"Firing Point Procedures"--???

[TangoWhiskey]

For you guys with Navy experience, what does the term "firing point procedures" mean? Hunt for Red October was running in the background as I read the Board, and I've always meant to look up that phrase... but Google doesn't have much. Was he calling for some sort of checklist? I assume "firing point" means "we're at the point where we could fire... be ready and careful." But is there more to it? (I mean, whatever you can tell me without shooting me first...)

Capt. Bart Mancuso: All back full.

Lt. Cmdr. Thompson: Captain...

Capt. Bart Mancuso: I said, all back full!

Lt. Cmdr. Thompson: Back full, aye.

[the Dallas reverses, churning the water]

Seaman Jones: Captain, we're cavitating, he can hear us!

Capt. Bart Mancuso: Conn, aye. All right, Ryan, we just unzipped our fly. Mr. Thompson! Open the outer doors, firing point procedures. Now if that bastard so much as twitches, I'm going to blow him straight to Mars.

 

[KennyFlys]

I would guess it's an order to begin a procedure leading up to loading and subsequent firing of torpedoes. That's my best two-cents worth.

Any former bubble heads on the board?

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

not sure if this will help or not:

http://hnsa.org/doc/attack/

(1) Firing Point Procedure

1. See chapter 7, Firing Methods,

2. At the order BEARING MARK match the observed values of bearing and range (ST observation). For stadimeter and telemeter observations at the Firing point only the bearing is matched.

3. Announce SET.

4. On subsequent check bearings announce SET after the observed values are matched.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

not sure if this will help or not:

http://hnsa.org/doc/attack/

(1) Firing Point Procedure

1. See chapter 7, Firing Methods,

2. At the order BEARING MARK match the observed values of bearing and range (ST observation). For stadimeter and telemeter observations at the Firing point only the bearing is matched.

3. Announce SET.

4. On subsequent check bearings announce SET after the observed values are matched.

Thanks, Dave. Trying to figure out what a "stadimeter" is (from your quote) led me to this interesting article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo_Data_Computer

 

[The Old Man]

I always assumed that it was the naval equivalent of Sterile Cockpit. No conversation not directly related to the process of watching the target and firing the weapons.