[CW] Navy Radio

[Radio K0HB via CW]

Here is a quote from a recent ARRL Letter, talking about radios on the museum ship USS Iowa.  My comment follows the quote.


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The AN/URT-23(C) transmitters, he joked, are "built like a battleship," with a pair of 4CX1500Bs in the final and nominally capable of putting out a couple of kilowatts. He noted that once the Gray Radio Gang has confirmed the signal paths for the various shipboard transmitters and receivers, it will be able to put a transmitter/receiver pair in operation for certain special events. "At this time it's unlikely that we will use the original radio equipment for 'routine' Amateur Radio operations, as it's very manpower intensive, requiring at least six people to operate," Jerzycke explained.


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I am certain this fellow (Jerzycke) must have been misquoted.


"Manpower intensive"???? "Six people"????  SIX????  To operate a single transmitter/receiver pair????


 My greenest RMSN could tune up a URT-23 in a minute or two from a cold start!  It's an auto-tune rig, basically only requiring the operator to select the frequency and mode.  The companion reciever (R-1051) is similarly uncomplicated to operate.


Navy ships, like a destroyer, had several of these transmitters, a selection of several other models, plus assorted cryptos, teletype, satellite rigs, and internal messaging equipment and processes.  A typical watch section on duty, responsible for ALL that equipment and ongoing circuit operations usually consisted of 5 or less Radiomen.  If we'd needed 6 men per-pair per-watch-section our entire Radio Gang would have needed a tow-behind barracks barge to carry them all the RM's!


73,de Hans K0HB
Master Chief Radioman, US Navy
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