[Milsurplus] LO radiation

[J. Forster]

Hue Miller wrote:

> I'd suggest that a U-boat running surfaced, would have two receivers
> ready, one on the fleet broadcast frequency, for late-breaking
> messages about target locations, and one on 500 kHz, for listening
> for SSS and SOS messages from enemy ships.
> There is a German book, "Feind im Fadenkreuz",  ( "Enemy in the
> Cross Hair" or "Enemy in the Target Sight" ) 1942, which has
> accounts of sinkings in the "good old days" for the U-boats.
> The U-boat at least at the point of attack was listening on 500 kHz.
> I recall one recount where the U-boat captain demanded from the
> freighter captain, in a lifeboat, why an SOS was sent, after the U-boat
> had warned not to send.  ( This was in the early days, when a sub
> (in the European theater) could still surfaced challenge a ship  and
> demand it stop. -Hue Miller

I can see why a U boat would monitor the distress frequency when it accosted a
ship, but why would it monitor 500 KHz at times when it was surfaced and
patrolling or recharging batteries? And why would it want to DF a distress call?
To attack those ships going to the aid of the stricken ship?

-John