[Milsurplus] A Visit to Battleship Cove

[w8au at sssnet.com]

>USS Massachusetts:
>
>I saw none of the high power transmitters I
>expected (beyond a roughly 18" tall high voltage feed through insulator
>bolted to a superstructure plate) in another part of the ship.

The transmitters are located in Radio 1, which is located down below
the "armor belt" of the Battleship, the area just above the water
line that runs the length of the hull and serves as a protection from
torpedoes.  In order to get to Radio 1, you have to go thru a very thick
hatch 3 or 4 decks down from the main deck. (the hatch is about 8" or more
thick and you go down a ladder.) This area is not on the tour route,
for obvious safety reasons.

There is an LOP (local operating position) there, plus all the xmtrs.
As I recall there is a TBM (A TBK with a companion plate modulator),
a TDE, one or two TBKs, etc. (Been awhile!)

The xmtrs are patched to Radio Central LOPs 1 thru 10 as needed.

The next time you visit, ask for Curator Chris Nardi, (licensed amateur)
and he will no doubt take you there if he has time.  He is very proud
of Big Mamie and it's totally intact operational spaces.  He does not
permit modern ham gear to be used aboard.  It is a truly vicarious
1940s era experience to operate from there. (N1EPL/NEPL)

Rob, K2WI, a subscriber to this list, has had N1EPL on the air a few
times this year.  He could give a more accurate description.

73,
Perry   w8au