INTRODUCTION 



providing aids which promote safety at sea for all mariners. 

 Military requirements are stated by the Department of Defense 

 and by the Chief of Naval Operations. The Fleet Commanders 

 provide regular inputs to the Oceanographer of the Navy. These 

 requirements address specific areas which require support. For 

 example, environmental studies directed toward the development 

 of mine countermeasure techniques might be a stated requirement; 

 antisubmarine warfare support is clearly another. A training 

 program in oceanography is a small, though important, part of the 

 Oceanographic Operations portion and includes foreign as well as 

 United States personnel. 



Nearly two-fifths of the Navy's Oceanographic 

 Program is devoted to Oceanographic Operations. 



The Navy is uniquely responsive to the various facets of the 

 national oceanographic program because it lives and works at sea 

 and is therefore constantly aware that a thorough understanding 

 of the oceans contributes significantly in the contest for national 

 prestige and influence. This report describes the Navy Oceano- 

 graphic Operations Program. 



The Navy Oceanographic Operations Program responds to 

 military requirements in many ways. The gathering of data by 

 oceanographic surveys leads to the production of charts, publica- 

 tions, advisories, and other services to meet specific Fleet needs. 

 In the following illustrations, principal oceanographic factors 

 which affect a specific type of operation are listed at the left. 

 The products or services which support that operation are 

 indicated at the right. 



