Lesson 11: Shipboard External

Communications and
Radiotelephone Procedures
Learning Objectives
Comprehend the purpose and scope of
electrical communication systems
Comprehend frequency spectrum selection
in Navy comms
Understand the importance of security when
communicating with R/T
Understand the prowords and how to log
their prosigns
Learning Objectives
Explain the phonetic alphabet and how it is
used during R/T procedures
Understand the proper procedure for
conducting and responding to radio checks
Understand the differences between delayed
and immediate executive methods for
transmitting tactical signals
Understand procedures for transmitting a
signal using the delayed and immediate
executive format

Radio communications
Internal communications - carried out by
direct contact between two people
messenger
sound-powered phone/IC systems
MC systems (1MC, 3MC)
Visual methods (rudder angle order indicator)

External communications transmit and
receive signals or sounds by visual, radio or
other electromagnetic systems
Radio Communications
Accomplished primarily by means of
radiotelephone (R/T), automatic digital
network (AUTODIN) and radioteleprinter
R/T is used for voice tactical and
administrative communications by ships
and aircraft
Convenience, speed, and simplicity of
operation makes it the primary method used
by bridge for external comms
Radio Wave
Four characteristics of radio wave
amplitude - measure of waves energy level
cycle - complete reversal of alternating current
frequency - number of cycles occurring in 1 sec
wavelength
Standard of measurement of radiofrequency
= hertz (Hz)
one cycle per second = 1 Hz

Rule of thumb - lower the frequency, higher
the power, larger the antenna required
Radio Wave Propagation
Reflection - radio wave reflected from area
of earths surface
Refraction - radio wave bent when moves
from one medium into another
Diffraction - radio wave bent when passes
the edge of object, resulting in change of
direction of part of energy
Hawaii Oparea
Daily and seasonal ionosphere conditions
Frequency Spectrum
VLF - 3-30 kHz
LF - 30 to 300 kHz
MF - 300 to 3,000 kHz
HF - 3 to 30 MHz
VHF - 30 to 300 MHz
UHF - 300 to 3,000 MHz
SHF - 3 to 30 GHz
EHF - 30 to 40 GHz
VLF and LF -
propagated by ground and surface waves
stable quality of transmission for long range
require great power and long antennas for
efficient comms
Navy shore installations
HF -
moderate/long distance comms
200NM
varies with time of day and season
Use if vhf and uhf are unreliable
Extensively used for short range,
ship-to-ship and ship-to-aircraft
comms
VHF -
lower band includes FM and television
broadcasting frequencies
30 NM
Navy uses upper band for short distance comms
Bridge-to-Bridge comms
UHF -
Navy uses extensively for short-distance radio
comms
30NM
Radio communications
Transmitting stations must take into account
Precedence (R, I, O, etc)
Security requirements (Confid, S, TS)
Limitations on available equipment
Order of desirability of transmission
messenger
registered mail
approved wire circuit
ordinary mail
non-approved wire circuit
visual systems
Radio communications
Order of desirability of transmission
sound systems
radio

Radio Communications
Accomplished by means of radiotelephone
over various circuits (nets)
number of nets assigned depends on
duties of ship
mission of force, group or unit to which ship is
assigned
OPORDER
equipment availability
What is a R/T circuit?
Each circuit has an assigned DESIG and
frequency
types
voice
data
hardcopy
secure/unsecure
unsecure require use of code books
secure nets require use of cryptographic equipment to
scramble the information
directed/undirected
NECOS - net control station

Types of Nets
Net Control Station dictates whether a given
circuit will be free or directed

Free - stations may transmit without
obtaining permission from the NCS

Directed - stations must contact the NCS for
permission before sending transmission
What is a R/T circuit?
Hardcopy nets
Broadcast
ships message traffic
HF and Satellite
circuits monitored in Radio Central
Data
NTDS
HF - long range
UHF - short range
JOTS
UHF satellite world wide
circuits monitored in CIC
What is a R/T circuit?
Voice
UNSECURE
Bridge-to-Bridge (VHF)
Fleet Tac (UNSECURE)
SECURE
Battle Group Command
Navy Red (ADMIN)

Ship configuration of equipment depends on
amount of circuits
Radio Watches
Various types of watches necessary to
maintain communication circuits

Guard - continuous receiver watch required
with transmitter ready for immediate use
complete log maintained

Cover - continuous receiver watch kept with
transmitter available if necessary
complete log maintained
Radio Watches
Copy - continuous receiver watch
maintained
complete log maintained

Listen - continuous receiver watch
maintained
optional complete log of transmissions
all transmissions from own ship to others
logged
Maintenance of Communication Logs
Voice radio logs maintained on all r/t
circuits unless otherwise directed
all incoming and outgoing transmissions are
recorded in the communications log
log includes:
time of opening and closing of log, station and
terminal use
circuit desig and frequency
type of call sign in use
name of person maintaining log

Maintenance of circuit logs
Cause of delays on circuit and corrective
measures taken
unusual occurrences
New log opened or started for new day
(0001Z)
when relieved or close circuit, sign log
oncoming operator sign in on circuit
DO NOT ERASE LOG ENTRIES
line out statement and write correct version next
to it
1900 1930

General Procedures for good R/T
technique
Listed on Pg.. 5-4
When speaking on the radio, follow your
ABCs
Accuracy
Brevity
Clarity
Listen before transmitting
Talk slow but normal
Avoid extremes in pitch
Use standard pronunciation
General Procedures for good R/T
technique
Speak in a moderately strong voice
Keep correct distance between lips and
microphone
Keep speaker volumes moderate
Give an accurate evaluation for a radio
check
Adhere strictly to prescribed procedures

Numeral pronunciation
Special pronunciation for three numbers
3 : TREE
5 : FY VE
9 : NINER
Spell out numbers digit by digit except for
exact multiples of thousands
Ex: 9,012 NINer, Zero, ONE, TWo
Ex: 7,000 Seven Thousand
Ex. 16,000 One Six Thousand

Call-Signs
Plain Language (SECURE)
Ex: Battle Group Command
PORT ROYAL this is CARNEY
Daily changing c/s (NONSECURE)
Ex. Fleet Tac
A6W this is P5R
JANAP 119 c/s (SECURE)
usually flight ops b/w aircraft and ship
Sunday Punch this is Easy Rider Three One
Bridge-to-Bridge
Use either Ships name, hull number, general
characteristics, etc
PORT ROYAL this is CARNEY
Prowords
Pronounceable words or phrases that have
been assigned meanings for purpose of
expediting radio conversations

All after All before Break
Disregard this transmission This is
Execute to follow I say again
Out Over From Wait
Immediate execute
Prowords
the proword is spoken
its prosign is placed in the communications
log
Know prowords/prosigns on HANDOUT
proword on left
prosign on right

Voice - Execute to follow, Alfa Speed One
Zero, over
Log - XTF, A Speed 10, K.
Precedence
Relative order in which message handled
and delivered both over net and message
traffic
Flash (O) - fast as possible, less than 10
minutes
Immediate (I) - 30 minutes
Priority (P) - 3 hours
Routine (R) - 6 hours
Acknowledgments
The proword ROGER is used to
acknowledge that a message can be acted
upon
Only if the Commanding Officer heard,
understood, and directed acknowledgment
of a message may the proword WILCO be
used
Roger and WILCO are not to be used together
Establishing Communications
Full call signs are used when establishing a
net
To establish a net, the NCS calls all stations
Stations answer in alphabetical order of the
first letter of their call sign
Radio Checks
Allow units to report on the signal strength
and readability of radio transmissions

Station assumed to have good signal
strength and readability unless otherwise
notified



Radio Checks
Basic Radio check - each can hear one
another
Example: W9T conducting a radiocheck
with P6V

P6V this is W9T, radiocheck, over

This is P6V, roger, over

This is W9T, roger out

Radio Checks
Report signal strength then readability
signal strength: loud, good, weak, very weak,
fading
readability: clear, readable, unreadable,
distorted, with interference, intermittent

Example: during radio check P6V is not
loud and garbled
Y5S this is P6V, over.
This is Y5S, read you weak and unreadable,
over.
This is P6V, roger out.
Radio Checks
Basic Radio check - one cannot contact
anyone on the circuit
Ex. W9T trying to reach P6V for a
radiocheck

P6V this is W9T, radiocheck, over

P6V this is W9T, nothing heard, out

WaitI missed the last half of
the transmission!!!
Repetitions
Prowords: SAY AGAIN, ALL BEFORE, ALL
AFTER, WORD BEFORE, WORD AFTER
Ex: S9E DE W3R, BV-WB-4, K.

DE S9E, SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER BV, K.

S9E DE W3R, I SAY AGAIN WB-4, K.

DE S9E, R, AR
Corrections
P6V this is Y9F, Execute to follow corpen
tree eight eight, oops, um, uhhh, out.


P6V this is Y9F, Execute to follow corpen
tree eight eight, DISREGARD THIS
TRANSMISSION, OUT
WRONG!
RIGHT!
ENTIRE MSG CANEXED NO RESPONSE NECESSARY
What if I sent a signal wrong?
P6V this is Y9F, Corpen Port one eight
zero, over

P6V this is Y9F, NEGAT Corpen Port one
eight zero. Break, Execute to follow Corpen
Port one eight zero.
WRONG!
CANEX SIGNAL WITH
CORRECTION!
Can I just make the correction in
the middle of the transmission if I
catch myself messing up?

S9E this is W3R, Execute to follow TURN
zero niner zero CORRECTION zero niner
five, over.



CORRECTION
then PHRASE at
mistake
Tactical Signals
The executive method of transmitting
tactical signals is used when the OTC wants
all units to maneuver at the same time.
There are two executive methods:
Delayed Executive

Immediate Executive
Delayed Executive
Two part transmission method


Use when conducting a complex
maneuver



Allows ships more time to prepare for
maneuver
Delayed Executive
The proword EXECUTE TO FOLLOW is
used immediately before the text. The signal
of execution is transmitted within a short
time using the proword STANDBY -
EXECUTE.

PORT ROYAL this is LAKE ERIE, Execute to
follow, Corpen starboard one three zero, over
This is LAKE ERIE, roger out.


PORT ROYAL this is LAKE ERIE, Corpen
starboard, standby, execute over
(couple minutes later)
Immediate Executive
Single transmission


Maneuver easily understood


Situation calls for quick action
Immediate Executive
In cases of urgency, the signal to execute
can be transmitted as the final portion of the
message, using with the proword
IMMEDIATE EXECUTE to commence
the signal, and STANDBY - EXECUTE
to finish.
PORT ROYAL this is LAKE ERIE,
Immediate execute, Speed 6, I say again,
Speed 6. Standby.execute, over.
Example of Delayed vs.
Immediate Executive Set-up
You are W3R
You want to tell S9E to Turn port to a
course of 090 degrees true via
Delayed Executive
Immediate Executive

Draft two separate signals
Delayed Executive Method

S9E DE W3R, XTF Turn PORT 090,
K.

DE S9E, R, AR.

S9E DE W3R, Turn PORT 090,
standby..XT, K

DE S9E, R, AR
Immediate Executive

S9E DE W3R, IX Turn PORT
090 IMI Turn PORT
090.Standby, XT, K.

DE S9E, R, AR.


Communications Security
Reminder that transmissions by r/t are
subject to enemy interception and have no
security protection


Must be short and concise as possible



Forbidden R/T practices
Violation of radio silence
unofficial conversation between operators
transmitting on a directed net without
permission
excessive tuning and testing
transmitting the operators personal sign or
name
unauthorized use of plain language

Forbidden R/T practices
compromise of classified call signs by plain
language disclosures
profane, indecent, or obscene language
COMSEC
BEADWINDOW - tell station that they
have disclosed over a nonsecure circuit an
essential element of friendly info (EEFI)

EEFI is information that if disclosed over radio
circuit and correlated with other information,
could provide key part of intelligence to enemy

Applicable to all nonsecure voice circuits

List of Beadwindow codes to be used in
transmission posted at all nonsecure net sites
COMSEC
Sample transmission
Ex: Over nonsecure FLT TAC NIMITZ this is
CARNEY, K.

Any station can answerDE A6V (LAKE
ERIE) BEADWINDOW 06, K.

Only response to Beadwindow - ROGER
OUT!!!

Authentication
Security measure designed to protect
communications if any chance it might be of
enemy origin
operators mistakes and voice are early detection
warnings
Mandatory during following conditions:
any station suspects imitative deception on a circuit
any station is challenged or requested to authenticate
making contact and amplifying reports in plain language
or brevity code
directing radio silence or requiring a station to break an
imposed radio silence
Homework
Exam changed to Monday, 25 FEB
In-Class R/T Exercise for today and
Wednesday
In-Class review and introduction to surface
ship ops on Friday


Group Assignment
Group LEYTE 1
Hernandez, Lacy, Harwood
Group LEYTE 2
Canale, Astroth, Marks
Group OBANNON 1
Wakayama, Bailey, Ralston
Group OBANNON 2
George, Barnecut, Parker, Horton

Group Assignment
Group LEYTE 1
Morales, Anderson, Taylor
Group LEYTE 2
Contreras, Cobb, Mulle
Group OBANNON 1
Fox, Gauthier, Cook
Group OBANNON 2
Lopez, South, McClung, McKown

Group assignments
Maintain R/T log
Conducting transmission
Encode/decode transmission
Major Players
USS LEYTE GULF C/S U3X
USS OBANNON C/S S9F
USS NIMITZ C/S P6V
COLLECTIVE C/S L2N
Radio Checks
Basic Radio check - each can hear one
another
Example: W9T conducting a radiocheck
with P6V

P6V this is W9T, radiocheck, over

This is P6V, roger, over

This is W9T, roger out
Radio Checks
Example: W9T informs P6V that they are
conducting flight operations.

P6V this is W9T, BG-AV, over

This is P6V, roger, out



1205 P6V W9F RADIOCHECK, K
1207 W9F P6V BG-AV, K
Sample responses
Interrogative statements:
This is P6V, Roger, wait out.
Given a long tactical signal
This is P6V, Roger, out.
Signal is understood
Encode tactical signal and go over radio to
station to verify it is correct