U.S. Navy-sponsored ice camps, with die installation of an acoustic tracking range, provide submarines the opportunity to conduct research and development with precise tracking information. Torpedo and sonar testing, dual ship operations and, almost always, one or more VIP trips are the types of events that frequently occur. It's part of the reason that the job of ice pilot exists, because the maneuver requires the coordination of several critical actions, precise ship handling and exquisite timing in a framework of dynamic movement of both ship and ice. The simplest form of surfaceable feature is open water-a fairly frequent occurrence, especially in the summer when wind and weather force the ice to separate. Remember that wind is what moves the ice.
Open water is usually a second choice.
Preferable is a polynya that has had a couple of days to freeze over to a thickness of 12 to 18 inches. Once a surfaceable feature has been detected, the submarine most map it out by rowers-ing the ams, from different points. In preparation for surfacing, the submarine rises to a more shallow, depth, about 200 feet, and makes other preparations to surface, such as placing the fairwater planes in the vertical position. The final approach is made at about one knot in order to stop the ship without overrunning the feature-now things get tricky. Once the periscope is down and he's satisfied that everything is ready, the CO orders the conning officer to vertically surface the ship.