What is the primary role of radar on ships?

• A. To measure fuel efficiency.
• B. To detect, track, and classify surface and air targets and provide early warning.
• C. To determine water depth.
• D. To navigate using charts only.

Answer: (B)

Radar on ships serves as the main sensor for sensing the surrounding environment. It sends radio waves and reads the echoes to determine how far away objects are and in what direction they lie. This lets the crew see other ships, land, aircraft, weather patterns, and floating hazards even in fog, rain, or darkness. By tracking targets over time, radar can estimate speed and course and help identify what the object might be, which provides early warning for collision avoidance or potential threats. In short, radar delivers real-time situational awareness by detecting, tracking, and classifying surface and air targets and warning the crew to take action.

Other options don’t fit because measuring fuel efficiency isn’t what radar does, depth is typically determined by sonar or depth sounders, and navigating using charts alone ignores the critical real-time sensing radar provides for safe navigation and threat detection.