An Cosantóir

38 | book Radar and AIS for Watchkeeping Officers Author Daire Brunicardi is pictured at the NMCI, in Ringaskiddy Cork. Author: Lt Cdr Daire Brunicardi (Retd), BSc (Hons), Master Mariner Publisher: Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd (December, 2012) Pages: 440 Hardback ISBN: 978-1849270274 Price: €58.69 Few developments in the maritime sphere have been as ground-breaking as the development of radar and AIS (automatic identification system) since WWII. Their introduction has fundamentally altered how navigation is conducted, and it would be unthinkable nowadays to go to sea without either. Drawing on his wealth of experience, firstly in the Naval Service and later at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Daire Brunicardi has produced a book that should be considered essential reading for anyone considering, or in the early stages of a career at sea as a ship's watchkeeping officer. The information is presented in an easily understood manner, and illustrations allow an appreciation of what to expect when operating at sea. It covers basic radar principles at length, which gives a very firm grounding in radar operations. It expands on the various sections that comprise a modern radar system at sea, from the transmitter and scanner to the receiver and display. The author discusses the various techniques that are applied when navigating a vessel using radar, with reference to collision avoidance and target tracking. Though visual pilotage remains the primary means of navigation in coastal waters, especially with the Naval Service, in cases where this is not possible, in restricted visibility at night, etc., radar comes into its own. The use of parallel indexing and concentric indexing techniques are covered in depth, with almost 50 radar plotting exercises that allow the mariner to hone his, or her, skills. Modern developments that are having far-reaching effects on radar navigation are not ignored either. The integration of radar with electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) and AIS has had a dramatic effect on the amount of information that is presented to the modern deck officer. The author remains positive with regard to these developments though cautions against over-reliance on these new systems to the detriment of the more traditional radar navigational skills. This is an informative read that should be carried by all watchkeepers, regardless of rank, such is its comprehensiveness and attention to detail on a subject that is instrumental to the trade that we ply. Review by S/Lt Niall McCarthy, BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), MA (Hons) book Irish Aviators of World War I: Volume 1, Irish Aces Author: Joe Gleeson Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April, 2013) Pages: 472 ISBN: 978-1480082328 Price: €16.90 This book, containing brief biographies of 37 Irish aviation aces (an 'ace' is a pilot or other crew member who has destroyed five or more enemy aircraft) of the Great War, is a work of serious scholarship compiled by Joe Gleeson. Each chapter heading details the birth and death dates of the subject aviator, awards attained, and religious affiliation. A further part of the book carries similar biographies on 'unconfirmed' Irish aces, that is, those successful aerial combatants who were not shown to have attained five aerial victories. Particularly of interest to those of a military bent is the tracing of the progress of each ace through his regular unit, as most would have transferred to the RFC from the army. For the rest, the human interest stories and anecdotes that permeate almost every page are of endless fascination. Review by Martin Wade An Cosantóir September 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie Anyone who has a passing interest in the Great War will probably know of Edward "Mick" Mannock, arguably the greatest RAF pilot of all time, and perhaps Oscar Heron and James Fitzmaurice, pioneering officers of the Free State Air Service, the forerunner of Irish Air Corps of the present day. These are just a small selection of the many interesting characters that populate the pages of Joe Gleeson's excellent book. After finishing this book I am looking forward to reading Volume 2 (the Irish contribution to the Royal Naval Air Service) and Volume 3 (the RFC and the RAF). Dublin-born Joe Gleeson holds BA degrees in History & Politics and Political History & Political Theory. He took a career break from the Civil Service to research this book, a labour of love assiduously undertaken, as evidenced by the list of sources acknowledged in the preface.

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