[ARC5] Living Memory Project: WWII Merchant Marine Signals

[Roy Morgan]

On May 11, 2014, at 11:19 AM, David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> Living Memory Project: WWII Merchant Marine Signals
> 
> I have two original log books detailing signals used during a year of WWII North Atlantic convoy duty….
> While many of the entries are decipherable, many more-
> especially most Flag Hoists- are obscure.
> I've been thinking of transcribing these texts in the hope
> that there may yet be WWII Merchant signalmen, who would now be in their 80s and 90s, who might be able to shed light on the obscure passages.

Dave,
copy to Dick Dillman,

The more recent publication that details/ed all of this sort of thing (1960’s) is/was called ATP-1 - Allied Tactical Publication Number 1.  As I dimly remember, it had flag, lights, and tactical signal codes, among other things.

For example, a flag set hoisted on the carrier:  BC-090  would be called Bravo Corpen Tack 090, or Base Course 090 degrees.  When all ships had acknowledged, (which was very promptly, of course)  they’d all steer to that new course after the carrier’s flag set was hauled down, the signal for "execute command".

I’m quite sure the above is not a security leak, though the whole book was modestly classified. In security school we were told about one  junior operations officer who discovered that a copy was missing.  He apparently took another copy ashore at the next WestPac port of call and found a “talented printer” and got a convincing copy made, complete with correct serial number and authentic looking custody/inventory signatures.  *Much* later, the missing copy was discovered having fallen behind a steel desk in the operations office.  We heard that the fellow was “relocated” to Kansas.  The Fort Leavenworth military prison, that is.

As to the log books with WW-II signals in it, I suggest that an email to the Crypto Museum near DC might well bring some information, or even an offer to decode the likely long-abandoned codes.  First, perhaps, an Internet search for "WW-II merchant marine signaling codes” might bring results.  

Also, an email to Dick Dillman at the KSM coast stations in CA with more information may well bring some valuable ideas. I can imagine that many of the signals in those log books went through the facilities he and others have so painstakingly restored and once again operate:

Maritime Radio Historical Society
www.radiomarine.org/‎
ddillman at igc.org

=================================
Richard Dillman, WPE2VT
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
=================================

Roy


Roy Morgan
RoyMorgan at alum.mit.edu
K1LKY Since 1958