MILITARY COLLECTORS GROUP POST (MCGP) WW-II Naval Inter-Task Force Communications? A question: Have just finished off a book on the Okinawa campaign that makes a couple comments about the Navy being short of communication equipment for outfitting Destroyers that were used as radar picket ships in the campaign (the pickets were a favorite target of the Japanese, lots of replacement were needed). The question I have is (A) were tactical ship to ship and ship to air communications still handled by the old AM HF radios this late in the War? (B) If their was a tactical VHF or UHF radio system at that time what kind of radios were used? I thought most of the 200 to 400 MHZ AM stuff came out after the war. I would like to think that by 44/45 they had evolved beyond AM HF communications for local point to point communications but don't know myself. Ray Fantini ============================================================================= WW-II Naval Inter-Task Force Communications I would think that the shortage you mention would have been in the available frequencies that could be used rather than radio equipment. It is true that by 1944 inter-task force/short range Naval communications had progress beyond low power HF radios like the TCS and a long list of semicommercial marine radios. The most notable types being the Collins TBS, and the TBY. Yes, the TBY! Both operated just above the 6mtr band, on AM (the TBY could operate below). While UHF/AM sets had been available by wars end, these were, as now, used for communications with aircraft, and never ship to ship. Ever wonder why such radios as the BC-620, BC-659, and the TBY had a 110vac power supply available. This was for shipboard use of these radios (though usually as the counter part to the radio on the beach calling in artillery fire). The BC-1000/PP-114 combination is also known to have been mounted in landing craft as were the already mentioned BC-620's & -659's. But low power HF/AM radios did serve extensively for short range communications (20 miles)with both Naval, and civilian maritime service until the replacement of this band/mode with VHF/FM in the early 70's(or was it late 60's?). Dave Stinson Posted the below with another group back in September. It details the use of TBY's in trans Atlantic convoy duty. This use could have been an expedient to foil the attempts of the German Wolf Packs in DF'ing the convoys and should not yet be considered as normal practice until more evidence has been collected. One last note, Picket Ships were not a favorite target of the Japanese, nor any other attacking force, rather, they usually served as only a consolation prise. They were there to serve that purpose as represented by their name, I/E to form a "Picket" around the main task force, playing the role of body guards. This body guard duty might include, and often did, throwing themselves in front of speeding torpedos to prevent them from hitting the more important, larger ships in the center of the task force. Anyway, their life expectancy was indeed short. Dennis Starks; Collector/Historian Midwest Military Communications Museum email: military-radio-guy@juno.com ================================================================================ TBY's in Trans Atlantic Convoy Duty I've just received two very fascinating books- the signalman's ship log books from STK South Mountain, radio call sign KWEQ, which was making convoy runs out of New York from May 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. One of the most interesting details is the use of the TBY radio as a sort of "interphone" for the convoy. Never seen that documented before. I especially like this entry: 6 June 1944 From: Commodore Commanding Convoy to: All Ships Time: 0525 hrs. "For the information of all hands. The invasion of France started at 0330 this morning." And it was sent via TBY! One of the columns used for noting a communication is titled "Method." I've figured out, using the context of what I've read so far, most of the abbreviations used in this column, but need the help of any "old salt" out there who might know the last one: Sem: Semaphore C.L.: Colored Lights TBY: TBY VHF Radio transceiver F.H.: Flag Hoist F.L.: ??? Could this be "Flashing Light?" It seems to be the only one missing from the list. Great books! Bought them on Ebay for a song, too- so there, you Ebay haters ;-P (heh heh!). 73 DE Dave Stinson AB5S arc5@ix.netcom.com =================================================================================*********************************************** The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher or this group are included. For more information concerning this group, the use of our mateial, or membership contact Dennis Starks at, . A list of selected articles of interest to members can be seen at: http://www.softcom.net/users/buzz/backmail.html ***********************************************