[MRCA] Operation Able Archer 83 after action report

[Walt Skavinsky]

Hello all,



Well here is the operation Able Archer 83 after Action Report in case
anyone is interested. This year we tried out a new location. It was W25 a
retired Nike missile site located in Davidsonville Maryland. The site is
currently the home of the Anne Arundel amatuer radio club. The club was
kind enough to allow us to use their facilities the host Able Archer. This
was a very unique event because of the site. Number one it's the first time
we operated from a real cold war location. Although w25 was not operational
as a Nike Site during 1983. It still was government property and housing
for the Army. We operated out of the radar Control building next to it was
the generator building and behind it was the mechanics building.  This
entire complex was converted by the county and is now home to many
different County activities. The Anne Arundel amatuer radio club has about
150 members and a very nice Tower array. Behind the building or two large
Open Fields and that is where we set up antennas.



Ray fantini was the one who approached the Anne Arundel amatuer radio club
and was able to get the permission needed.  Ray's contact at AARC was
Richard Grace  KB3ZYO is the president currently. Richard joined us along
with St John Thomas Browning, it's a big name for a big dog.  Browning is a
very nice Saint Bernard.  He kept an eye on us while we made our contacts.



We set up operations inside after a VEC session was completed and in the
early afternoon I had a run of contacts on 40 meters using an R F 350
supplied by Ray. The r f 350 went into a clansman dipole Junction on an
antenna built by Don. The antenna radio combination work quite well until
late evening when propagation was completely gone on 40. Rich enlisted the
help of additional Club member who was able to locate some more antenna
options one was an 80 meter wire antenna which proved to be quite the
performer.



During the early evening hours we ordered some takeout from a local
restaurant and switched to CW two great success. We worked numerous
contacts of the Baltic region hungry, Romania, and Bulgaria.  The farthest
contact on voice we made was Sweden and that was on 80 meters as well.



Early Sunday morning and ran out grab some breakfast and I tried my luck on
40 and ATM made some additional contacts and Ed switch 20 meters at around
noon and made some of the final contacts to the West Coast.



 Ray primarily was set up outside and operated from the mutt using a GRC
106. He was able to participate in the moose and squirrel net and met some
of the guys from the net on 40m upper side band afterwards. He repeated
this on Sunday and made an effort on 17m  but propagation was not there.
I'm sure his operations were rather challenging due to the weather. It was
chilly on Saturday with high winds but by the evening they died down. The
winds were so bad at one point my tripod was blown over damaging my RC 292
antenna and stopping any hopes to use 6m.  Sunday was a beautiful day and
quite warm.  This marks the first time that we didn't experience snow
flurries during Able Archer, although my wife reported there were some at
home so I'm sure if we would have been on top of Port Clinton we would have
had our share.



Tear down went rather quick, we swept up and put the clubhouse back into
the condition we found it. Before leaving town at and I stop by

The Killarney House  and Irish Pub nearby, and enjoyed some lunch.



All in all the Able Archer event this year was very pleasant and extremely
comfortable the building was warm had running water even a kitchen. Rich is
going to approach the board of aarc and see if we will be able to operate
from their next year.



This was probably one of the most successful Abel Archer events we've ever
had.!



Thanks to Rich and the  aarc club for the use of the facilities.  Ray for
locating this site and the use of the rf 350 ,what a great radio.  Don for
the loan of the antenna and Ed for the CW Ops which accounted for nearly
half of the contacts.





73

Walt

KB3SBC
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