CHEMICAL WARFARE DIRECTIONAL DETECTOR

Figure 2-8.—Searchlight H hood. CHEMICAL WARFARE DIRECTIONAL DETECTOR LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain the procedures for the use of the chemical warfare (CW) directional detector, including installation, maintenance, and operations. The AN/KAS-1 chemical warfare directional detector system (fig. 2-9) is a passive IR imaging sensor that provides U.S. Navy ships with the capability for detection and identification of chemical warfare (CW) agent attacks. The AN/KAS-1 can be used to detect and identify nerve agent attacks against ships in a task force, against waves of amphibious assault ships/boats proceeding ashore, or against assault forces in the vicinity of the landing area. Chemical warfare agent cloud detection and identification can be accomplished against a sky background for all conditions under which CW attacks may be expected to occur. Detection of CW activity against a land background can be accomplished less effectively. The inherent characteristics of an IR sensor make the AN/KAS-1 useful in low-visibility/night pilotage and area surveillance. The AN/KAS-1 operator can detect and provide relative bearing to prominent land features (light house, water tower) and buoys. Detection of personnel on the water surface (man overboard) can also be provided by the system. The AN/KAS-1 consists of a sensor unit, a pivot mount, a power conversion unit (PCU), a carrying/stowage case, a maintenance kit, and an overboard lanyard. The sensor unit is equipped with the following controls: a field-of-view switch, which enables the operator to use both a wide field of view (WFOV) and a narrow field of view (NFOV); a range/focus knob; a contrast knob; a brightness knob; and a filter wheel switch. The filter wheel switch allows the operator to rotate a wheel positioned in the optical chain of the unit through four positions: filter 1, filter 2, filter 3, and filter out. These filters are used to identify CW nerve agent clouds. The pivot mount provides the mechanical interface between the sensor unit and the standard bracket and lock assembly. The pivot mount provides a minimum elevation of minus 35 degrees to plus 45 degrees and 360 degrees of azimuth; the number of azimuth rotations is limited only by the length of the interconnecting cable. Handlebars are provided for operator positioning of the sensor unit. The interconnecting cable provides electrical connection/power transfer from the PCU to the sensor unit via a coiled, double-shielded cable. The PCU (fig. 2-10) provides operating power to the sensor from the ship's 115-Vac, 60-Hz supply. Press-to-test switches/lights are included to verify the presence of input and output voltages. The unit consists of an electronics tray contained in a watertight protective housing. 2-8