Vessels on the Air on 28 Nov. 2009

[akula65]

After lurking in this forum for years (I even purchased a SubSim CD-ROM a few years ago), I thought it was time to register and post.

Some folks have expressed interest in Morse Code in various threads related to the Silent Hunter series, and an event will be taking place on 28 November 2009 that may be of interest. Last Saturday (21 November), the World War II destroyer USS Cassin Young (DD-793) and the Victory ship SS American Victory used restored original radio equipment to establish CW (Morse Code) communications with the U.S. coast station KSM on HF (shortwave) frequencies. The USS Cassin Young (callsign NTTH) is moored near the USS Constitution in Boston, MA, the SS American Victory (callsign KKUI) is moored in Tampa, FL, and KSM is located in the Point Reyes National Seashore in California. The announcements prior to and after the event can be seen here:

http://groups.google.com/group/radio...7b52399ba34c0#
http://groups.google.com/group/radio...a6698e8940527#
http://groups.google.com/group/radio...01cdce982c739#

On 28 November 2009 at around 1700 UTC/GMT (12 Noon EST, 9 AM PST), the same three stations will again be on the air, and in addition to trying to contact KSM, both vessels on the East Coast will attempt to contact each other using CW. The details can be seen here:

http://groups.google.com/group/radio...a38c0d95f8e52#

I was able to hear all three stations in North Carolina last Saturday, so there is a good chance to do so again this Saturday. If you have a shortwave receiver that can tune signals in SSB (single sideband) or CW (Morse code) mode, then you may be able to hear them as well. Note that the communications are conducted in duplex mode meaning that separate transmitting frequencies are used by two stations in communication with each other. This means that in order to hear both sides of the conversation, you need either two separate receivers or one receiver with a number of memories that can scan or be quickly tuned between the different frequencies in use.

KSM will probably be sending their "wheel" prior to 1700 UTC on all their transmitting frequencies. The "wheel" is a set message sent repeatedly which usually indicates what frequencies KSM is monitoring. You can use the wheel to make sure you are tuned into KSM well before 1700 UTC. If you want to hear either of the vessels, you will want to be tuned initially to 12552.0 kHz (=12.552 MHz), although NTTH (USS Cassin Young) will probably change to another frequency to actually pass traffic.

If you don't have the necessary receiving equipment yourself, local amateur radio operators or amateur radio clubs may be able to help, and if you can find a CW enthusiast, they will probably be thrilled to hear these stations.

Information on the USS Cassin Young can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cassin_Young_(DD-793)
http://www.nps.gov/bost/historycultu...assinyoung.htm

Information on the SS American Victory is available here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_American_Victory
http://www.americanvictory.org/

You can read more about station KSM here:

http://www.radiomarine.org/


Good hunting!

[Chad]

Very intuitive and smart first post! Welcome aboard! Glad to have you

[akula65]

Thanks.

For anyone who is listening today, coast station KSM is already transmitting on the frequencies listed in the announcement as of 1615 UTC. I can hear them fairly well on 16914 kHz and 12993 kHz here in NC. The station is barely audible on 8438.3 kHz and 6474.0 kHz.

Edit: As of 1815 UTC, nobody has heard a peep from USS Cassin Young. Cassin Young probably had electro-mechanical problems (not uncommon with 60-70 year old equipment). KSM did work SS American Victory (KKUI) at 1715 UTC.

Cassin Young may show up later. Who knows.

Edit (1903 UTC): Still no Cassin Young, but SS American Victory worked KSM again at 1855 UTC.

Edit (1934 UTC): Cassin Young is working KSM. Cassin Young is on 12453.5 kHz.

[akula65]

The Maritime Radio Historical Society has added some historical recordings to their website. One of these is the contact between USS Cassin Young and KSM on 21 November 2009. You can listen to the MP3 and even download it on this page:

http://radiomarine.org/audio/list?panel=pab1_13#pab1_13

On 21 November 2009 USS CASSIN YOUNG/NTTH contacted KSM on 12Mc with newly restored gear in its radio room. Signals were good and QTC1 was copied from NTTH. But in the middle of the exchange SS AMERICAN VICTORY/KKUI also called. For the first time in who knows how many years there was actual QRM on the 12Mc calling frequency. KKUI was asked to stand by. KSM later contacted KKUI. The op on board asked that their working frequencies be relayed to NTTH for a ship-to-ship contact but by that time NTTH was UNRAISE.

Lots of great stuff on this page.