figurations for command centers and by determining the information required at various command levels for evaluating the situation to direct and control forces. ALFA's short history then, has been an interesting one. The Task Group has accepted the challenge inherent in its very objective. lt has accomplished the difficult tasks of coordinating many working units into a single, thinking 28