What is the typical first leg direction for an SS search?

What is the typical first leg direction for an SS search?

• A. The first leg is in the direction of the object's drift
• B. The first leg is opposite the object's drift
• C. The first leg is perpendicular to the object's drift
• D. The first leg follows the boundary of the search area

Answer: (A)

In SS surface search, the object you’re looking for drifts with the wind and water, so your plan starts by laying out the first leg along that drift direction. Moving with the predicted drift places you on the path the object is most likely to have taken since the last fix, which helps you detect it sooner and sets up effective coverage for the rest of the pattern. Heading opposite the drift would push you away from the probable path, and a leg perpendicular to the drift would miss the primary corridor the object follows. After establishing the initial leg along the drift, you then adjust with subsequent legs to sweep across the drift corridor and broaden your search area.

In SS surface search, the object you’re looking for drifts with the wind and water, so your plan starts by laying out the first leg along that drift direction. Moving with the predicted drift places you on the path the object is most likely to have taken since the last fix, which helps you detect it sooner and sets up effective coverage for the rest of the pattern. Heading opposite the drift would push you away from the probable path, and a leg perpendicular to the drift would miss the primary corridor the object follows. After establishing the initial leg along the drift, you then adjust with subsequent legs to sweep across the drift corridor and broaden your search area.