USCG Exam PracticeVisual piloting — three-bearing fixes, danger bearings
You are piloting in restricted visibility and switch your radar to the 0.5-nautical-mile range scale. According to Bowditch, what is the PRIMARY navigational advantage of using this short range scale compared to the 6-nautical-mile scale?
- A. It provides the best detection range for making landfall on a distant headland
- ✓ It gives the best discrimination for collision avoidance in close-quarters situationsCorrect
- C. It eliminates sea clutter returns that would otherwise mask targets at long range
- D. It allows the navigator to advance LOPs more accurately along the DR track
Why B is correct
Bowditch Ch. 13 §1302 states that short radar range scales give the best discrimination for collision avoidance, while long range scales give the best landfall detection. At 0.5 NM, target separation and bearing resolution are maximized for close-quarters work.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 13 §1302