"UTAH" Radiomen
The signal you are hearing is, , of course, not coming from
the
watery grave in which the radio room of
the USS Utah is now ensconced. However, it did come from the arthritic
"fist" of
a former USS Utah Radioman who was sending the identical
signal well over 60 years
ago....
Most Navy Radiomen, from commencement of the wireless era down through both World Wars, Korea and possibly Vietnam, stood "split phone" watches. Sometimes they would monitor a Navy operating frequency in one ear, and listen for distress calls from the International Distress Frequency of 500 KC (now called 500 Mhz), in the other ear.
An innovative Radioman standing a single frequency watch learned to "split phones" with radio stations - local if near land, or "short wave" at sea. This was generally frowned on by management, i.e., the Chief Radioman, who would raise h---- if he found out about it. But radio watches on most ships were long - midnight to breakfast, breakfast to 1600 (4PM), and 1600 to 2400 (Midnight). The midnight to breakfast, was known as the "mid watch" and was the most relaxed for the operators. Thus it was not unusual to be copying code through one ear and listening to Benny Goodman, Guy Lombardo, Glenn Miller, or some other great "Big Band" through the other ear.
You may be thinking that using "dots and dashes" to spell out the alphabet, send numbers and punctuation was a slow and cumbersome way to communicate. However, many a Navy Radioman (RM) could copy Morse code at 60 words per minute, drink a cup of "Joe" and carry on a conversation at the same time.
Today, the military, government, and commerce use voice and data communications, transmitting via satellite systems, microwave and fiber optics. These new technologies have rapidly replaced many of the "horse and buggy" communication systems of those days and is providing the most effective communications seen by this "communicator" of sixty plus years.
There is one holdout group still using International Morse Code - some Amateur Radio Operators who still value the reliability and relative simplicity of this "archaic" form of communications known as Continuous Wave aka "CW."
Imagine, if you can, you are a Navy Radioman on a long cruise across the ocean of your choice. You are on the "mid watch" listening to beautiful romantic music from one side of your headset. From top side of your ship reflections of moonlight on the water can be seen in all directions. Drats, there's not a woman in a thousand miles! (see disclaimer)
Note: The code being sent at the top of the page by an arthritic "fist" of an old Navy Radioman is: o9o de NIQJ K
Roughly translated it meant "To ANY US NAVY SHIP OR STATION FROM USS UTAH - GO AHEAD." (PLEASE ANSWER)
Disclaimer: This page was written in reminiscence of a bygone era. It is not meant to discredit in any way, the great contribution of women to communications, military operations, computers, or anything else.
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