would consist of a three-rail underwater track beginning above high water 

 and following the slope of the ocean floor to the depth of 1,000 ft. Project 

 elements could then be tested at any depth on the continental shelf while 

 being prepared and supported by a shore -based facility. An underwater 

 optical bench would enable optical sources, targets, and receivers to be 

 researched, tested, calibrated, and evaluated under controlled and moni- 

 tored conditions in the ocean environment. A necessary element of the 

 Range is the capability to track moving targets precisely in specific areas 

 and to monitor large (10 miles by 20 miles) ocean areas. Thus, 3-D 

 underwater tracking systems for precise coverage in a limited area and 

 broad area coverage are planned. Also a nuclear plant for providing fresh 

 water and electrical power has been suggested. The rest of the develop- 

 ment program consists of supplementing, modifying, and updating existing 

 facilities in order to handle the variety of test programs at the Ocean En- 

 gineering Range at San Clemente Island. 



The development of ocean technology is now well underway. Ocean 

 test facilities are a vital and important element in this technology. Now, 

 these facilities are predominantly used by the Navy, but they are available 

 to industry and the rest of the scientific community. It is not imlikely that 

 the San Clemente Island area will prove to be the outstanding national 

 ocean engineering test range of the future. 



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