Abstract: An improved ship which incorporates a distortion sensor arrangement. Measurement data supplied by the distortion sensor arrangement is preferably used to correct measurement data supplied by and/or control signals for an on-board directional apparatus. The distortion sensor arrangement preferably includes a hull-mounted laser beam/light sensor combination, and such that the light sensor continuously measures a deflection of the laser beam in response to a distortion of the ship.

Abstract: A method of operating a fire-control system for simultaneously engaging a plurality of threats in which one plan from a pool of heuristically determined feasible plans is selected based on an environment of the fire-control system and a selected criterion to engage the plurality of threats. In addition, a genetic algorithm is applied to the pool of feasible plans prior to selecting the one plans to generate additional plan to replenish the pool, and a best feasible plan is selected from the pool with the criterion serving as the standard. Further, at least one randomly selected feasible plan is added to the pool of feasible plans before the genetic algorithm is applied to the pool of feasible plans.