Chapter 3 Emission Control

CHAPTER 3 EMISSION CONTROL Upon completing this chapter, you should be able to do the following Identify EMCON and the procedures, including criteria, objectives, notification, and authority to set EMCON conditions both at sea and ashore. Identify the procedures, including criteria and actuation of HERO conditions. Identify alternate methods of communication during HERO and EMCON conditions, including electronic systems UHF AUTOCAT, SATCAT, and MIDDLEMAN and non-electronic relay systems PIGEON POST and BEAN BAG. Emission control (EMCON) is the management of electromagnetic and acoustic emissions. EMCON is used to prevent an enemy from detecting, identifying, and locating friendly forces. It is also used to minimize electromagnetic interference among friendly systems. EMCON is normally imposed by the electronic warfare coordinator (EWC) to control all electromagnetic radiations. Once EMCON is imposed, general or specific restrictions may be added to the EMCON order, depending on the operational, intelligence, or technical factors for the area affected. For radiomen, EMCON usually means either full radio silence or HF EMCON. The most secure communications methods during EMCON reduce, but do not eliminate, the possibility of identification. It is assumed that any electromagnetic radiation will be immediately detected and the position of the transmitting ship will be fixed by an enemy. You will find detailed information on the implementation of EMCON and its degree of adjustment in Fleet Communications, NTP 4, and Electronic Warfare Coordination, NWP 10140 (NWP 3-51.1). SETTING EMCON CONDITIONS Setting EMCON requires four basic steps: criteria, objectives, notification, and authority. Details of these steps are found in the above listed publications. Basic requirements are listed below. CRITERIA To react to EMCON changes, each ship will prepare an EMCON bill that provides for implementing the EMCON condition in effect by: Outlining planning considerations for establishing the appropriate shipboard emitter status Assigning specific duties and responsibilities to personnel who control electromagnetic or acoustic emitters Establishing an EMCON control center with overall responsibility for shipboard emitter radiation status Designating intermediate control stations as required through which specific equipment is controlled Designating individual responsibility for each shipboard emitter Providing procedures for intraship reporting, verification (check off) of emitter status, and monitoring of own ship’s emitter status. OBJECTIVES The objectives of EMCON are to deny the enemy any way that it may locate your position, to support the 3-1