Installment 3 of Search and Rescue Facts

[Navy OnStar]

I figured I would look into the JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual to give some numbers for different SAR Signaling devices. Regardless of what a manufacturer claims, this is what all U.S. SAR assets will use as nominal ranges for different equipment. This is pasted directly from the manual. (with tracer bullets removed from the list.)

Visaul Sweep Width is the distance between each search line that gives the highest probablitity of detection. I tried to correct the table after pasting here and it wouldn't take. the number after the device is the sweep width in nautical miles.
TABLE 5-6. Visual Sweep Width Estimate for Daylight Detection EstimatedSweep
Device-------------------------Width(NM)---------SRU Type
Red/orange balloon---------------0.5------------Air or surface
Orange flight suit-----------------0.5-------------------Air
Red hand flare (500 candlepower)-0.5--------------Air or surface
Day/night flare-------------------0.5--------------Air or surface
Red pen gun flare----------------0.75-------------Air or surface
Red reflective Marker(1)----------2.0--------------Air or surface
Green dye marker*---------------2.0-------------------- Air
Red/orange flag (waving)(3 ft x 3 ft) 2.5-----------Air or surface
Sun signal mirror-----------------5.0---------------Air or surface
*Greatly reduced in heavy seas
(1) Similar to a space blanket.

Searches during the early stages potentially yield a high POD.Cloud cover, wind, and obscurations to visibility have lessdetrimental effects on night detection aids. Even aflashlight may be seen. On clear nights, pyrotechnics havebeen sighted in excess of 40 nautical miles. Sweep widthshould be based on the most likely VDSD to be used.

Table 5-7. Visual Sweep Width Estimates for Night Detection Aids Estimated Sweep
Device-----------------------Width(NM)------------SRU Type

Strobe----------------------------0.5--------------Air or surface
Cyalume personnel marker----------1.0--------------Air or surface
Flashlight-------------------------3.0---------------Air or surface
Red pen gun flare------------------8.0---------------Air or surface

The use of NVG's geatly increases these widths at night. Notice that the strobe is low. This is for a low power military strobe. Any of these on NVG’s will give a much greater range.

These sweep widths give a 1.0 coverage factor which mathematically works out to a 80% chance of detection on the first search of a given area. The better we can see your signaling device=the larger the sweep width=larger area covered quicker=rescued quicker=quicker to a beer! MMMMMM Beer!


OnStar

[RoadRacer1978]

So what if I have a few tracer rounds. Do I increase my chances of being found. Can't believe you are witholding information from us.

Seriously now. Thanks for the information. I am guessing the numbers listed are in miles?

[nathanbarlow]

roadracer - the numbers are in nautical miles

[RoadRacer1978]

Guess it would have helped if I had read all the top part. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Mycroft]

But when they say "Strobe" are they talking about the little marker beacon type or a camera flash strobe?

In my diving, I currently carry twin camera strobes, with a "strobe" function switch I can turn on. If I turn them on 1 at a time, and only at intervals, I could run them all night, not to mention the small dive light I always have in my BC pocket.

And definitely, my dive signal mirror goes back into my BC pocket. Small weight, BIG swath for that. Plus I always have the DAN tag signal mirror anyway.

[Steve Scuba]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

But when they say "Strobe" are they talking about the little marker beacon type or a camera flash strobe?

In my diving, I currently carry twin camera strobes, with a "strobe" function switch I can turn on. If I turn them on 1 at a time, and only at intervals, I could run them all night,...

What a clever way to get double duty out of piece of equipment. Photography and safety all rolled into one.

[Navy OnStar]

Originally Posted by RoadRacer1978

So what if I have a few tracer rounds. Do I increase my chances of being found. Can't believe you are witholding information from us.

When I fly SAR, Tracers when directed at me tend to get larger, higher volume, tracers returned!

[RoadRacer1978]

Originally Posted by Navy OnStar

When I fly SAR, Tracers when directed at me tend to get larger, higher volume, tracers returned!

So guess I'd be found, just looking like swiss cheese.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by Steve Scuba

What a clever way to get double duty out of piece of equipment. Photography and safety all rolled into one.

That one I can thank Nikon for. They designed em that way. More than once I have jumped into the pond with them set to strobe by mistake and have to back the selector off one position.