Gunnery procedures ARE tightly controlled. A firing order is produced by the Principle Warfare Officer (A) of the FF/DD, briefed to the entire team and authorised by the CO. Neither NOTAMs or NTMs are required, but SOP dictates that safety broadcasts will be made on 1202 VHF comms to other shipping (not airmen). High and Low altitude airways are transposed from relevant charts onto the best scale Trans Merc chart of the exercise area (this can be anywhere on the high seas). Command Blind and Visual Safety Officers are employed along with the Weapon Director (Visual). Oil rigs are charted and updated by weekly NTM, subs know where we are as we promulgate the firing to other military units in the Weekly Practice Programme. Other ships and aircraft are not at risk as our sensor coverage is far greater than the safety trace of the ordnance being fired (but not talking about missiles here!). Hoist Flag Bravo and wait for the earshattering boom and smell of cordite, smells like victory!!