[Elecraft] Fw: Visual CW

[N2EY@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/23/03 10:57:35 AM Eastern Standard Time, wa2dkg@juno.com 
writes:

> As I remember the story, it was submitted to the publication by someone
>  who claimed to be there when it happened...I am going to continue to
>  research my "library" to see if I can find it...I thought maybe there
>  would be someone else on the reflector who also read it and could fill in
>  the blanks...

The story appeared in the April, 1998 issue of "Worldradio" magazine (top of 
page 11). I do not vouch for its accuracy, but here's the main items from the 
story.

On the night of October 14, 1996, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt 
and the cruiser USS Leyte Gulf were engaged in drills and tests off the 
Atlantic coast. 

Roosevelt was testing its Challenge Athena communications system, which was 
receiving interference from the ship's radar. At the same time, Roosevelt was 
testing propulsion systems and electrical power systems. Some of the 
electrcial power tests involved cutting power to the communications systems, 
and some of the propulsion tests involved running the engines full astern.

Leyte Gulf was trailing Roosevelt by about 4000 yards and had not been 
informed of the Roosevelts's tests. Because of the communications troubles, 
messages were being passed by blinker light. It took 25 minutes to pass one 
message from the bridge of one ship to the other. 

At 2:44 AM the Roosevelt went to "Emergency Back Full" on its engines, and 
was soon going astern at 17 knots. At 2:49 AM a signalman on Roosevelt 
started to send a message advising Leyte Gulf a message that said "My engines 
are astern". Leyte Gulf had not been told of the manuever and the OOD was 
confused by the movement. After recognizing the danger, Leyte Gulf also went 
to "Emergency Back Full", but too late to avoid a collision at 2:52 AM. $10 
million in damage to the ships. Fortunately no deaths or serious injuries. 

Board of Inquiry stated that 25 minutes to deliver one message was 
unsatisfactory.

Story is credited to "Jack R. Main, W4YCZ, and various sources".

Should not be too difficult to check out. 

73 de Jim, N2EY