Fire Controlman
Encyclopedia
Fire Controlman is a United States Navy
occupational rating
.
Fire Controlmen (FC) provide system employment recommendations; perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on digital computer equipment, subsystems, and systems; operate and maintain combat and weapons direction systems, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile systems, and gun fire control systems at the organizational and intermediate level; inspect, test, align, and repair micro/minicomputers and associated peripheral equipment, data conversion units, data display equipment, data link terminal equipment, print devices, and system related equipment; make analysis for detailed systems, computer programs, electronics, and electronic casualty control; and operate associated built-in and external test equipment; load, initialize, and run preprogrammed diagnostic, performance and testing routines for digital computer equipment, digital subsystems, digital systems, and overall combat systems.
FCs attend ATT (Apprentice Technical Training) and "A"-School at Naval Station Great Lakes
; this course is roughly eight months long followed then by a "C"-school, based on one of the systems described below, which varies in length from 4 months to 8 months.
FCs typically operate weapon systems on-board surface combatant ships. They are trained in the repair, maintenance, operation and employment of weapons such as the Tomahawk Missile System, the Close-In Weapons System, the 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun weapon system and its associated MK86 or MK160 Gun Fire Control System, the MK92
Gun Fire Control System (on Frigates) the Sea Sparrow missile system, and the Harpoon
Missile Systems. These include their associated computer and sensor packages. Their job is somewhat unique in that they are trained to troubleshoot and repair their systems, as well as operate them. These responsibilities are typically split up between different ratings for various types of electronic equipment.
In essence, they "pull the trigger", to defend the ship from tactical threats, or to make an offensive strike against a hostile target.
Another area of responsibility for FCs is the Aegis weapon system, which includes one of the most powerful air-search radars, deployed at sea, in the world, the SPY-1, as well the MK99 Fire Control System, used for terminal guidance of Standard Missiles, and the Aegis Computer Suite.
The Fire Controlman Rating was later renamed "Fire Control Technician" (FT), with specific sub-designators for Gunnery (FTG), Missiles (FTM) and Submarines (FTS).
In 1985 the name of this Navy rating has changed back to Fire Controlman (FC). This allowed for the separation of the submarine rate FT from Surface rate FT to FC. FC was the original name of the rate through WWII when optic devices called Theodolite
s were used. After WWII, when the duties changed to more technical things like radar and computers, the name was changed to Fire Control Technician (FT). The FT name is now used exclusively for Fire Control personnel on Submarines. The rating insignia is an optical rangefinder
(Theodolite
) (on a tripod), with two lightning bolts (called "sparks") signifying the technical side. Until 1985 it had always been just the rangefinder without the lightning bolts.
FCs maintain the control systems used in aiming and firing weapons on all equipped ships. Complex computers, electronics, electrical, and hydraulic equipment is required to ensure the accuracy of guided missile and surface gunfire control systems. FCs are responsible for the operation, routine care, and repair of this equipment, which includes radars, computers, weapons-direction equipment, target-designation systems, gyroscopes, and rangefinders.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
occupational rating
Naval rating
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...
.
Fire Controlmen (FC) provide system employment recommendations; perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on digital computer equipment, subsystems, and systems; operate and maintain combat and weapons direction systems, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile systems, and gun fire control systems at the organizational and intermediate level; inspect, test, align, and repair micro/minicomputers and associated peripheral equipment, data conversion units, data display equipment, data link terminal equipment, print devices, and system related equipment; make analysis for detailed systems, computer programs, electronics, and electronic casualty control; and operate associated built-in and external test equipment; load, initialize, and run preprogrammed diagnostic, performance and testing routines for digital computer equipment, digital subsystems, digital systems, and overall combat systems.
FCs attend ATT (Apprentice Technical Training) and "A"-School at Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Station Great Lakes is the home of the United States Navy's only boot camp, located near the city of North Chicago, Illinois, in Lake County. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Command, Training Support Center and Navy Recruiting District Chicago...
; this course is roughly eight months long followed then by a "C"-school, based on one of the systems described below, which varies in length from 4 months to 8 months.
FCs typically operate weapon systems on-board surface combatant ships. They are trained in the repair, maintenance, operation and employment of weapons such as the Tomahawk Missile System, the Close-In Weapons System, the 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun weapon system and its associated MK86 or MK160 Gun Fire Control System, the MK92
Mk 92 Guided Missile Fire Control System
The Mk 92 Fire Control System is a US-built medium-range anti-aircraft missile and gun fire control system. It was developed for the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates. The system is a licensed USN version of the Thales Nederland WM-25 fire control system. The Mark 92 fire control...
Gun Fire Control System (on Frigates) the Sea Sparrow missile system, and the Harpoon
Harpoon
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument used in fishing to catch fish or large marine mammals such as whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal, allowing the fishermen to use a rope or chain attached to the butt of the projectile to catch the animal...
Missile Systems. These include their associated computer and sensor packages. Their job is somewhat unique in that they are trained to troubleshoot and repair their systems, as well as operate them. These responsibilities are typically split up between different ratings for various types of electronic equipment.
In essence, they "pull the trigger", to defend the ship from tactical threats, or to make an offensive strike against a hostile target.
Another area of responsibility for FCs is the Aegis weapon system, which includes one of the most powerful air-search radars, deployed at sea, in the world, the SPY-1, as well the MK99 Fire Control System, used for terminal guidance of Standard Missiles, and the Aegis Computer Suite.
The Origin
The rating was established in 1941. It was split off of the Gunners Mate rating. Fire Controlman were highly skilled Sailors responsible for the operation of various forms of range finding gear, and solving ballistic calculations to control the firing of the ship's guns. These skills were originally employed primarily for Naval Gunfire Support, and surface combat, but today Fire Controlman also play an extensive role in Air Warfare as well.The Fire Controlman Rating was later renamed "Fire Control Technician" (FT), with specific sub-designators for Gunnery (FTG), Missiles (FTM) and Submarines (FTS).
In 1985 the name of this Navy rating has changed back to Fire Controlman (FC). This allowed for the separation of the submarine rate FT from Surface rate FT to FC. FC was the original name of the rate through WWII when optic devices called Theodolite
Theodolite
A theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Theodolites are mainly used for surveying applications, and have been adapted for specialized purposes in fields like metrology and rocket launch technology...
s were used. After WWII, when the duties changed to more technical things like radar and computers, the name was changed to Fire Control Technician (FT). The FT name is now used exclusively for Fire Control personnel on Submarines. The rating insignia is an optical rangefinder
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
(Theodolite
Theodolite
A theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Theodolites are mainly used for surveying applications, and have been adapted for specialized purposes in fields like metrology and rocket launch technology...
) (on a tripod), with two lightning bolts (called "sparks") signifying the technical side. Until 1985 it had always been just the rangefinder without the lightning bolts.
FCs maintain the control systems used in aiming and firing weapons on all equipped ships. Complex computers, electronics, electrical, and hydraulic equipment is required to ensure the accuracy of guided missile and surface gunfire control systems. FCs are responsible for the operation, routine care, and repair of this equipment, which includes radars, computers, weapons-direction equipment, target-designation systems, gyroscopes, and rangefinders.