AN/WSN-5 SINS
Ships north, east, and vertical velocity
components
The AN/WSN-5 is a stand-alone set that replaces
the MK 19 MOD 3 gyrocompass in the following
class ships: CG 16, CG 26, CGN 9, CGN 25, CGN
35, CGN 36, CGN 38 (except for CGN 41), DDG 37,
DD 963, and LHA 1. It also replaces the AN/WSN-2
stabilized gyrocompass set in DDG 993, DD 997, and
CGN 41 class ships.
Functional Description
The AN/WSN-5 has the same output capabilities
as the AN/WSN-2.
It uses an accelerometer-
controlled, three axis, gyro-stabilized platform to
provide precise output of ships heading, roll, and
pitch data in analog, dual-speed synchro format to
support ships navigation and fire control systems.
Ships heading and attitude data are continually and
automatically derived while the equipment senses and
processes physical and electrical inputs of sensed
motion (inertial), gravity, earths rotation, and ships
speed. The equipment has an uninterruptible backup
power supply for use during power losses, and built-
in test equipment (BITE) to provide fault isolation to
the module/assembly level.
Characteristics
In addition to the common functions described
above, the AN/WSN-5 adds an increased level of
performance to serve as an inertial navigator and
provides additional analog and digital outputs.
Additional data provided includes position, velocity,
attitude, attitude rates, and time data in both serial and
parallel digital formats, providing a variety of
interfaces. The AN/WSN-5 commonly exists in a
dual-system configuration on surface combatants.
Some examples of AN/WSN-5 digital data outputs
are:
1. Two Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS)
serial channels transmitting:
Ships heading, roll, and pitch
Ships heading rate, roll rate, and pitch rate
Ships latitude, longitude, and GMT
2. Two MIL-STD-1397 NTDS type D high-level
channels to an external computer
3. One MIL-STD-1397 NTDS type A slow, 16-
bit, parallel input/output channel to a Navigation
Satellite (NAVSAT) receiver AN/WRN-5A, Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver AN/WRN-6, or
I/O console.
4. One serial AN/WSN-5 to AN/WSN-5 digital
link that provides alignment data, Navigation Satellite
(NAVSAT) fix data, calibration constant data, and
other navigation data to the remote AN/WSN-5.
5, An additional variety of input/output NTDS
channels, depending on which field changes are
installed.
SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
Scientists realized that navigation based on
satellite signals was possible after listening to the
beep generated by Russias first artificial satellite,
Sputnik I. They noticed a shift in the received radio
frequency signals as the satellite passed by. This
shift, known as the Doppler effect, is an apparent
change in a received frequency caused by relative
motion between a transmitter and a receiver. As the
distance between the transmitter and the receiver
decreases, the received frequency appears to increase.
As the distance increases, the received frequency
appears to decrease.
With this discovery, scientists were able to show
that by accurately measuring a satellites Doppler shift
pattern, they could determine the satellites orbit.
They then determined that by using a known satellites
orbit, a listener could determine his own position on
the earths surface by observing the satellites Doppler
pattern.
Following the first successful satellite launch in
April 1960, the U.S. Navy Navigation Satellite
1-5