# US Military's huge, sea-based X-band Radar cruises around on an oil derrick platform! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894 "2013-06-01T22:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/1 "2013-06-01T22:12:44Z")
[Wow! This thing is huge!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea-based_X-band_Radar) [Another pic here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SBX_Pearl_Harbor.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/2 "2013-06-02T04:54:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Wow! This thing is huge! That’s what she said? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/3 "2013-06-02T05:58:44Z")
That is pretty cool. [These](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Sbx_050701_001.jpg) two [pictures](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/X_band_radar_platform_entering_Pearl_on_Heavy_lift_Marlin.jpg) from Wiki’s Gallery section give an even better sense of the impressive scale. Kind of funny that the ship/platform part (but not the radar gear) was built in Russia. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/4 "2013-06-02T06:00:36Z")
Question that just crossed my mind… When that thing is in operation, do all the crew have to stay in lead-lined rooms, or what?! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/5 "2013-06-02T07:20:03Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Question that just crossed my mind… > > When that thing is in operation, do all the crew have to stay in lead-lined rooms, or what?! Lead wouldn’t be what you’d use as a shield; it’s radar, not ionizing radiation. A giant microwave. I expect a shield against it would look rather like what you have in the window of your microwave oven. And this machine probably projects its radar in a beam, not omnidirectionally; so as long as they stay out of the beam they’d likely be safe. On the other hand, _if_ they foolishly stood in front of the beam they’d cook like a steak. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/6 "2013-06-02T08:33:52Z")
That’s obviously the Machine from _Contact_, in a dome so we don’t see what they’re really doing. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/7 "2013-06-02T12:05:10Z")
They say that thing is designed to be used in high seas but it sure looks like it would tip over to me. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/8 "2013-06-02T12:42:17Z")
It looks like the lair of one of the less-fashionable Bond villains. ---
**Author:** ![Noodles\_Fellicini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Noodles\_Fellicini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noodles_Fellicini)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/9 "2013-06-02T12:52:21Z")
I have a phobia of large mechanical things with mysterious volume so THANK YOU for pegging my creep meter so early this fine morning. And I’m with **voltaire** , that does not look like a cruise that would be good for your genetic health – not the big one apparently but how about all the other little radars? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/10 "2013-06-02T13:11:13Z")
Meh. If it cloud fly, then I’d be impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/11 "2013-06-02T13:29:02Z")
From the linked article: > [@](#): > > The radar has been described by Lt. Gen Trey Obering (director of MDA) as being able to track an object the size of a baseball over San Francisco in California from the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, approximately 2,900 miles (4,700 km) away. The radar will guide land-based missiles from Alaska and California, as well as in-theatre assets. I am astonished by this. A baseball at 2,900 miles away. Wow! And yes, it does look like it would tip over in a storm, but remember, it is on a oil derrick platform. There is a lot of metal under the water to stabilize it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/12 "2013-06-02T13:54:19Z")
Still, you have to admit that thing makes one hell of a target. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/13 "2013-06-02T14:01:36Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > It looks like the lair of one of the less-fashionable Bond villains. In today’s economy everybody is having to watch their budget. That thing is pretty damn impressive. I once worked shortly with a guy that almost died from getting zapped by a Navy radar. His health was never the same after that (IIRC the story he told). His coworker died. ISTR what happened was they were working somewhere on one ship when another came in and that ship’s radar wasn’t turn off (or not turned off soon enough). ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/14 "2013-06-02T14:02:09Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Still, you have to admit that thing makes one hell of a target. Oh gosh yes. However, I assume it isn’t just cruising about unattended. I know little of modern naval strategy and tactics, but you don’t usually put a nearly billion dollar radar platform out there without support. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/15 "2013-06-02T14:20:03Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Oh gosh yes. > However, I assume it isn’t just cruising about unattended. I know little of modern naval strategy and tactics, but you don’t usually put a nearly billion dollar radar platform out there without support. Yep, I’m sure it is heavily screened. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/16 "2013-06-02T14:41:20Z")
Do not rotate, radiate, or otherwise energize. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/17 "2013-06-02T15:10:37Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Do not rotate, radiate, or otherwise energize. That is all. Just curious. Is that a joke line (which I always like) or is it one of the Navy/military phrases? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/18 "2013-06-02T15:29:13Z")
We took a harbour cruise in Seattle a couple of years ago, and went by it. Yeah, pretty big structure. . ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/19 "2013-06-02T15:54:42Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Just curious. Is that a joke line (which I always like) or is it one of the Navy/military phrases? It’s a paraphrase of a standard Navy announcement. > **[1 Main Circuit | Usage examples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1MC#Usage_examples)** > > 1.General Quarters: "General Quarters, General Quarters! All hands man your battle stations. The flow of traffic is up and forward on the starboard side, down and aft on the port side. Set material condition \[place material condition here\] throughout the ship. This is \[or "is not"\] a drill." "General Quarters, General Quarters!", "Up and forward", etc., refer to the flow of foot traffic as personnel make their way to their stations; the directions given are standard on U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-militarys-huge-sea-based-x-band-radar-cruises-around-on-an-oil-derrick-platform/659894/20 "2013-06-02T16:04:43Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > It’s a paraphrase of a standard Navy announcement. Speaking of announcements, dad liked to say ‘All hands forward, lay aft. All hands aft, lay forward. All hands amidships, stand by to direct traffic!’