The invention relates to a method for identifying changes of course and/or speed for a destination using a multiplicity of measured bearing angles (22) which are ascertained by virtue of the directionally selective reception of sound waves emitted from the destination using an arrangement of water borne sound pickups (86) in a sonar receiving installation. To this end, a first bearing profile (40) is calculated from a predetermined number k of most recently ascertained bearing angles, and a second bearing profile (42) is calculated from a predetermined number i of earlier bearing angles ascertained before the k bearing angles. An expected bearing angle (56, 58) for each of the two bearing profiles (40, 42) is calculated at a current time (54) and is used to form a bearing angle difference |
d |. This bearing angle difference |
d | can be compared with a plurality of threshold values C1, C2, wherein an intersection point (72) for the bearing profiles (40, 42) and an associated target manoeuvre time (74) are ascertained when one of the threshold values C1, C2 is reached and are output together with an information signal (75) relating to the identification of the target manoeuvre. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out such a method.