RadioUser03_2022

Feature ALL PICTURES: NILS SCHIFFHAUER Fig. 1: Figure 1: BCS-ALE: The basic version with three decoders in parallel – this will resolve even some of the more ‘cryptic’ callsigns. Fig. 2: Scattered all over the world: The US Air Force (USAF) HF stations using ALE. . Fig. 3: An ALE Signal as seen by the Signals Analyser software, showing the spectrogram. Fig. 4: A few tones of 8 ms in length, plus the in- phase switching from one tone to the next one. Fig. 5: The eight tones. A consolidated view of their appearance in this part of the recording. The frequency steps are seen in the background. 2 and sounding – with my apologies – a bit 3 like peeing into a pond. 4 Mesmerizing Monitoring 5 What makes ALE monitoring so attractive for DXers? First, the transmitters are dispersed all over the world; networks are popping up, often during delicate situations, and fade. Within three years, I have logged some 9,181 different combinations of call/frequency used by ALE stations. Take a look at Fig. 8 for a distribution of stations vs. frequencies, and at Fig. 9 for the geographical origin of most of the identified stations. Second, most of them are not encrypted. Even better is the fact that many stations tell you who they are: For example, TIPPUSULTAN is the callsign of just this destroyer of the Pakistan Navy, CHONKAPKA is the Kazakh border post in Cho’n-Kapka in the north-west of this country, and KRAKOW originates from the Polish Ministry of the Interior in Krakow. Moreover, often the callsign gives at least a hint: CDG01D is heard from the French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle (‘CDG’ as for Paris Airport Charles de Gaulle). Only a few stations have an ITU- conforming callsign, like FUM (French Navy Tahiti), NOJ (US Coast Guard in Kodiak/Alaska) or KWU47 (The US Consulate in Kyiv/Ukraine, on extra- territorial ground). Cryptic Callsigns In many cases, you will need to puzzle things out a bit until you know that FC0FEM1 originates from FEMA (Region 0, Bothel/WA in the USA); and SANRIV stands for the MHFCS system in Australia (Riverina); what is more, 69PMSANMIGUEL has its source in San Miguel/Peru; it belongs to the Centro Regulador De Urgencias y Emergencias Nacional. However, even seemingly cryptic For the latest news and product reviews, visit www.radioenthusiast.co.uk March 2022 RadioUser 51

Feature numbers have their hidden meaning, like 6 8 those in the AFAD network of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management 7 With this software tool to hand, system, where digits 2 and 3 of the hobbyists may monitor up to 24 such callsign refer to the province. In the case 9 channels in parallel for activity. In this kind of the callsign 329013, for instance, ‘29’ of context, an SDR is a must. Demanding stands for Gümüşhane Province. The It should be on the market before the DXers will most likely opt for a wideband UN’s MINUSMA jeeps take their car plate Summer of 2022 and will match an SWL’s SDR, providing good sensitivity and a high number as their callsign (for instance: [UN] budget. dynamic range. Only then will they have 700220). the chance to place their demodulators BCS-ALE Decoder within the HF range wherever they want. In other cases, some direction finding by Chris Smolinski A 25-30MHz wideband SDR with 16bit with the KiwiSDR network may be resolution is a perfect choice. necessary. Or you might consult the guys With the new multi-channel ALE decoder at the UDXF (the Utility DX Forum). (BCS-ALE, in short) from Black Cat Bear in mind that the frequency stability Systems, Chris Smolinski, W3HFU, offers Without these additional resources, another great piece of smart software, it is difficult to identify 2415 as the driving forward ALE monitoring. Gendarmerie Royale du Maroc, 3217 https://tinyurl.com/yz49rjct as SONATRACH Algeria (a petroleum company), and 4PEF01 as Comando Militar da Amazônia in Brazil. http://kiwisdr.com/public http://www.udxf.nl The Evolution ofALE Monitoring From the advent of the first ALE decoders, hobbyists have developed strategies for monitoring. The first one is consistent with tuning the receiver to one channel and letting it stay there for hours, hoping that the frequency would not drift too much. Another technique mimics the professionals, by using a ‘scanning-table’, which contains all the channels of a network. In this method, success depends on the performance of the squelch and AGC actions. More recently, Software-Defined Receivers (SDR) have rendered possible some very advanced ALE Monitoring. This is achieved by manually analysing the spectrogram of a recorded HF file and decoding up to 24 channels in parallel; either ‘live’, as they happen, or from an HF file. And only the true professionals have now reached the very neatest way: Here, the I/Q stream of an SDR is directly analysed, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) recognizes signals, classifying and – in many cases – decoding them. In terms of ALE, this works reliably with good to fair signals but still fails with faint and distorted signals, where manual analysis still is the tool of choice. Future developments in AI will further improve this method, which may also trickle down from the price tags of more than £20,000. Smart software authors are now hot on their heels, and I am currently enthusiastically testing a very early pre-release version of such a decoder. Why not visit our new online bookshop at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/store 52 RadioUser March 2022

Feature Fig. 6: The auto-correlation tool measures the triple-word (basic-redundant) period as 392ms. Fig. 7: SDRC allows for the tailoring of each filter. This one has been optimized for ALE reception. Fig. 8: Distribution of 9,180 combinations of station and frequency. Note the ‘networking- pattern’ with more than one station per frequency on 10,175kHz, the main channel of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. (https://en.afad.gov.tr/about-us) Fig. 9: More than 5,000 callsigns have been identified here, by country of origin. You can see the activity of each of these countries by the unique combinations of callsign and frequency. Fig. 10: System performance of ALE under several conditions, displayed schematically (see text). Fig. 11: Using the Favourites menu of SDRC can save the channels for a net. These are 10 channels for the HFGCS-Net of the US Air Force, with the lowest channel not ticked. Each audio 10 output has been routed to a different Virtual Audio Card VAC. 11 sensitivity to the limit; a ‘perfect’ decoder will bring both and let to make your choices on your receiver must be both assured and Testing Decoders: Sensitivity v. by offering some options. accurate. Usable SDRs now start at around Linking Probability 200GBP (for the RX888) and range right Remember, the ALE mode is designed up to the ELAD FDM-S3, the professional- There are always some secrets about the to establish links under demanding grade Winradio Sigma, and the new performance of decoders, and only a test conditions. The image in Fig. 10 shows Winradio WR-G69DDCe Artemis. will separate the wheat from the chaff, as the ‘linking probability’ (i.e. a ‘correct https://tinyurl.com/ftv925d it were. For our purposes, ‘best’ means: decode’) on an Additive White Gaussian https://tinyurl.com/3dn87nu7 “Which decoder will produce proper results Noise Channel (AWGN, see below) as https://tinyurl.com/4j9btp69 under adverse propagation conditions?” the theoretical limit. It also displays the [on the Artemis, see our News and Products The professionals, however, will prefer the performance on CCIR-channels, showing section this month, as well as next month’s term ‘reliable results for further automatic both ‘good’ and ‘poor’ ones. Of course, full review – Ed.]. processing’. A professional decoder will many hobbyists will ask for a decoder prefer reliability; a hobby DXer should push to be as sensitive as possible, to get even the most elusive DX, whereas the professionals will have an eye on a high linking probability. Another quick look at Fig. 10 shows that DXers are happy with SNRs even under -2dB (AWGN). Testing BCS-ALE, I have achieved correct decoding down to an exceptional -15dB@3kHz in an AWGN channel! AWGN is a ‘flat’ noise, never occurring under multipath HF propagation. It is easy – by modifying the CCIR channels for this mode – to make sure that one tone of the 8-FSK signal is not constantly ‘notched out’. For practical reasons, I undertook my AWGN tests with the (free) HF Path Simulator software. https://tinyurl.com/3v9f3m5k I had to leave the multipath tests to many instances of carefully-selected on-the-air ALE reception, combined into one audio test file, which all decoders had to crack; and here, BCS-ALE turned out to be the winner. For the latest news and product reviews, visit www.radioenthusiast.co.uk March 2022 RadioUser 53

Feature Fig. 12: The ‘favourites’ channels. Do not forget to 12 activate all channels; otherwise, there will be no audio output at the VACs. Fig. 13: The information moves from your reference database into the decoder’s look-up files (folder “ale_callsigns”) and back again. Fig. 14: BCS-ALE decodes messages from an audio file in ‘fast motion‘, retaining time, frequency and date of the original audio files. Fig. 15: Dissemination of the 100-Hertz decimal for ALE frequencies – 85% end in a full kHz value. Fig.16: How are the kHz values from 0 to 9kHz distributed? Clearly, ‘zero‘ (0) is the winner here. ANewApproach: Multi-channel 13 Decoding with BCS-ALE ALE transmissions are mostly organized in ‘nets’ of different stations, frequencies, or channels. If you have (nearly) all the channels of a net to hand, BCS-ALE will enable you to decode up to 24 channels in parallel. To do this, you must drive your SDR with the (free) SDRC software (Fig. 11). https://www.sdr-radio.com This provides for a maximum of 24 channels with demodulated output from up to 24 frequencies, placed within the bandwidths of your SDR. Frequencies, and other data from the different nets should be saved by the SDRC Favourites tool, for easy editing and recall (Fig. 12).Each channel of SDRC software (up to RX1 … RX24) must lead a different input of a virtual audio cable, (VAC1 to VAC24) such as Virtual Audio Cable (VAC), which is in widespread hobby use: https://vac.muzychenko.net/en This will feed each of the up to 24 inputs of the BCS-ALE software, as shown below: SDRC RX1 [output] -> VAC1[input] -> VAC1[output] -> 1[input] SDRC RX2 [output] -> VAC2[input] -> VAC2[output] -> 2[input] SDRC RX3 [output] -> VAC3[input] -> VAC3[output] -> 3[input] … and so on … until: SDRC RX24 [output] -> VAC24[input] -> 14 all cases). The software also provides VAC24[output] -> 24[input]. other unique features assisting DXers Unique: Automatic in an unprecedented way. For instance, The number of virtual sound cards you can Callsign Lookup it displays results in four formats, activate at a specific bandwidth depends, one of them ready to be posted to the of course, on the power of your PC. BCS-ALE excels as a multi-channel UDXF Group. With all formats, decoded decoder. It offers many options to find messages can be automatically enriched Each category (bandwidths and VACs) the best balance between reliability with additional information, which the is eating up resources: up to 30% for SDRC, and sensitivity. It meets each task with up to 16% for BCS software (assuming 9 customisable options, although the channels running on a good Windows 10 ‘default’ setting will suffice in 80% of PC with i7-8700 CPZU, 4MHz and 32GB RAM). Why not visit our new online bookshop at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/store 54 RadioUser March 2022

Feature The following findings are based on an analysis of nearly 10,000 logs with different callsign/frequency combinations: There are no specific channels for ALE. Nevertheless, 85% of all frequencies end at a full kHz, for example, 9025.0kHz. Only 7% end in .5kHz. Very few nets leave a special ‘scent-mark’, like the US Department of State with .6kHz or UNHCR Ethiopia with .8kHz. Fig. 15 shows this distribution. About 25% of all channels end in 0kHz, followed by those ending in .5kHz. The other steps are more evenly distributed, with an advantage of those ending in .2kHz (Fig. 16). The vast majority of logs (95.3%) were produced in USB, the remaining ones in LSB. DSB (Double- Sideband) was a rare exception. If you are in USB and you bump into a signal ending in .3 or .7kHz, which doesn’t produce any results despite a 15 good strength, try it in LSB at 3.3kHz higher. Box 1: Channels and USB/LSB modes. • Your AGC should have a fast ‘attack-rate’ so it does not become ‘deaf’ to weaker signals after a loud signal. • Take a second, third and fourth run with your decoder – at different settings. • Try AGC OFF but set RF GAIN carefully not to distort the signal. • Change the frequency in steps of 10Hz (give and take) and try again. Try it at some other time if you have a recording. • Do you operate the right sideband? Most ALE stations work on USB, but some are in LSB (see also above, Box 1). Box 2: Improve ALE decoding with BCS-ALE. 16 metadata. These can be organisation, • Do not select a passband smaller than station, location, country; in fact, anything about 575Hz - 2,775Hz enveloping the signal. software looks up in a prepared file. The you consider important. The software Additional distortion in most cases will not usual decoded output looks like this looks up each callsign (as above, TSC weigh out this half-decibel of SNR. and K62), introduces all the information • Do not ‘overdrive’ your receiver or your ‘7527.0 [Frequency in kHz] USB [mode] in a neat way and prints it all together decoder. This will only add more noise and 2021-11-10 22:54:24 [date/time] 16 [BER] in the window. Even more, the software interference. TO TSC TIS K62’ automatically fills a log file with all this data for later inspection, edition and further Box 3: Things to Avoid. Employing the software, this is then turned processing by spreadsheet or database. into a more convenient: The ‘callsigns’ document and its quality one more: BCS-ALE decodes audio files in (extent, reliability, consistency) thus play fast motion (by more than a factor-10, Fig. ‘7527.0 USB 2021-11-10 22:54:24 16’ a pivotal role (Fig. 13). I have drawn upon 14). All in all, in my view, BCS-ALE is the TO TSC COTHEN Technical Service Center a list of more than 3,000 callsigns, which I start of a new era in ALE monitoring and is Orlando FL USA prepared earlier, as a ‘First Aid Kit’. It can be likely to become the tool of choice in this TIS K62 USGC MH-65D/E Short Range downloaded from my website: area. Finally, I am sure, Chris, the software Recovery Helicopter Dolphin #6562 USA https://tinyurl.com/4n2uj9yj author, will not stop here. Take a look at the information in Boxes 1-3, for some more This feature, in particular, is a major Amongst the many other features of the information about my findings, and some achievement in DXing. The idea of the software, I would like to mention at least more hints and tips on ALE decoding. software is to look up each decoded callsign in a list of tab-separated entries, [See also Nils’s earlier ALE article, in in which you had already collected some RadioUser, August 2018: 38-41 – Ed.]. For the latest news and product reviews, visit www.radioenthusiast.co.uk March 2022 RadioUser 55

Maritime Matters NORTHERN IRELAND LOUGHS AGENCY Robert Connolly [email protected] During the Cold War, the United 1 States of America and its allies installed several secret Cold War Doorbells and acoustic devices on the seabed Underwater Satellites: of the Atlantic Ocean, to listen for Russian Tracing Submarines submarines departing their bases in Russia and track them in the Atlantic as they Robert Connolly goes well below the surface of submarine passed through the Iceland Gap. tracking technology, looks at research with acoustic buoys, reports on maritime incidents, has NAVTEX This SOund SUrveillance System updates and previews his next NDB survey. (SOSUS) provided a deep-water long-range detection capability, tracking submarines Contemporary Methods Natural Sounds and SeaMonitor by their faint acoustic signals. SOSUS consists of high-gain long fixed arrays in Today, much more sophisticated techniques While the Cold War passive sound monitoring the deep ocean basins installed across the are used to track potential enemy submarines system was primarily designed to detect ocean bottom at key locations covering using underwater ‘satellites’ and mini-robot Russian submarines, it also received other both the Atlantic Ocean and, later, the sub trackers. underwater noises that would travel long Pacific Ocean. Additional sensors were distances. This included sea life. With the end located along the coast of North America This is due to the development of much of the Cold War, the importance of the system to protect against a potential Russian quieter engines used by submarines, diminished, although data was still being attack. making detection using the passive sound collected. However, the US Navy permitted monitoring system much more difficult. civilian scientists more access to the SOSUS These systems were monitored by a system for basic research. number of land-based stations, including The underwater version of a satellite will some in the UK. Over the years, as be capable of operating at extreme depths The system has been used to study submarines became quieter, the seabed in the open ocean, have a large field of underwater volcanic eruptions and monitoring equipment system was also view, including the ability to scan upwards, earthquakes since the early 1990s. It has improved to meet these challenges. and will be mobile, quiet and unmanned to also been used to study marine mammals Sometimes these arrays were referred facilitate deep-sea submarine stakeouts. and their vocalisations. Finally, it has to as ‘doorbells’, as they alerted the Once a sub is detected by the ‘satellite’, a been used to measure large-scale ocean monitoring teams when the noise of a small autonomous vessel will be deployed temperature variability by making more Russian submarine was received. to stay on its trail in case it poses a threat. precise measurements of the travel times between widely-spaced sources and Project Corsair To hunt submarines in the shallower SOSUS receivers. continental shelf waters, state-of-the-art In the UK, Project Corsair was the code name mobile sensors will ‘hunt’ from above, In 2019, the Northern Ireland Loughs given to the development of shore-based rather than from below, using non-acoustic Agency commenced a €4.7 million submarine detection methods. The Admiralty sensing. Research Laboratory (ARL) at Teddington, Middlesex controlled several facilities around the British Isles These stations investigated the propagation of sound in water, leading to the development of equipment with the capability to detect ships and submarines. The stations were located at Perranporth, Cornwall, used there for the initial investigation and development of the Passive Sonar technique, between 1952 to 1957. A station at Portballintrae, Co. Antrim, was set up specifically as a level of protection to shipping in the Clyde Approaches, in 1953. Moreover, Unst, Shetland, was established in 1955, to evaluate techniques for land-based detection of Soviet submarines in transit, so that they may be tracked, trailed and neutralised. More detailed information regarding this system may be found by using the links at the end of this column. Sign up to our FREE email newsletter at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk 56 RadioUser March 2022

Maritime Matters marine research programme funded by 2 COMPASS the EU INTERREG VA scheme, along with match-funding from the NI Department for and the Portballintrae station, please Fig. 1: The line of acoustic receivers between the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, contact me; I downloaded the information island of Ireland and Scotland. Fig. 2: An acoustic and the Department of Housing, Planning several years ago when I was carrying out buoy. Fig. 3: The Oman Coastguard salvage and and Local Government in Ireland. some historical research on that station. rescue vessel Haras 1 (1‫)حسر‬. This substantial investment will extend A Collision at Sea Human Error or AIS Failure? the existing network of ‘smart’ buoys and oceanographic models – delivered by the While on the subject of sonar acoustic arrays, Meanwhile, In December 2021, a fatal collision sister projects COMPASS and MarPAMM – it was revealed in early January 2022, that a occurred in the Baltic between two cargo so that a line of acoustic receivers runs all Russian submarine that was tracked by HMS vessels, the UK registered Scot Carrier and the way between the island of Ireland and Northumberland in the North Atlantic collided the Danish-registered construction vessel Scotland (Fig. 1). with the acoustic sonar array towed by the Karin Høj, resulting in the two crew members Royal Navy vessel in 2020. Normally, the MOD of the Karin Høj being killed when the vessel Called SeaMonitor, it is studying the would not comment on such incidents. capsized. seas around Ireland, Western Scotland and Northern Ireland. The project is led by However, in this case, it was caught on The accident is currently under the Northern Ireland Loughs Agency and camera by a Channel 5 film crew onboard investigation by both UK and Swedish supported by another eight leading marine the ship that was making a documentary authorities. Apparently, the accident research institutions, using innovative series, Warship: Life At Sea, on the Type-23 occurred in fog. However, both vessels marine species tracking technology to frigate at the time of the incident. were equipped with marine Automatic better understand and protect vulnerable Information System (AIS) transmitters. marine life in our oceans. SeaMonitor will The equipment was damaged, and the The proper use of AIS transmissions deliver five spatial models for basking frigate had to return to port for repairs. should have prevented such a collision, as sharks, skate, salmonids, seals and It is not known if the Russian submarine the bridge crewmembers on duty of both cetaceans and three Management Plans for suffered any damage. In recent years, vessels should have seen each other’s three areas and two species: Loch Sunart there has been an increase in the number position, course and speed on their AIS to Sound of Jura (skate) and the Foyle and of Russian submarines entering UK display, something that is normally linked to Clyde estuaries (salmon). waters. It is believed that some have been the ship’s radar. responsible for getting entangled in fishing The project is aiming to achieve this by trawlers’ nets dragging them backwards The display can also show the projected extending the existing network of buoys and coming close to sinking them. course and provide collision alerts. with acoustic receivers on the East to North coasts of the Island of Ireland establishing a physical connection of acoustic receivers between the Island of Ireland and Scotland. The buoys will provide data to develop models and management plans relating to selected species. Fig. 2 shows an example of one of the acoustic buoys. Acoustic Buoys These buoys would seem to be a new deployment of acoustic buoys, rather than the use of the old equipment of the SOSUS system. There were acoustic, submerged, buoys in that area, which were monitored by a Royal Navy shore station at Portballintrae, Co. Antrim during the early part of the Cold War, as part of the defences for the Clyde submarine bases as part of Project Corsair. The Portballintrae station was also equipped with several surface radars to monitor Russian surface naval vessels approaching the Clyde. Incidentally, when that station closed in 1957, it was due to the fact the local Council would not renew the lease for the land, as they required it for their own purposes. Table 1 shows links to websites connected with this part of my column that you may find interesting. If you are interested in the Project Corsair Enter our competitions at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/competitions March 2022 RadioUser 57

Maritime Matters ROBERT CONNOLLY Without pre-empting the outcome of the formal investigation, it would seem to me that a proper radar watch, something that is very important in foggy conditions, was not happening on either or both vessels. Perhaps the crew member on watch had left the bridge, leaving the ship on autopilot, for some reason but to my mind, it was certainly an accident that, in this day of technology designed to prevent such incidents, should not have happened. Checking the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) website provides the current status of this and other marine accident investigations. https://tinyurl.com/4ejf984s Even though the incident happened off the coast of Sweden the UK MAIB is carrying out its investigation into the incident as one of the vessels was UK- registered. Navtex and NBDP Updates 3 Canadian HF marine communications, this is a very useful resource document and will According to the website below, authorities in times received Iqaluit and Buenos Aires on be of great interest. Canada continue to permit broadcaster CHLO 8416.5kHz, along with the very occasional AM 530 Brampton to create, what William reception of Honolulu. Buenos Aires can NDB Monitoring Review Hepburn describes as, destructive interference also be heard from time to time on 12579 on the NAVTEX frequency 518kHz within the and 16806.5 kHz. Their transmissions are in Next month, I will bring you my in-depth re- Ferndale NAVTEX area. This is caused by the both Spanish and English lasting well over view of NDB reception over the winter period. use of digital HD sidebands covering 515 to an hour. I will include not only a large selection of NDB 520kHz. reception logs but also a report on what hap- Publications News pened when I compared NDB reception results In some more updates for those of you after running my SDRplay RSPdx and RSP1A who monitor NAVTEX signals, two new The Canadian Coast Guard has ceased the radios at the same time, and with the same an- transmissions are planned for NAVAREA printing of its excellent annual publication tenna and SDR software. 2 – Lagos and Port Harcourt. Lagos Radio Aids to Marine Navigation. However, will use slot O on 490kHz and slot S on the document will continue to be available Moreover, as next month sees the arrival 518kHz, while Port Harcourt will use O on online, free of charge, at this URL: of Easter and the re-opening of our coastal 490kHz and H on 518kHz. Furthermore, in https://tinyurl.com/msx8b4un holiday resorts, I will be providing hints and NAVAREA 2, São Vicente is out of service tips aimed at the newcomer who plans to on both 490 (slot P) and 518kHz (slot U). The annual edition of the Radio Aids to bring their scanner with them for a seaside Casablanca on 518kHz (slot M) is also out Marine Navigation publication is always holiday break. of service. published in January, with amendments, if any, advertised in Section 3 of the monthly Finally, the photo in Fig. 3 shows the In NAVAREA 3, Toulon on 490 (slot S) and edition of Notices to Mariners. The Notices Royal Oman Coastguard salvage/rescue 518kHz (slot W) is out of service. to Mariners publications are available vessel Haras 1 (1‫)حسر‬. fitting out after con- online, free of charge, at this website: struction in Messina Italy (2008). Until the A new Russian station, Taganrog on https://www.notmar.gc.ca next time stay safe and “Fair Winds”. 490kHz in NAVAREA 3, has been allocated slot O. This is an interesting 300-page https://tinyurl.com/bdfuh8b3 www.dxinfocentre.com publication covering many aspects https://tinyurl.com/4vttyp77 of Canadian Coastguard maritime https://tinyurl.com/4zz6uzdh My recent checks of HF NBDP trans- communications. Interestingly, it https://tinyurl.com/2p9fjpyv missions on 4209.5kHz have shown that also lists six remaining marine Non- https://tinyurl.com/379ap8ew Istanbul Turk and Irakleio transmissions Directional Beacons still operational in https://tinyurl.com/4wcptp3e are currently still receivable in the UK. On British Columbia for the Pacific coast. https://compass-oceanscience.eu 8416.5kHz I have received UAT Moscow, It has sections on NAVTEX, marine along with transmissions from Isjford. communications and traffic service Table 1: Further Resources for this Column. Unfortunately, despite running checks on centres, along with HF and VHF frequencies these frequencies for several days, there used. For both the general maritime radio was no sign of any stations outside Europe. listener and those particularly interested in However, as we progress into the sum- mer, this will change. On previous occa- sions, I received Boston on 6314, 8416.5, 12579 and 16806.5kHz. I also some- Sign up to our FREE email newsletter at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk 58 RadioUser March 2022

Rallies Rallies & Events All information published here reflects the situation up to and including 14th February 2022. Readers are advised to check carefully with the organisers of any rally or event, before setting out for a visit. The Radio Enthusiast website will have updates, please check here regularly. To get your event onto this list, please, e-mail full details as early as possible: [email protected] 6 March 24 April 8 May 12 June EXETER RADIO & ELECTRONICS RALLY: CAMBRIDGE REPEATER GROUP RALLY: LOUGH ERNE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB JUNCTION 28 RADIO RALLY: Alfreton America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter, Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, ANNUAL RALLY 2022: Arena @ Share and District Amateur Radio Club, South EX4 8PW. Cambridge, Cambs CB22 6RN; Open at Discovery Village; 221 Lisnaskea Road; Normanton. Alfreton Leisure Centre, DE55 Pete G3ZVI 9.30 am for the public (7.30 am for traders). Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 0JZ; 7BD.Tables still £10 and Admission£3. [email protected] Admission is £3. (BB, CBS, CR,TI,TBS). Northern Ireland. Opening at 11.30 am (9.30 Bar, refreshments and full Café onsite. Lawrence, M0LCM : 07941-972724 am for traders). Facilities are available on- Opening at 10:15, traders will have access 13 March [email protected] site for breakfast, tea, coffee and lunches. from 08:00. HAMZILLA RADIO FEST: Discovery www.cambridgerepeaters.net There may be some Châlets available on- Alan Jones M0OLT: 01332 679913 Science Park, Gateway House, Ramsgate site. Please contact Reception directly at: [email protected] Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF.Tickets are 1 May www.sharevillage.org www.snadarc.com available now from £3/Tables £12.Those NARSA (NORTHERN AMATEUR RADIO Traders wishing to attend should contact who bought tickets and tables in advance SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION): Norbreck Alan R Gault Chairman at: 19 June will have their booking carried forward to Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA [email protected] EAST SUFFOLK WIRELESS REVIVAL Hamzilla 2022. Dave M0OBW: 01270 761 608 https://tinyurl.com/4end75em (IPSWICH RADIO RALLY): Kirton https://hamzilla.uk [email protected] Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton IP10 www.narsa.org.uk 11 June 0PW (just off the A14). Doors open at 9.30 9 April ROCHDALE & DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO am and the entry fee for visitors is £2.Trade YEOVIL ARS: 36th QRP CONVENTION. 2 May SOCIETY SUMMER RALLY: St Vincent tables are from £10. (BB | CBS | CR | FP | The Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA DARTMOOR RADIO RALLY (BANK RSGB | SIG |TS | GB4SWR HF station). (parking charges apply on Saturdays) HOLIDAY MONDAY):The Yelverton War de Paul’s, Caldershaw Road, off Edenfield Kevin G8MXV: 07710 046 846 Open 09:30 am to 2:00 pm; Admission Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton. Road (A680), Norden, Rochdale OL12 7QR. www.eswr.org.uk £3 (No dogs except guide dogs) BB |TS | Devon, PL20 6AL. Doors open at 10 am and Doors will be open to the public at 10.15 am; Club Stalls; Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & admission is £2.50 (BB | CR | FP |TS). disabled visitors 15 minutes earlier. 24-26 June BYLARA. No talks this year, due to Covid. Roger: 07854 088882 Robert M0NVQ: 0777 811 3333 HAM RADIO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN https://tinyurl.com/fyj9vtca [email protected] [email protected] https://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de BABuildathon BBBring-and-Buy CBSCarBootSale CRCatering/Refreshments DDisabledvisitors FPFreeParking LBLicensedBar LLecturesRFRaffle RSGB(RSGB)BookStall RU/PWRadioUser/PWattendance SIGSpecial-InterestGroups TITalk-In(Channel) TSTradeStalls ■ BLUEPRINTS ■ RARE PHOTOS ■ STATS ■ 3D ILLUSTRATIONS This lavish 164-page guide to the tanks of WWII covers everything from the light tanks TANKS of Japan in the Far East, to the British tanks OF WWII of the Western Desert Campaign, PLUS the www.militaria-history.co.uk • Winter 2021 • £9.99 Your guide to 178 tank Soviet tanks on the Eastern Front and the models, variants and SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION range of Panzer models deployed by Nazi prototypes from the global conflict Germany throughout the war. This special collector’s magazine is split into handy sections such as famous tank commanders, Allied tanks, Axis power tanks, tank battles of WWII and tank media. Beautifully illustrated with colour IN! ✚ NOWON SALE photographs throughout, this is your IN! WIN! W guide to 178 of Allied and Axis tank W KEY TANK BATTLES models, variants and prototypes. How armour defined the WORTH action at Khalkhin Gol, El Alamein, Kursk and more £210 ✚ FAMOUS TANK ✚ ALLIED & £9.99 Available in all good newsagents. COMMANDERS AXIS TANKS Order online for early The men with Production details, access from militaria.ma/tanksofww2 radical, new tactics contemporary photos, and those who blueprints and key excelled in the field model specifications ❯❯TANK MEDIA Great museums to visit, tank militaria to collect plus models and tank games to play or by calling 01778 392489 March 2022 RadioUser 59

Signals from Space © ROSCOSMOS Tim Kirby [email protected] Afew days ago, someone asked 1 me for some tips about receiv- ing the Slow Scan TV transmis- Slow Scan Television sions from the International from Space Space Station (ISS). Although I have covered receiving voice and packet This month Tim Kirby looks at the history of Slow data transmissions from the Space Station Scan Television in space exploration and shows you before, I do not think we’ve ever looked in how you can follow in the steps of the pioneers and any detail at Slow Scan Television, what it is, receive pictures that are truly out of this world! how you might receive it and how and why it is sent from the ISS. Module (Fig. 2). In a decision, which I am quite sophisticated at the time. sure made sense at the time, but seems less There was a scanner or camera to cap- As I read more, I discovered that Slow than wise now, NASA took all the original Scan Television had a rich history of being tapes of these images and erased them, so ture the image, a modem to convert the pic- used in space communications. that they could use the tapes on later mis- ture into tones for transmission, as well as sions! Fortunately, the Apollo 11 Tape Search converting the tones into signals, to be dis- What is Slow Scan Television, or SSTV for and Restoration Team managed to find the played on a cathode ray tube for the recep- short? I remember when I was first getting best quality films taken from the first broad- tion. The long persistence tubes allowed interested in becoming a radio amateur back cast and then commissioned a film restora- the picture to be displayed for about 10 sec- in the very early 1980s, I went to a talk at the tion company to enhance the film, convert- onds. Blink and you missed it! Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association ing it into a digital format for archiving. The about SSTV. It was being demonstrated us- Apollo system used 320 lines per frame at a Nevertheless, this was a breakthrough, ing a new (at the time) solid-state converter speed of 10 frames per second. allowing pictures to be sent over a ‘nor- device, as well as a more venerable ‘long per- mal’ short wave SSB or AM radio circuit. sistence’ display. Early Commercial Systems Manufacturers such as Robot built commer- cial SSTV converters, which you could con- However, even in the 1980s, SSTV had Commercial SSTV systems started to nect to the audio circuitry of your short wave been around for a while; let us, therefore, go appear in the 1970s, with the Federal transceiver. The picture was displayed on a back to the beginning: Communications Agency (FCC) in the USA, standard video monitor. This was plugged permitting the mode to be used on the ama- into the back of the converter. From Luna toApollo teur radio bands. In the UK, no such permis- sion was required, and radio amateurs were As I recall, these converters were expen- The idea of SSTV was first put forward in keen to try out this new mode, which was sive and I could not conceive of owning one 1957 by Copthorne Macdonald (b. 1936). He at the time. used an electrostatic monitor and a vidicon tube (similar to the long persistence display You can see an example of a Robot 400 mentioned above). The ‘definition’ was not what we would consider ‘high’, these days, with 120 lines to make up the static picture; each line was made up of around 120 pixels. The first tests were made on what was then the 11-metre amateur band, which was later reallocated to the CB service by the FCC in the United States. What I had not realised until I started look- ing into the history of SSTV a little more, was that SSTV had been used in Space explora- tion. The Luna 3 spacecraft used SSTV to transmit images of the far side of the Moon in 1959 (Fig. 1). Whilst the overall concept of SSTV is easily understood – mapping spe- cific tones of sound to shades of grey, or col- our – there are many different methodolo- gies used, even now! Back in 1960, a 100 line per frame system was used, at 10 frames per second for the Vostok launches. A later system, with 400 lines was also used on later Vostok launch- es. The Apollo Missions too used SSTV to transmit images from inside Apollo 7, Apollo 8 and Apollo 9, as well as the Apollo Lunar Sign up to our FREE email newsletter at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk 60 RadioUser March 2022

JOHN MAGLIACANE Signals from Space © NASA 2 Slow Scan TV (SSTV) converter at this URL: https://tinyurl.com/2p8sv36h Medical andAmateur Use 3 Fig. 1: Luna 3 imaged the dark side of the moon and transmitted the image back to Earth using A good friend, Walt Davidson (callsign as an inexperienced radio amateur, this an SSTV system. Fig. 2: The vintage SSTV GB2SM) was one of the operators of the seemed quite a hurdle. Looking back, I am receiving station of John Magliacane. Fig. 3: Neil much-missed amateur radio station at the not sure why I did not bodge something sim- Armstrong’s first step on the Moon - transmitted Science Museum in London in the 1970s. ple together! by SSTV. Fig. 4: A digital SSTV signal sent with Walt tells a story that the SSTV equipment Easypal. Figs. 5a and 5b: Two samples of SSTV at the Science Museum was put to great use Modern Accessibility signals (‘5/12’ & ‘1/12’) transmitted from the ISS in one day. An islander on Tristan Da Cunha in December 2021 (David Ryan near Doncaster). the South Atlantic had developed a heart con- Once PCs with soundcards were on the dition; at that time, there was no one available scene, it was not long before software started on the SSTV system in use at the time, the locally to look at the patient’s ECG. to be available, which used the soundcard pictures generally take around a minute to as a modem and the PC’s display to show re- be received. If you do receive pictures at Therefore, SSTV was used to transmit the ceived pictures and select pictures for trans- 14.230MHz, please be aware that some peo- image of the ECG from Tristan Da Cunha to mission. Such software is readily and freely ple seem to have different values about what the Science Museum, where a cardiac doc- available now. Technology has changed so make suitable images for transmission. tor from one of the London hospitals was on much that there is now even SSTV software hand to look at and analyse the image of the available to run on a smartphone. SSTVfrom the ISS ECG and offer advice. While SSTV is now a very accessible Let us get back to SSTV activity from In the 1980s, SSTV was still main- mode for everyone, it has become much space! SSTV is transmitted from the ama- taining a strong connection with Space more popular. As well as analogue SSTV, teur radio station in the Russian part of the Communications. On an interesting web- which we have been talking about, there International Space Station, several times a page, John Magliacane KD2BD, mentions is now Digital SSTV in use on the amateur year (Figs. 5a and 5b). using his homemade SSTV equipment (Fig. bands, which you might consider similar to 3) to receive pictures from the planet Jupiter, a file-transfer program. Digital SSTV results There is usually a few days’ notice before which had recently been received by NASA in very good quality images, almost indis- any activity. from the Voyager 2 spacecraft. tinguishable from an image you may have https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/sstv.html downloaded from the internet or received Keep an eye on the ARISS (Amateur Radio by email. As such, perhaps it lacks a little on the International Space Station) website: The images were then rebroadcast on the ‘charm’. Your view might be different. https://www.ariss.org amateur bands, using SSTV by amateur ra- dio station W6VIO, the amateur radio station Easypal (Fig. 4) is an example of a digital Alternatively, make sure that the frequen- at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in SSTV program, which although is no longer cy 145.800MHz is programmed into your Pasadena, California. under development, seems to have a strong scanner. In any case, 145.800MHz is a good following. You can download it here: frequency to monitor regularly as you may SSTV on the amateur bands continued https://tinyurl.com/2p9ajx4s well hear astronauts making voice con- to be quite specialised well into the 1980s. tacts with schools and answering questions, However, the new wave of microcomput- You can find SSTV on the amateur bands which can be quite interesting. ers started to make an impact by the middle on a very regular basis. This is useful if you of that decade. If you were lucky enough to want to test your receiving and transmitting However, if you hear a series of tones, have a Sinclair Spectrum computer in 1987, setup – 14.230MHz is a useful frequency to you know that some SSTV activity is taking there was a program called G1FTU SSTV. listen to. There, you will often hear a series place. of tones – this is an SSTV signal. Depending This was capable of decoding and trans- mitting SSTV images. You still had to build an interface circuit, to connect the comput- er up to your radio transmitter. At the time, Enter our competitions at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/competitions March 2022 RadioUser 61

Signals from Space Signals are generally very strong. The 4 JOSEP MATARÓ (EA3DAH | JN11FN) transmitter on the space station runs around 25W, so you will not need specialised re- to the loudspeaker of the handheld radio so DAVID RYAN ceiving equipment. A discone or white stick that the audio is nice and strong. aerial on your house will almost certainly be 5a good enough to receive signals capable of As the ISS passes over your location you producing good quality images. will notice variations in signal strength. You 5b will almost certainly find by tilting the aerial You will need a receiver capable of receiv- back and forth and side to side you will be into the computer and SSTV program. ing on 145.800MHz. If the radio has a wide able to peak the signal up a little bit stronger. If you have an SDR type receiver, you can filter, so much the better. You will need a This will change through the pass, so you means of taking the audio from the receiver will need to move the set (and the tape re- record the signals from the pass in the SDR to the input of a soundcard on your com- corder) around a fair bit. If you manage to software and then, once the pass is over, you puter. A simple connecting lead will get you keep the signal strength and audio quality can play the signals back in the SDR soft- started, although commercial interfaces up, you are bound to get a better quality of ware and feed the output into your SSTV de- provide a degree of isolation, which can be the image. coder. There are lots of options! Many peo- beneficial for both safety and audio quality ple find the decoding of the SSTV images reasons. Working with MMSSTV from the ISS fascinating and of course, if you get a good quality image or two, it is nice to I am assuming here that you have a Once the pass is over – and you may receive be able to show friends and family what you Windows PC several images on the same pass – you can have been up to. I hope you have enjoyed https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/sstv.html stop the recorder app and head back inside this look at Slow Scan Television signals to your computer. from space. Perhaps, you might try receiving you’ll need to run some software capable some of them for yourself. of decoding SSTV. MMSSTV is perhaps one There, you can run up the MMSSTV appli- of the best-known bits of software for this cation. Rather than selecting the soundcard purpose which you can download freely at input to the program, select the computer’s this URL: microphone. Then, start to play the record- https://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php ing you just made and if everything has gone to plan, you should start to see the SSTV pic- The setup is relatively straightforward, tures on your screen. The quality may not be once you have installed the software, it is a great, but it is surprising how well this very question of configuring the software to look simple method can work and it’s fun to try it at the soundcard input where the signals out. Of course, if you have a suitable audio from your receiver come in. If you are lucky, cable from the output of your phone to the it will default to that input and you will not input of your computer’s soundcard, this will have to do anything. work even better. Standards and Signals Making a recording of the signals from the ISS is a good idea anyway. It allows you As I mentioned earlier, there are many dif- to have infinite chances to decode the im- ferent SSTV standards. SSTV from the ISS ages. You can either make an audio record- is generally transmitted in PD120 mode. ing as described above (and of course, you Fortunately, MMSSTV should automatically can make a recording of the pass from your detect that the signal is being sent in PD120 scanner or base station) and then feed that mode and configure itself accordingly. If it does not, you can set the mode manu- ally, of course. Randy K7AGE has put together a detailed video on how to receive pictures from the ISS, including software installation and con- figuration, knowing when the ISS is passing your location and lots of other useful infor- mation. You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/YgY3saXXTXs Randy also covers a very simple means of decoding SSTV from the ISS, which you might like to try if you have never had a go before. If you have a handheld radio or scan- ner tuned to 145.800MHz, go outside when a suitable pass is due and take a smartphone with a ‘tape recorder’ feature on it. All you want to do is to record the audio signals onto your smartphone. Hold the mi- crophone on your smartphone fairly close Sign up to our FREE email newsletter at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk 62 RadioUser March 2022

Scotland DealerGuide A complete range of For Sale Multi purpose Masts CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE! Windows 10 ready CATand programming cables, latest version RTL-SDR USB sticks The best of Scottish engineering! and other genuine RTL-SDR.com products, replacement microphones, cables and PTTs for studio microphones, linear switching cables and much more. technofix.uk or www.technofix.co.uk Tel: 01505 503824 www.tennamast.com TradingPost [email protected] FOR SALE RACAL RA1795. First class condition, working perfectly, Somerset COLLINS 75S-2 HF RX. Good condition and working 20-1000Mhz, all mode. Believed used at Hanslope Park order. Very clean inside/out. Winged emblem. Manual. in 1982 during Falklands conflict. £1500 ONO. Buyer to LINDARS RADIOS £290. HMAEG HM 204-2 oscilloscope twin beam inspect and collect. David G4JMF: 07724 139252 Good condition working order. £60 TAYLOR 68A signal or email [email protected] CHESTER ʻA Modern Company With generator good condition working order Accurate scale Old Fashioned Valuesʼ £30. Contact Rob: 01273 834355 LOWE HF150 with PR.150 Pre-Selector AP 150 or email: [email protected] MID SUSSEX loudspeaker unit and key pad.This radio and and owner USED AMATEUR appeared in the November issue of RU. Buyer collects. RADIO EQUIPMENT UNWANTED INHERITED GIFT. SGC SG500 500W linear £200 ono. Lionel: 01795 538599 FAVERSHAM, KENT PURCHASED AND SOLD amp 1.6 - 30Mhz, 12V operation, 30 -100W drive. As new, never used. Recently checked by Kent Rigs. £500. Buyer WANTED www.AmateurRadioSales.co.uk to inspect and collect. David G4JMF: 07724 139252 VINTAGE CABINET. chassis, tuning capacitor, scale or email [email protected] CHESTER and pointer suitable for building a valveTRF receiver (PW 01935 474265 October 1956) as was available then from radio dealers. 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WOULD YOU LIKE A profile of USAF aircraft operating TO ADVERTISE IN in Europe from 1909 to the present RADIO USER Aircraft of the USAF in Europe Then contact This collectors’ edition magazine records Kristina Green on and shows a picture of military aircraft used by the United States forces while they were 01778 stationed in Europe. 392096 Buy now from militaria.ma/aircraftofusaf or by calling 01778 392489 or you can email her on [email protected] Copyright © Warners Group Publications plc. Copyright in all drawings, logos, photographs and articles published in RadioUser is fully protected and reproduction in whole or part is expressly forbidden. All reasonable precautions are taken by Radio User to ensure that the advice and data given to our readers are reliable. We cannot however guarantee it and we cannot accept legal responsibility for it. Prices are those current as we go to press. Published on the second Thursday of each month by Warners Group Publications plc. Printed in England by Warners Midlands plc. Tel: 01778 395100. Distributed by Warners Distribution, West Street, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH. Tel: 01778 391000, Web: www.warnersgroup.co.uk. RadioUser is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without written consent of the publishers first having been given, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover, and that it shall not be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of Trade, or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. March 2022 RadioUser 63

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SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION “Praise where due. This is the best BATTL EOFBRITA magazine available which E ISSUE I have read - I am very impressed. IN CO MMEM ORATIV I thoroughly enjoyed reading each chapter and it was wri en in such an easy style. It covered every aspect and I was saddened when I reached the end.” THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN IN COLOUR The RAF’s greatest victory commemorated as This 164-page special collector’s edition never before in your 164-page special edition commemorates the 80th Anniversary of the momentous Ba le of Britain, making The Men : The Machines : The Ba les : The Losses it the perfect gi for any aviation or Ba le Qeque veleOs v| Qeerq1u7e0veolersig|iQneaqlupehvoetl2eosg|rQaepqhuse vneolews i|nQecqouleouverles | Qeque of Britain enthusiast. 001 front ME.indd 2 21/05/2020 21:13 THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN IN COLOUR BACKGROUND TO BATTLE Left A Hurricane of 501 Squadron THE RAF FIGHTER PILOT THE RAF FIGHTER PILOT starts-up for an operational sortie at Betheniville, France, May 1940. Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding argued successfully against further wastage of the home- based RAF fighter force by sending yet more fighters to France to bolster a futile defence. Right As the unstoppable juggernaut of German military might advanced across Europe, the deadly Junkers 87 Stuka dive- bomber came into its own. However, the RAF quickly learned how to deal with the aircraft, and this stood them in good stead when facing the Stuka during the Battle of Britain. Below right Panzer IV tanks roll across France in May 1940. The German advance was rapid and overwhelming, and within six weeks France had collapsed and the BEF were evacuating from Dunkirk. sand in an hour-glass’ and he predicted catastrophe if Churchill continued to help the failing ally. Thus, he sent a letter to the Air Minister on 16 May 1940, which may well have saved Fighter Command, and ultimately Britain, in the nation’s darkest hour. He wrote: “I have the honour to refer to the very serious calls which have recently been made upon the Home Defence Fighter Units in an attempt to stem the German invasion on the Continent … I would The Battle Looms remind the Air Council that … my strength has now been reduced to the equivalent of 36 Squadrons … I must therefore request that as a matter of paramount urgency the Air Ministry will consider and decide what level of strength is to be left to the The Battle of Britain was one of the most iconic battles of the Second World War, Fighter Command for the defence of this embedding itself indelibly into the nation’s consciousness. Earlier, the Battle of France country, and will assure me that when this Losses Mounted to be called into action, covering the could easily have spelled defeat before the air battles got underway in July 1940. level has been reached, not one fighter At around the same time, another evacuation from Dunkirk and other will be sent across the Channel however momentous decision was undertaken French ports. Inevitably, their losses insistent the appeals for help may be. by making Lord Beaverbrook Minister of mounted. Meanwhile, the battered and After the outbreak of war in “I believe that, if an adequate fighter Aircraft Production. Aircraft production depleted RAF units that had been based September 1939, there followed eight months of what became force is kept in this country, if the fleet had in fact kept pace with fighter losses in France were withdrawn to Britain. known as the ‘Phoney War’. However, it was clear that large-scale On 10 May 1940, German forces be made good from squadrons based remains in being, and if the Home Forces incurred during the Battle of France. Here, they were re-equipped where fighting would ultimately follow, and a launched their all-out assault on France in Britain. The Commander-in-Chief of British Expeditionary Force was sent to and the Low Countries and what followed RAF Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal are suitably organised to resist invasion, Soon, production would outstrip losses. necessary, and manpower shortages France before the end of that year. As in Belgium, the Netherlands etc. was the Hugh Dowding, had already stated as part of that BEF, a large Air Component complete collapse of those countries early as September 1939, that if he was we should be able to carry on the war Thus, the availability of fighters would made good so far as possible. Meanwhile, was supplemented by an Advanced Air under the overwhelming might of expected to defend Britain’s skies, then Striking Force. In total, these air forces German military power. Across France, he would need 52 fighter squadrons. single handed for some time, if not not become a limiting factor in the air RAF Fighter Command readied for what other pilots concentrated on what haring off suddenly, upwards or Facing page Although posed for a news amounted to 25 squadrons, six of which German forces rolled inexorably onwards At that time, he had only 32 under his was going on in their cockpits: oil downwards, the rest of the squadron cameraman, the squadron telephone were Hawker Hurricane-equipped towards the English Channel and while command and was told it would be indefinitely. But, if the Home Defence defence of Britain. was to come. Certainly, the Battle of temperatures and pressures, fuel state, watching in bemusement and puzzled orderly shouts instructions for a ‘scramble’ fighter squadrons. The remainder of the the French and British tried desperately impossible to produce the number he oxygen contents checked and selected because they received no transmission, as pilots lounge in the dispersal hut. The RAF force in France comprised largely to stem the advance, so the situation required. However, efforts would be Force is drained away in desperate However, by 1 June 1940, the RAF had France was over. The Battle of Britain was to ‘On’, microphone not on ‘Transmit’ or else just couldn’t understand what had smartly dressed officer is Duty Pilot – the light bombers and Army Co-Operation became ever more hopeless. made to provide him with a further eight. (this could effectively block all other been said. Meanwhile, constant juggling pilot rostered for ground admin tasks such squadrons. Eventually, however, the attempts to remedy the situation in lost 436 fighter aircraft and almost all about to begin. transmissions), straps tight, gun-sight of the throttle setting with the left hand, as recording take-off and landing times ‘Sitzkrieg’ became the ‘Blitzkrieg’. Predicted Catastrophe During the fighting in France, ‘On’ and illuminated, straps tight and and judicious adjustment of position etc. When the fighting had broken out in increasing numbers of fighter squadrons France, defeat in France will involve the its light bomber force of Fairey Battles, canopy firmly shut. A surprising number through the control column and rudder Above It was not unusual for aircraft to earnest on 10 May 1940, aircraft of the were sent across the Channel, urged on would carry out a little good luck routine pedal inputs, were all necessary just to return damaged after an engagement Air Component were in almost constant by desperate appeals from the French complete and irremediable defeat of this along with a considerable number of its Immensely Powerful like feeling for a lucky charm, or even keep station. It was incredibly hard work, and with pilots wounded. This brand- combat, and losses had to continually Prime Minister, Paul Reynaud. Dowding were not afrBaridisttohlaBt ltehnehyewimerse. Heiothweervleiar,rRs AF FigBhytetrhis timDeo,wthdeinsgtahratedrmbuetntotinonweadsthe possibiFlaitcying page Pilots of 19 Squadron are crossing themselves. and mentally and physically draining. new Spitfire had just been delivered to saw his resources ‘slipping away like country.” 602 Squadron at RAF Westhampnett It was a hard-hitting letter, but or foolish. HCoowmevmear,nadsattrihdoemntejacnognltiinngued to oppuesrhaetde afteor faitnhvuamsiobns-auspefarrolmy atshtehe middle ofdMelaivyered to their dispersal point at RAF Now, the workload was high, and still By now, the squadron was ‘on oxygen’, when it was hit by cannon shells from a Dowding’s words had their effect aonfdthe telephoovnereFcroaunlcdemaseathnesseivteuraatlion worsefnitetde.r, who u1n9p4l0u,gbguetdbtyhethsetaerntedrotrfotlhleayt,month tDhuexford ready for operations early one they needed to concentrate on formation masks clamped securely to pilot’s faces Messerschmitt 109 in a combat on 18 while the French still asked for motrheings. SometiImn easm, taottienrteonfsseixrewlieeefk, sit, Franceensuring it wpaossscilbeialritoyfhtahdebaeirecnratfutr. ned into whamtorning during the summer of 1940. keeping while permanently keeping as cold began to permeate the cockpits. August 1940. The aircraft was written off fighter squadrons to be sent to Fracnocueld, send acomlleaspssaegdeetnot‘iSretalyn.dNDowow, int ’.only remUanianbelde to coamppmeaurneidcattoe boeveprrtohbeabroilaitryo. fIf Hitler Awbaosve Their relaxed look perhaps a wary eye open for the enemy and Now, with all the hard work of take-off, and Flight Lieutenant Dunlop Urie wounded such appeals were rejected. HowevOetrh,er timesf,oitr cBarlilteisdhpfiolorctsest,oarnedadsionmesesu, nits tohfethMeerlin etnogiimnep, othsee hpiislowt ialnl odnritghgeerBritish peocpolnec, ealing the tension, these Hurricane quartering the sky in a relentless search. formation flying and getting to altitude, in his feet. further squadrons of Hurricanes waenrde then toFthreenhcehaarrt-mpyo,utnodeivnagcouradteerv:ia Dunkeixrckhanged tthhuemn bhse ucpouslidgnaaplsp,atrheenrtliyggoenrly do sopilots of 501 Squadron pose for the camera A moment of relapse could litterally spell came further nervous tension with deployed over France, but they rem‘SaCiRnAedMBLEi!n’ what was Operation ‘Dynamo’. RsAlaFpping hisbpyilcortoossninthgethsheoEunlgdleisrhtoChannel andduring the summer of 1940. All of them death. The squadron ‘Weaver’, winding realisation that the enemy were near. chance of a well-ordered textbook: Years afteFrwigahrtdesr,CvoetmermanasndofatthheoBmaettlceontincuoendvey reassduicrtaantcinegahnids gteoromd-slufrcokmasWheestminstesar.wTaoction. Several of them shot down from side to side, kept a rather more wary Then, a tight knot of fear returned as ‘Number One Attack’. Instead, it was based in the UK. of Britain told how they hated the sound leapt from the wing. As he jumped, the enemy aircraft and some of them were eye open than the rest, as the squadron the gunsight was checked and the SAFE every man for himself, but with ‘wing got closer by the second to their quarry. and FIRE ring on the gun button turned, men’ desperately trying to maintain 6 7of a ringing telephone. aircraft was already rolling, and the rigger killed. Brief instructions might crackle through ready, to the FIRE position. Goggles station and protect their section leader. On the order to scramble, there was dodged out of the way of the tail-plane, the headphones: ‘Close up Red 2’ or, on pulled down. And then the shout: TTLE OF BRI006-011 Background to Battle_AS_W ME.indd 6 receipt of further instructions from the Now, the pilots were climbing and a mad rush by pilots to their allotted buffeted by the slipstream which was what it was they were intercepting. It Fighter Controller: ‘Turning to Port. Go!’ ‘BANDITS! Ten o’clock, above. Coming hanging on their props, the sun glaring down now! Break, break, break….’ and blinding as they turned, all the while aircraft where the fitter and rigger were kicking up dust and grass. Getting out may have been an instruction along the Meanwhile, pilots fiddled with the listening out and looking out. Now, radio tuner, struggling to tune and re- Chatter Of Gunfire there were shouts: “Behind you Blue ready and waiting: the rigger on the wing of the way, he was hit by a blast of hot lines of: “MITOR Squadron, ANGELS tune their wireless sets in a constant Suddenly, to avoid the ‘bounce’ of 3!”, permeated by chattering gunfire. battle to receive and properly understand fighters coming out of the sun, the A cacophony of shouts and static 22/05/2020 12:36 006-011 Background to Battle_AS_W ME.indd 7 ready to help in his pilot, and the fitter exhaust gasses. Now, the aircraft gathered 18, V2e2/c0t5o/2r02T0w1o2:-3t6hree-zero. Fifty Plus. the messages. Sometimes, a squawk squadron had dispersed in a pre-ordered made communication unintelligible. of static drowned out everything, plan. Now, the enemy fighters were One pilot may be drawing a bead on a standing by with the starter plugged in on speed ahead, into wind, bouncing and BUSTER.” Listening in, the other pilots sometimes resulting in one section among them. This time, there was no TAIN the starboard side of the engine. Heaving rocking across the grass airfield. Others could interpret these coded instructions: COMM BA himself into the cockpit, the pilot went careered along around it, in the organised “41 Squadron to climb to 18,000 ft on a SSUE through a number of tasks: helmet pulled chaos that was a squadron scramble. heading of 230 degrees. Fifty plus enemy on, oxygen plugged in, radio jack-plug in Getting airborne, the pilots aircraft. Maximum cruising speed.” its socket, magneto switches ‘on’, Ki-Gas concentrated on keeping station as cylinder priming pump given a couple they selected ‘Gear Up’, closing the Mentally and Physically Draining of brief strokes and thumb ready on cockpit canopy while listening out Settling into the climb, the pilots the starter. Meanwhile, leaning into the for instructions from the CO or flight automatically slid into section order cockpit, the Fitter helped the pilot with commander who was talking to the and the preferred squadron formation. his parachute harness straps, then his Sector Operations Room and garnering Meanwhile, the CO or flight commander Sutton seat harness. instructions as to heading, altitude and concentrated on setting course as the 19 21 EMORATIVE I 016-029 Pilots Day_AS ME.indd 19 22/05/2020 07:46 016-029 Pilots Day_AS ME.indd 21 22/05/2020 07:46 DOWNLOAD NOW ORDER A PAPER COPY