[Milsurplus] A Visit to Battleship Cove

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Further to what Perry said specific to the USS Massachusetts, in general on 
older US Navy vesselslarger than DE's, radio transmitter assets are scattered 
around the ship.  Reasons for this vary but include where space was available, 
enhanced survivability by decentralization, and proximity to antennas.  The 
later Essex Class aircraft carriers, for example had from ten to fifteen 
different radio spaces, with from eight to twelve containing transmitters of one sort 
or another.  Except for VHF/UHF sets and HF transmitter-receivers which were 
rare prior to the 60's, the bulk of the receivers were not co-located with the 
transmitters.  USS Valley Forge (CV-45/CVS-45/LPH-8) had three spaces 
containing 500 watt HF transmitters, two of which also contained 500 watt MF 
transmitters.  Each space was 100 to 500 feet from the other.  The transmitter spaces 
also contained an LOP but except during GQ they were never manned or used 
(except by me and the one ham RM aboard).

In a message dated 10/28/2007 9:27:50 PM Central Standard Time, 
w8au at sssnet.com writes: 
> >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.
> 
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at comcast.net> (Backup email)
   
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/milsurplus/attachments/20071028/4643d18e/attachment.htm