[MRCA] Delaware Fort Miles AAR

[Ray Fantini]

AAR Delaware Goes to War, April 25 Fort Miles, Cape Henlopen State park, Delaware.
What was supposed to be achieved by this project?
Delaware Goes to War is an annual event in April at the Fort Miles- NAVRADSTA Lewes.  The Fort Miles Historical Association wants to keep this a WW2 only post war is relegated to a small display next to the Historical Association.
I planned to have the M151 mutt set up with all its radio equipment along with on air operations that included participating in the 7087 RTTY, MRCA, MMRCG Nets and possible BOTA activation.

What was actually achieved?

 Arrived at seven that morning, I had dropped off the mutt Friday night before the event. NCS K4NYW was booming in so I was able to log into the net. I had good signal from almost all the stations including K9WT down in Florida and I am  still surprised how well the vertical on the mutt preformed with no counterpoise or ground. I checked into the MMRCG 7285 USB net at ten local, had enough of the Troll on 7296 and had sold copy on KE8ULR, K4IC, KW1I and N2MS, after I left the Net did hear W8ZJT and WF2U and had to come back online and work them. M&S Net was very weak on receive with only copying maybe three stations and not successful in getting in. It’s weird that I can work WB2JWU on RTTY but not M&S Net.

What aspects of the project work?

RTTY Net on 7087 is always solid. The 7285 USB MMRCG Net went without issue although some of the stations were weekly copied. Did not work the 5403.5 M&S Net, did a couple of POTA and Florida contacts on twenty.
People always enjoy seeing the mutt and all the radio along with the PRC-77 display; everyone loves the PRC-25/77

  What didn't work and why?

 It was cold and damp, not raining but that drizzle thing that just gives you the chills. Maybe because of the poor conditions or whatever, about half the re-enactors and vehicle people did not show up this year. Was told that the people who put on the show have gone further into the mindset of not only does it have to be WW2 only , now it has to be  Harbor Defense only and maybe that’s why a lot of the other stuff like the tank or big vehicles did not show up? There was only about a half to a third of the usual foot traffic. Counting me there was my M151A1 and two M-38 and that was it for post war. Cold and wet just did not feel like doing the BOTA activation. Maybe if it was warm would have done it. I also have to wonder if the cost of gas and diesel has an effect on people wanting to go thru all that work.

 What would you change if given a second chance?

Have a heavy jacket. Just like last year, would like to have the post war stuff be part of the event and not relegated to the parking lot but if anything, the people putting on the event appear to have no interest beyond beating the WW2 drum. If I was not in the middle of a parking lot would be able to put up better antennas and maybe work more bands. As always the state park people were very helpful, they provided me electrical power out in the parking lot and are right there to help in any way but the Fort Miles Historic association is only interested in WW2 and not much help, or at least that’s how it’s been in the past.
As Joe WA4VAG use to say “Field radios are only happy in the field” the Delaware Goes to War event is an event where you can operate from the field, maybe have to improvise and may not accomplish all your goals but being able to accomplish this has its own benefits. At least to me, your results may vary.

Ray F/KA3EKH


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