Tom Clancy News

Northrop Grumman Corporation, a co-builder of the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke Aegis destroyers, has committed $175,000 over five years to sponsor the U.S. Naval Institute's Arleigh Burke Essay Contest. The announcement commemorates Adm. Burke's 100th birthday on October 19. The Naval Institute's most prestigious essay contest is open to all; for details, visit www.navalinstitute.org. The top three essayists receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, accompanied by gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. The top-prize winner also receives a life membership in the Naval Institute. The three winning essays will be published in the May 2002 issue of Proceedings. Essays must be postmarked on or before December 1, 2001.

The Navy rejected safety experts' recommendations that U.S. submarines be required to use "active" sonar before surfacing to avoid collisions like the one that sank a Japanese trawler off Hawaii. Active sonar sends out ping-like signals that bounce off objects and detects their range. Passive sonar uses a device called a hydrophone to amplify noises in a broader area. Contrary to a 1990 National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, commanding officers have complete discretion to decide which system to use under the circumstances, the Navy said. "We don't have a requirement to use active sonar," said Lt. Cmdr. Cate Mueller, a Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon.