Hanger Deck Computer Room

The computer room housed the combat data system, which was responsible for automating tactical operations and integrating sensor data in real time. The computer in this room processed real-time tactical data from radars, sonar, and other sensors. It was also used for tracking and identifying targets (air, surface, subsurface).

The CP-642B computer in the photo was initially deployed in the 1960s. It was a general-purpose, stored-program machine capable of rapidly processing complex data. It is designed for compatibility with the AN/USQ-20 data set of the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS). Features of the computer include the following:

• 30-bit word length;

• Internal high-speed storage with a cycle time of 4µs and a capacity of 32,672 words;

• Control storage employing magnetic, thin film memory with a cycle time of 0.667 µs and a capacity of 64 words;

• Repertoire of 62 instructions, most of which provide for conditional program branches;

• Programmed checking of data parity;

• Parallel, one's complement, subtractive arithmetic;

• Single address instructions with provisions for address modifications via seven index registers;

• Internal seven-day, real-time clock for initiating operations at desired times;

In the middle of the rack, memory components are displayed along with comparisons to more modern memory technology.