RADIOMAN 3 & 2 PREFACE This book is written for enlisted personnel of the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve who are studying for advancement to the rates of Radioman 3 and Radioman 2. Combined with the necessary practical experience and study of the publications in the reading list, the information in this course will assist the Radioman in preparing for Navywide examinations for advancement in rate. Those who work in communications know how fast procedures and equipment change. Between revisions of this training course some obso­ lescence may be unavoidable. For this reason, it is suggested that the student with access to official communication publications use them as much as possible in his study. As one of the Rate Training Manuals, Radioman 3 & 2 was prepared for the Naval Training Support Command by the Training Publications Division of the Naval Personnel Program Support Activity, Washington, D.C. It was reviewed by the Office of the Assistant Chief ofNavalOper­ ations (Communications)/Director, Naval Communications; Naval Ex­ amining Center, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, ill.; U.S. Naval Schools, Radioman, Class A, at Bainbridge, Md. and San Diego, Calif., and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, Calif. First edition 1950 Revised 1951, 1953 Second edition 1957 Third edition 1961 Fourth edition 1963 Fifth edition 1967 Sixth edition 1971 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON D.C. :1972 Stock Ordering No. 0502-051-1400 i I /' THE UNITED STATES NAVY GUARDIAN OF OUR COUNTRY The United States Navy is responsible for mamtaining control of the sea and is a ready force on watch at home and overseas, capable of strong action to preserve the peace or of instant offensive action to win in war. It is upon the maintenance of this control that our country's glorious future depends; the United States Navy exists to make it so. WE SERVE WITH HONOR Tradition, valor, and victory are the Navy's heritage from the past. To these may be added dedication, discipline, and vigilance as the watchwords of the present and the future. At home or on distant stations we serve with pride, confident in the respect of our country, our shipmates, and our families. Our responsibilities sober us; our adversities strengthen us. Service to God and Country is our special privilege. We serve with honor. THE FUTURE OF THE NAVY The Navy will always employ new weapons, new techniques, and greater power to protect and defend the United States on the sea, under the sea, and in the air. Now and in the future, control of the sea gives the United States her greatest advantage for the maintenance of peace and for victory in war. Mobility, surprise, dispersal, and offensive power are the keynotes of the new Navy. The roots of the Navy lie in a strong belief in the future, in continued dedication to our tasks, and in reflection on our heritage from the past. Never have our opportunities and our responsibilities been greater. ii CONTENTS CHAPTER Page 1. Your Career as a Radioman. • . • • • • . • . • • • • 1 10 2. Naval Communications • • . • • . • . • • • . • . • • . • 3. Communications Security . • • • . • . • . • • . • . 30 4. The Message • • • . • • . • . • . • . • • • . • . 50 5. Commercial Traffic and Distress Communications . 73 6. Teletype Procedures . • • • . • • . • . • • • . 93 7. Traffic Handling Procedures • . • • • . • • . 129 8. Radiotelephone Procedures • . • . • • • • • . • 141 9. Administration • . • • . • . • • . • • . • • . • • . • 158 10. Antennas and Radio Wave Propagation . • . • • . 178 11. Teletypewriter Equipment • • • • . • . • • • • • • • • • 212 12. Communications Transmitters and Receivers • . • • 241 13. Communications Systems • • . • . • • • . • • • . • • 273 14. Maintenance • . • . • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • 285 15 . Safety . • . • • • • • • . • . • . • . • . • • • • . • . • 294 APPENDIX I. Glossary of Terms .•..•••••..••...•••••.. 311 INDEX . • • • • • . • • . • . • . • . • . • . • • • • . • • • • 319 iii ..... < CHAPTER 1 YOUR CAREER AS A RADIOMAN A naval force is only as good as the men who General ratings identify broad occupational man the ships. Even with the most modern fields of related duties and functions, such as equipment, a naval force is almost powerless Radioman. Some general ratings include serv­ without competent men to operate and maintain ice ratings; others do not. that equipment. Good men are plentiful, but their capability depends chiefly upon their Example: ET (Electronics Technician)­ training. "Communications is the voice of General Rating. Command." The radioman, in the performance ETR (Electronics Technician) of his duties, is a direct representative of his Radar)-Service Rating. commanding officer. He provides his com­ manding officer with the capability of exchanging Both regular Navy and Naval Reserve personnel message information-accurately, rapidly, and may hold general ratings. securely-with his seniors, juniors, and fellow Service ratings identify subdivisions or spe­ commanders, wherever they may be located. cialties within a general rating as outlined in The Radioman contributes directly to the the previous example. Although service ratings reputation and effectiveness of his command. can exist at any petty officer level, they are A command (ship or shore) is often regarded most common at the P03 and P02 levels. Both as being effective and reliable if its communi­ regular Navy and Naval Reserve personnel may cations are effective and reliable. hold service ratings. As a Radioman you will be a member of a team that provides round-the-clock communi­ cations. RADIOMAN RATING As a part of the Navy's training program, this self-study rate training manual is written Within the enlisted rating structure, ratings for the purpose of aiding you in your prepara­ are divided into a total of 12 groups, with rat­ tion for advancement. It is designed to help you ings in each particular group related occupa­ meet the professional (technical) qualifications tionally. Group I is called the deck group which for advancement to Radioman 3 and Radioman 2. includes: BMs, QMs, RDs, STs ...etc. The This rate training manual consists of 15 Radioman is a general rating in group V, com­ chapters. The first chapter is nontechnical in monly called the administrative and clerical nature and introduces you to the course. Re­ group which includes: RMs, CTs, YNs, PNs, maining chapters deal with the technical aspects JOs ... etc. of your rating. The remainder of this intro­ Your responsibilities as a petty officer in ductory chapter gives information on the en­ the Radioman rating break down into two types listed rating structure, the Radioman rating, of duties: professional duties and military requirements and procedures for advancement, duties. and references that will help you in working for Professional duties as a Radioman third or advanceme nt and also in performing your duties second class may vary slightly depending upon as Radioman. Study this chapter before begin­ the activity to which you are assigned. ning intensive study of the remaining chapters The Radioman is primarily an operator. As of this manual. such, you will be required to fulfill certain qualifications that require you to know what ENLISTED RATING STRUCTURE makes your equipment work, as well as how to operate it. You will also become involved in The two main types of rating in the present the maintenance of your equipment by develop­ enlisted rating structure are general ratings ing special skills which will be discussed later and service ratings. in this chapter. 1 RADIO:M;AN 3 & 2 As a Radioman you will be a "jack of all the job. Your men will respect you as a man trades" in the communication business. Ashore, who has demonstrated his knowledge and skill. you will generally be assigned to a communica­ A cooperative attitude is another require­ tion center. Here, you will be concerned with ment of leadership. Do not let your experience getting message to and receiving them from in the RM rating make you unreasonable and ships of the fleet, and with monitoring other overbearing with lower rated men whom you circuits. Additionally, you may be operating may have to instruct. Your attitudes will have teletype or facsimile equipment. a definite effect upon the attitudes and the ac­ Afloat assignments include a wide variety of tions of these men. responsibilities. You may have the opportunity When you become a petty officer, you become to: a link in the chain of command between your officers and your men. Your responsibilities (1) Operate radiotelephone circuits. are more than merely giving orders and seeing (2) Maintain communications that use on­ that work is done. You likewise have a respon­ line cryptographic systems. sibility for sharing your knowledge with others. (3) Maintain communication publications, When the Navy promotes you, it expects you to files, and cipher devices. train others. (4) Process your ship's message traffic. The opportunity to acquire knowledge and to (5) Learn the nomenclature and operation of master new skills was given to you for your communications equipment used through­ own benefit and for the benefit of the Navy as a out the navy. whole. As new types of communication equip­ Now that you have a general idea of your ment become available or changes in commu­ professional duties as a Radioman, let's discuss nications procedures evolve, you should be the some of your military duties as a petty officer. first to learn about them. Be ready to pass on this information and training