operations are also blazing paths for oceanographic applications 

 of space vehicles and sensors. More efficient operations are 

 rapidly evolving from electronic computation of tables and chart 

 projections, coupled with automated plotting of charts and graphs. 



The close coupling of oceanographic operations to the engineer- 

 ing, and research carried out by the Navy provides quick access to 

 new knowledge about the marine environment for the solution of 

 Department of Defense problems and the improvement of its 

 defense capability as well as its peacetime service to the Nation 

 and to mankind. 



Approximately two-fifths of the nearly quarter of a billion 

 dollars allocated by the Navy for oceanography in 1968 is pro- 

 grammed for oceanographic operations. Most of this is in support 

 of the U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office and the ships and aircraft 

 assigned for oceanographic surveying. Thus, this report largely 

 concerns the work of the Naval Oceanographic Office. It speaks 

 also to the oceanographic activities of the Naval Weather Service, 

 which include operation of an environmental prediction service of 

 major importance to the Fleet and with great national potential. 



Rear Admiral O. D. Waters, \^, U. S. N. 

 Oceanographer of the Navy 



m 



