VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

MTP 1(D), Vol. I
b. Emission Security (EMSEC). Care must be taken that transmissions between ships and
aircraft are subject to the same EMSEC constraints as those between other force units. Details of EMSEC
procedures are in Chapter 5.
c. Voice Procedures. Voice procedures for helicopter control are in APP 1.
d. Brevity Code Words. Brevity code words used in helicopter control are in APP 7.
4187 — 4189 SPARE
4190 COMMUNICATIONS FOR DECENTRALIZED COMMAND AND CONTROL
a. General. When the OTC delegates tactical control of units in a force or group as described in
Chapter 1, there will be specific communication requirements between the OTC and appointed warfare
commanders and coordinators, and between warfare commanders and coordinators and their assigned
units. To meet these requirements, the OTC and warfare commanders and coordinators have certain
circuits, described in ACP 176, at their disposal.
b. Plans. When drafting a communications plan, the OTC and warfare commanders and
coordinators must consider the communications assets of units assigned. Smaller units can easily become
overburdened by too great a communication requirement. Requirements for manning the nets and the net
priorities should take into account each ships role as well as its abilities and limitations. To allow for
required maintenance and emergent casualties, communications plans should, as a goal, task no more than
90 percent of the communications equipment in any unit. To accomplish this, it may often be necessary to
combine some circuit requirements and/or assign guard ships for some nets. Communications plans should
include instructions for smooth transitions through various EMCON conditions. UHF airborne relay
planning must also be included to permit an uninterrupted flow of essential communications without
violating RADHAZ restrictions or EMCON plans.
c. Circuit Operation. Standard operating procedures apply to each circuit. The OTC and
coordinators will act as net control station (NCS) on their respective warfare nets. Warfare commanders or
their FTCs will be NCS for their respective coordination and reporting nets. NCS duties will be transferred
from a primary commander to an alternate commander when the warfare commander role is transferred. NCS
will be responsible for maintaining proper circuit discipline and ensuring that proper security procedures are
followed. Authentication and encryption will be used as required on all uncovered circuits in accordance with
the OTCs and/or EWCs instructions. Where possible, voice circuits should be operated in a secure mode.
d. Merger of Communications Circuits in Combined TG Operations. The merger of two
independent TGs into a combined TF will require one set of warfare nets to be secured while additional
units join the remaining nets. Having a number of units switching circuits can be complicated and, if not
handled correctly, cause a considerable amount of confusion. A suggested procedure for shifting warfare
coordination responsibilities upon joinup of two major TGs might involve the following:
(1) The OTC of the force/group being joined specify 24 hours in advance the EMCON plan in effect
and tactical communications circuits currently in use.
(2) Designated OTC issue a change to the OPGEN to reflect new warfare commander and coordinator
assignments (24 hours in advance).
(3) Designated OTC change delegated responsibilities to warfare commander and coordinator, if
required, by issuing change to the OPGEN (24 hours in advance).
(4) Post-joinup, warfare commanders and coordinators issue changes to warfare commander and
coordinator OPTASKs if required (12 hours in advance).
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