JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

again, unless it is determined further effort is unlikely to be
successful and search efforts should be suspended.
541 Allocating Effort
A. The assignment of SRUs to achieve maximum search effectiveness
can be controlled by varying the rate of search effort. Some situations
call for an initial maximum search effort over wide areas. However, a
maximum search effort cannot be mounted every time an overdue is first
reported, nor can the SMC continue with a lesser effort when preliminary
searches fail. The SMC carefully weighs the limitations of time,
terrain, weather, navigational aids, search target detectability,
suitability of available SRUs, search area size, distance between search
area and SRU staging bases, and desired POD. Of all the factors
involved, one or more may prove so important that the others become
secondary. These controlling factors are considered first in preparing
an attainable search plan.
B. When a distress is either known or strongly suspected, the time
available for effective search will usually be limited, and a maximum
effort search should be completed within this time. It is usually
preferable to search an area with many SRUs from the onset when chances
for success are highest. First search should be planned to locate
survivors rapidly while they are still in a condition to use radio,
visual, or other signaling aids, and battery transmission life of
locator beacons is good. The following procedure has proven successful:
1. Plot an area large enough to reasonably ensure that the
survivors are included.
2. Use track spacing equal to sweep width (C = 1.0).
3. Fix the time by which the search should be completed.
4. Calculate SRU hours required to search the area within the
allocated time.
5. Dispatch sufficient SRUs to search the area within the
allocated time.
6. If unsuccessful, use the repeated expansion concept and search
again.
7. Do not reorient the search or change SRU search assignments,
if avoidable, after the search plan has been transmitted to
the SRUs. Once a large-scale search is ordered and SRUs
dispatched, reorientation of the search area for that search
may be difficult and wasteful. Planning should be thorough
and adhered to.
8. Resist the temptation to redeploy SRUs whenever new leads or
doubtful sightings are reported. After assigned SRUs have
been dispatched, additional SRUs should be dispatched to
investigate new leads.