Shallow Water Object Detection, Classification, and Localization via Phase-Measured, Bathymetry-Mode Backscatter
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1. It is the principle of classification system what readers are interested in. Unfortunately，it is not introduced indetail about how the detection and classification system worked. It is very important to explain what features are extracted and how the classification decisions are made.
2. What does the lines and dots mean in Figure 5,Figure 6 and Figure 7? A detailed explain is needed.
3.What does the D10, D50 and D90 mean in Table 1,Table 5, and Table 11? A detailed explain is needed.
4. It can be seen that the ratio of correct classification is quite low, especially for the 105mm, 81mm and 60mm UXO. Does this mean that the proposed method is ineffective？
Author Response
Hello and thank you for your patience while we made revisions to this manuscript! Please see the attached documents for the revised manuscript as well as itemized revisions for both reviewers.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
1. I suggest adding a short information about how does the PMSS works. This may go into section 2.1.
2. There is a kind of imbalance between a detailed discussion of some auxiliary tools and rather sparse description of the main instrument, the phase-measuring side-scan sonar.
3. Please give more details on how the experimental results are tested with the link functions. Equations (1) and (2) are very general. The reader need more information on how to set the coefficients in these equations.
3+. In addition to that: equations are not expected to have titles or captions. Please refer to the journal style guide on how to format equations.
Sorry that I have listed only problems of this manuscripts, skipping the positive thing about this. The positive things do exists, and I am going to mention then in the next review. Hope I will have a chance to to that since I am pressing the ‘Major revision’ button this time.
Additional information:
The authors test the probability of detection and recognition of small-size objects on the sea floor in shallow water by the phase-measuring sonar. The focus is made on items that look like UXOs.
The topic is original or relevant in the field and it address a specific gap in the field. There are still many unexploded ordinances lost in the water and this causes danger for civilians! The authors investigate the performance of a relatively new tool – the above mentioned phase-measuring sonar.
As for what does it add to the subject area compared with other published material, I will be able to correctly comment this, after the authors answer my question, stated in the review. And as far as I can see now, the other reviewer has requested extra information regarding this issue too.
Besides, lots of tables are provided in this paper. The values in the tables should be checked again to avoid mistakes. Some more figures can be optionally added to illustrate what is given in the tables.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Hello and thank you for your patience while we made revisions to this manuscript! Please see the attached documents for the revised manuscript as well as itemized revisions for both reviewers.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
All problems, noted by the reviewer, were addressed by the authors. I wish they have take more efforts in explaining physical processes. However the present style of writing is good too, and I am quite sure that readers will get the idea. Since paper is rather long in present form, no additions are required. So it may be published in the present form.
