[Milsurplus] VLF/ELF submarine comms

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

I remember attending a Dallas Hamfest somewhere
between 1963 and 1966 (when I was stationed at
Carswell AFB, TX as a B-52F EWO) where one program
was put on by Continental Electronics (IIRC) on the
installation of a huge VLF transmitter installed on the
coast of Maine.  Feedline was HUGE solid copper PIPE
"shield" with center conductor of copper pipe close to
a foot in diameter.  Before the center conductor was
installed, a man could walk through the "shield!"
 
The station used TWO antennas (one at a time) and
had a ground system that ran out into the ocean for
several hundred feet!  If an antenna iced up, they
would simply apply AC power in great quantities to
melt the ice.  I'm sure glad I was not solely responsible
for paying the electric bill for the station!
 
73 - Mac, K2GKK/5
Oklahoma City, OK
 
> Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:54:48 -0400> From: kk5f at earthlink.net> To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> Subject: RE: [Milsurplus] VLF/ELF submarine comms> > Ralph asked:> > >What about TACAMO? <snip> ...it was a form of RTTY. > > Mac replied:> > >TACAMO is current stuff, not WW II.> > To which I'll add: The airborne backup VLF communications hubs> known as TACAMO that are capable of contacting the ballistic missile> submarine forces have been in service since the early 1960s. As Mac> says, TACAMO has no relationship with any earlier era of submarine> operations. WWII-era submarines and RATT was being discussed in the> earlier postings.> > Mike / KK5F> ______________________________________________________________> Milsurplus mailing list> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
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