[Retain Mike]

This article reminds me of how much the bridge of a ship has changed. A shipmate in our ship’s association has piloted the museum ship LST-325 on its Mississippi trips. He notes the wheel and engine order telegraph are still in place on the bridge, but the ship is actually controlled by a joystick from the deck above. I like to remind him that his rating of Signalman has gone the way of Airship Rigger and Coal Heaver.

During Operation Lam Son 719, I was onboard an LST as part of an amphibious ready group traveling up and down the NVA coast making amphibious assault demonstrations to distract some of their forces. We would shut down all electronics periodically to puzzle the enemy and to provide those standing watch with some fun. As Officer of the Deck, I would then have to rely on signal flags, speed lights, pelorus bearings, paper maneuvering board solutions, and stadimeter readings to stay on station.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

How many today have the needed skills to revert to such manual navigation?

“...the CSO could limit any possible damage by quickly shutting down the part of the system that looks like it might be under attack.”

That sounds ridiculous to this layman. You can’t shut down the Fire Control System or the Phalanx defensive system.

[LouieFisk]

What could possibly go wrong?

[MV=PY]

This is a great application for AI!

[Svartalfiar]

This isn’t AI.. It’s just data filtering and analysis..