VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

MTP 1(D), Vol. I
(b) Navigational situation and harbor facilities.
(c) Required time/distance intervals.
(d) Which berths his ships occupy.
(e) Number of ships.
(f) Ship types and their characteristics.
(g) Weather conditions.
(2) Should a unit be delayed, the unit commander is to inform the OTC, the unit commanders of succeeding
units, and the local authority of the time at which his unit will be ready to proceed. In the absence
of further orders from the OTC, the unit commanders are to adjust their times of proceeding
accordingly. At night or by day, when not in direct visual touch, each unit commander should when necessary
keep the unit commander of the succeeding unit informed of his progress.
1414 — 1419 SPARE
1420 READINESS FOR ACTION
1421 OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
a. The operational capabilities of any combatant unit can generally be considered to consist of three
components: warning, evaluation, and action. Normally any engagement will develop in the following
sequence:
(1) Warning. The indication by any tactical information source of the presence of a threat.
(2) Evaluation. The appraisal of threat information to determine the type and degree of threat.
(3) Action. The employment of one or more weapon systems to counter the threat.
b. The rules governing degrees of readiness allow that, with a lowering of the warning, there
follows a more rapid lowering of the evaluation and a marked lowering of the action components. In
addition, the desired readiness for action is influenced by:
(1) Capabilities of tactical information sources, weapon systems, and communications.
(2) Effects of environmental factors (e.g., dawn or dusk, fog, sonar conditions, afternoon effects,
etc.).
(3) Training status of personnel.
(4) Command organization.
1422 INOPERABLE EQUIPMENT
When a unit is unable to assume or keep the ordered degree of readiness (or alert state), this inability
shall be reported to the OTC, including in the report the reason and the time at which the ordered degree of
readiness (alert state) will be assumed or resumed. Permission shall be obtained from the OTC before
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