What was the tracking party?

This was the group of sailors who helped the captain track the progress of the target. It included the personnel to log events, plot the target’s movements relative to the boat, and to man the Torpedo Data Computer or TDC. This was the device that calculates the final course for any torpedoes. However, at this early stage, the TDC was important because it provided a running estimate of the target’s location and movement. It helped the captain assess the status of his attack plan.