An experimental apparatus has been developed as part of a continuing program of deep‐sea acoustic‐scattering research. It consists of a computer‐based shipboard console and a cable‐suspended package which contains the acoustic sources and receivers. The computer provides for preprocessing, recording, and display of the data, and for control of the experimental sequence. The sensor package operates at depths to 1600 m, acquiring scattering data for eight frequencies from 4 to 25 kHz.