TACAN

George Ruch wrote:


Other advantages:
Range: TACAN DME has a maximum range of 300 NM miles. VOR
reception range is limited to 25 - 130 NM, depending on the
site's transmitter power.

But, civil aircraft use the TACAN's DME, so they should see the same
range for DME, shouldn't they

Bearing accuracy: TACAN can provide bearing resolution of +- 1
degree. Typical VOR bearing accuracy is +- 2 degrees.

A bearing error of 1 degree at 100 miles isn't likely to be
critical on land, but that same error at sea can mean the
difference between finding your carrier and a very long swim
home.

Help me with that one. The TACAN ground station is on the ship, right?

If so, angular errors diminish as you approach the station and you
should end up at the ship, whether you started at 150 miles out with a 1
or 2 degree error.