Just had my first ever submarine experience. How did they communicate with the world?

CaptBones · 09-12-16, 01:48 PM

VLF wasn't in use during WWII or for much of the Cold War. VLF messages are very short coded signals; not quite like Fleet Broadcast message traffic and definitely not for 2-way communication.

Getting and sending messages over long distances in WWII and during much of the Cold War was done primarily with HF, using wire or whip antennas....had to be on the surface to send but could receive with wire antennas at shallow submergence. I once established and maintained a two-way "full period termination" teletype link with NAVCOMMSTA Pearl Harbor (Wahiawa) from the North Pacific "Broad Ocean Area", over 2,500nm, with a 55W...55 Watt, not kilowatt...transmitter. Ham radio operators do that, and better, all the time.

Later during the Cold War and today, UHF, VHF and EHF satellite uplink/downlink became the primary methods of two-way communication, which requires putting an antenna on or above the surface. HF Broadcast is still available and can still be received at shallow depths with towed wire antennas. Keep in mind, submarines are the "Silent Service"...they do not transmit unless compelled or required to do so.

09-12-16, 01:48 PM	#5
CaptBones The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Rockton, IL Posts: 281 Downloads: 208 Uploads: 0	VLF wasn't in use during WWII or for much of the Cold War. VLF messages are very short coded signals; not quite like Fleet Broadcast message traffic and definitely not for 2-way communication. Getting and sending messages over long distances in WWII and during much of the Cold War was done primarily with HF, using wire or whip antennas....had to be on the surface to send but could receive with wire antennas at shallow submergence. I once established and maintained a two-way "full period termination" teletype link with NAVCOMMSTA Pearl Harbor (Wahiawa) from the North Pacific "Broad Ocean Area", over 2,500nm, with a 55W...55 Watt, not kilowatt...transmitter. Ham radio operators do that, and better, all the time. Later during the Cold War and today, UHF, VHF and EHF satellite uplink/downlink became the primary methods of two-way communication, which requires putting an antenna on or above the surface. HF Broadcast is still available and can still be received at shallow depths with towed wire antennas. Keep in mind, submarines are the "Silent Service"...they do not transmit unless compelled or required to do so.