[Milsurplus] Radiating receivers

[Richard Brunner]

Very doubtful.  A few years ago I researched it, corresponding with retired 
German ship RO's, and found that the Germans certainly knew about it, but concluded 
they had to be within a few miles from the ship, at which distance they could see it.
Their underwater listening gear heard ships at 20 to perhaps 50 sea miles, was 
reliable, and gave useful information.

Receiver radiation had more to do with electromagnetic compatibility.  You can't 
have receivers aboard ship listening to each others local oscillators.

Some German commanders were paranoid about this, and made their radio people shut down, 
(much to their disgust) for fear that radio equipment was betraying their position.  
At the same time the German subs carried entertainment receivers which were nothing special, 
and We didn't hear them either.  Those were interesting times...

Richard, AA1P

> One has to wonder if there really were ship losses from local oscillator
> radiation, or if that was just something to worry about and this company
> used it as a bragging point.  Under conditions of strict radio silence
> I suppose the ship commander could have forbidden use of the entertainment
> receivers if that was suspected of being a hazard.