Navy Radio Traffic Handling, Circuits, and Message Processing

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Afloat Communications Systems - 1972 Radioman A School Training Material
   - See More Training Material Here

I. A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
(from "Fleet Multi-channel Broadcast Traffic Intensity Study" by LCDR Harlan Daryl Oelmann, June 1972 - 8MB pdf)

A. ORGANIZATION OF THE NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

The Naval Communications System is composed of 27 Naval Communications Stations (NAVCOMMSTAs ) , 4 Naval Communications Units (NAVCOMMUs) and several Naval Radio Stations (NAVRADSTAs). These stations are located throughout the world and are organized into several Naval Communications Areas (NAVCOMMAREAs) . The primary purpose of these stations is to relay messages to and from ships of the fleet andshore establishments within their area of responsibility.

The stations within a NAVCOMMAREA are organized under one NAVCOMMSTA which is designated as the Naval Communications Area Master Station (NAVCAMS) while the other stations are designated as Naval Communications Area Local Stations (NAVCALS) . Although the communication means which each of these stations use take several forms, such as teletype, voice and CW, etc. , this study is concerned only with teletype communications and the fleet broadcast system. Therefore discussion will consider only those areas.

B. TELETYPE COMMUNICATIONS

It is assumed that to most readers, teletype communications is a familiar means of communication which does not require detailed explanation, except to note that when messages are handled physically within a station they are handled in teletype tape or chad tape form. Hence in further discussion when we speak of messages being handled in a station it is implicitly meant that such messages are in tape form unless otherwise stated.

1. World Wide Teletype Communications

The Defense Department World Wide telecommunications system controlled by the Defense Communication Agency provides for long-haul and point-to-point telecommunications between communications stations of the Armed Forces which include the NAVCOMMSTAs and other stations within the NAVCOMMAREAs . This system is known as the AUTODIN network which is a digital high speed message transmission system.

2. Local Teletype Communications

The primary means of communications between a NAVCOMMSTA and the ships at sea is a teletype system which operates at the rate of 100 words-per-minute (wpm), where one teletype word is equivalent to 5 teletype characters.

There are essentially three methods of teletype communication between the ships at sea and the shore based NAVCOMMSTA.

• The first is a ship-shore telecommunication link which are time shared circuits used by several ships at sea, these circuits provide the capability to send messages to a NAVCOMMSTA for further relay and delivery.
• The second method is also a ship-shore link which is a dedicated circuit, sometimes called a full period termination circuit, between one ship and the NAVCOMMSTA. This type of circuit is normally used by the larger ships such as aircraft carriers and cruisers, which normally have staffs embarked. The full period termination circuit provides the capability for these ships to send messages to the NAVCOMMSTA for further relay and also to receive from the NAVCOMMSTA messages which are addressed to that particular ship or embarked staff.
• The third method is the fleet broadcast system. This system is the primary means of delivering traffic to the fleet as a whole because it provides for simultaneous delivery of messages to the operating forces dispersed over a large geographical area. This method also employs a 100 wpm teletype system which could be described as a one-way system because the broadcast system enables the NAVCOMMSTA only to send messages while the ships can only receive messages.

The fleet broadcast system is composed of several different types of broadcasts. These are the fleet multichannel broadcast, on which this study is based, a single channel broadcast for ships that are not equipped to copy the multi-channel broadcast, the submarine broadcast and a merchant ship broadcast. In some NAVCOMMAREAs these broadcasts are all operated by one NAVCOMMSTA or Broadcast Control Station (BCS) while in other NAVCOMMAREAs these separate broadcasts are operated by two or more NAVCOMMSTAs . Also if the capability of flexibility exists, a separate additional broadcast may be created within a NAVCOMMAREA to handle special traffic load situation. Sometimes a NAVCAMS may shift a broadcast to a NAVCALS in an emergency or to maintain proficiency among the capable NAVCALS in operating the broadcast.

C. MESSAGE PRECEDENCES AND SPEED OF HANDLING

Naval communications messages are assigned one of four precedences. Each message precedence has a Speed of Service Criteria, which is a time standard for a message to take in transmission from the origination of the message to the receipt of the message by the addressee. These criteria are shown in Table XVI below. The letter in parenthesis is the designator of the precedence.

TABLE XVI - SPEED OF SERVICE CRITERIA

II. THE FLEET MULTI-CHANNEL BROADCAST SYSTEM

There are normally five fleet multi-channel broadcasts operated in the Naval Communications System. Each broadcast which serves a particular ocean area is operated by a designated NAVCOMMSTA or Broadcast Control Station. These broadcasts have designations of NMUL, EMUL, KMUL, FMUL and GMUL, where FMUL serves the Eastern and Mid-Pacific Ocean area and is normally operated by NAVCOMMSTA San Francisco [10].

A. CHANNEL ALIGNMENT AND USE

The fleet multi-channel broadcast is a multiplex system which has 8 separate 100 wpm teletype traffic channels which are transmitted on a single carrier frequency. The alignment of the traffic channels is such that the overall broadcast traffic load to the fleet is segregated on the basis of ship type where each subscriber is served by two traffic channels, a primary channel and a secondary channel. An example of the overall broadcast channel alignment, channel designations and uses of each channel is shown in Table XVII below.

TABLE XVII - FMUL-BROADCAST CHANNEL ALIGNMENT

B. THE RECEPTION SIDE OF THE BROADCAST

The fleet multi-channel broadcast system for each channel is a guard system. This means that each subscriber copying a particular channel screens each sequentially serial-numbered message sent on that channel to determine whether that particular message is addressed to him or not. If the message is for the ship or for the embarked staff the message is processed. If it is not for that particular ship or embarked staff the message is ignored and filed. Hence a subscriber must perform two necessary actions. He must determine from the message heading (which contains the addressees) whether the ship or embarked staff is an addressee or not. If the message is addressed to the ship then it must be copied without errors from beginning to end. That is the addressee must have a clear enough copy that he is able to obtain all the information transmitted without any doubt as to what the message says.

If a subscriber has missed part or all of the heading such that he cannot determine whether the message was addressed to him or not, or if he has missed part or all of the text then we will refer to such a message as a "missed message."

A message may be missed for various reasons, some of which are: environmental or atmospheric conditions, which cause deterioration of the radio signal, equipment failure on the ship or in some cases error in judgment of the operator monitoring the teletype printer.

C. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING MISSED MESSAGES

If a subscriber copying a particular channel has missed one or more messages he must determine whether the message(s) was addressed to him and if necessary he must obtain a complete copy of the message. He is first encouraged to obtain a copy from another ship copying the same broadcast channel, providing the subscriber has a separate means of communication with the other ship. When the subscriber exhausts all local means of obtaining this information his next action is to originate a message which is called a "service or screen request message." Such a message is usually sent to a NAVCOMMSTA requesting them to verify or screen their copy of the broadcast to determine whether the message (s) in question is for the subscriber. The NAVCOMMSTA will in turn reply by indicating which messages are of no concern to the subscriber and by rerunning on the primary channel those messages which were addressed to the subscriber.

A subscriber which misses only a portion of a message may service only for that portion of the message to which the NAVCOMMSTA must in turn originate a service message in reply giving the subscriber that portion of the message missed.

It is noted that in some NAVCOMMAREAs, the NAVCOMMSTA to which a screen request is sent may not be the Broadcast Control Station. In these cases designated NAVCOMMSTAs in the NAVCOMMAREA also copy the broadcast and serve as stations which handle screen requests for a particular channel of the broadcast. When these NAVCOMMSTAs process a screen request their replies are relayed via AUTODIN to the Broadcast Control Station which in turn sends the reply on the appropriate broadcast channel. We note that these replies are handled in the same manner as first run messages.

D. HANDLING OF SERVICE MESSAGES AT A NAVCOMMSTA

Some NAVCOMMSTAs will handle screen requests for more than one broadcast channel or in some cases for more than one type of broadcast system. At each NAVCOMMSTA all such broadcast screen requests are usually handled at one broadcast service desk. The broadcast service desk handles these requests on the highest precedence first and on a first-in first-out basis within precedences.

These service messages are usually referred to as screen requests, since the service desk clerk is required to "screen" the heading of the missed messages in the printed copy form of the broadcast channel log to determine if the message is for the requesting subscriber. Additionally, to clarify terminology, each message looked up is referred to as a "screen." Thus a "screen request" may contain one or more "screens.

After the service desk clerk determines the result of a screen request he then must make teletype tape copies of the messages to be rerun, if necessary, which are forwarded to the appropriate broadcast channel position for transmission.

At some NAVCOMMSTAs, when the service desk clerk has finished the screen and before he prepares the rerun tapes he prepares a short message to the requester indicating which messages are of no concern to the subscriber and additionally states that those messages which are of concern will be rerun later.

Other NAVCOMMSTAs use the procedure where they include this information with the first message rerun and only after the entire screen request has been processed.

It is apparent that this process is a very time consuming task and explains the reason why subscribers are encouraged to seek other sources for verification before asking the NAVCOMMSTA.

E. TRANSMISSION SIDE OF THE BROADCAST

Considering now the transmitting side of the broadcast we look at the NAVCOMMSTAs internal handling of messages which are destined for transmission on one or more of the broadcast channels. Messages arrive at the broadcast area in teletype tape form and are, depending on individual NAVCOMMSTA configurations , primarily delivered to each broadcast channel position by two 850 wpm reperforators called "burpees" [Teletype model BRPE]. The traffic delivered by the burpees is traffic which has been received by the NAVCOMMSTA from the AUTODIN network or from 100 wpm teletype circuits which terminate at the NAVCOMMSTA from any number of sources. The burpees are fed from these various sources through a small computer system called the Multiple Address Processing Unit (MAPU).

This system reads the header of a message which contains address codes as to where a message is destined within the NAVCOMMSTA and routes that message to the appropriate relay positions by delivering a teletype tape through the burpees.

In addition to the burpee deliveries some NAVCOMMSTAs hand deliver screen request answers, reruns and other messages to the broadcast position. The screen request answers and reruns are then usually put at the head of the line or queue for transmission.

Messages delivered to the broadcast position are put in a grid (queue) by precedence and in order of arrival within each precedence. The messages are then taken from the grid and put in the channel transmitter distributor (TD), a device which reads the teletype tape for transmission. The order in which the messages are taken from the grid for transmission is on the highest precedence waiting and first in first out (FIFO) within a precedence basis. This process at some NAVCOMMSTAs is done by one man physically performing the queuing process while another man pulls the tapes from the grid and places them into the TDs for transmission. At other NAVCOMMSTAs, properly equipped, this entire process is handled by a small computer system, known as the "tight tape" system.

Fleet Center Jobs (from 1974 Manpower Study)
Full-period termination operator (FPT) — receives messages from ships via either single channel or multi-channel terminations, and oversees the sending of messages to ships terminated with the NavCommSta. Honolulu utilizes the NavComPars to key outgoing traffic addressed to terminated units. When it becomes necessary for the ship/shore operator to talk to the terminated ship, he asks the command VDT operator to hold the appropriate termination LRN, and then the operator talks directly to the ship using a UGC-61 keyboard. At this station, the FPT also enters received traffic into the data speed reader. One operator handles two termination channels, and two data speed readers are operational at Honolulu. Primary Ship-Shore operation is similar but on-demand rather than FPT. Dedicated circuits operator — five of the eight dedicated circuits at Honolulu are operated directly on-line with the NavComPars. Two circuits with Australia and one with New Zealand are operated on a torn-tape basis, interfacing termination style circuits with an AUTODIN access terminal. Operation is similar to the full-period termination.
Full Period Termination - FPT Receive	Data Speed Reader - FPT Receive > NAVCOMPARS input	FPT Transmit	Primary Ship-to-Shore
Allied interchange operator — basically handles the duties outlined in description for dedicated circuits operator. Also works full-period terminations with allied ships, and assists in keying the allied broadcast, when activated. The purpose of the Allied/NATO/SEATO circuit is to provide Allied ship-shore service.		CW broadcast operator — converts teletype messages into CW format, and places them on proper broadcast schedule (that is, at proper time). PG Broadcast is similar but RATT, not CW
Allied/NATO/SEATO - Receive	Allied/NATO/SEATO - Transmit	CW Broadcast	Patrol Gunboat Broadcast
Off-line crypto operator — encrypts and decrypts messages from or to commands for which this station has crypto guard. Handles all classified messages which require special handling during his watch.		Router VDT operator processes messages rejected because of format or routing errors	Miscellaneous
Offline Encryption	Offline Decryption	Router VDT	Service Center

CIRCUITS - Radio Ship-Shore Communication Circuits
Fleet Multichannel Broadcast System Fleet multichannel broadcast - Transmit (Shore Station)	Fleet multichannel broadcast - Receive (Shipboard)
HICOM Because the requirements for rapid communications from the Department of the Navy to the fleet operational commanders had changed, the CNO authorized the activation of an additional teletypewriter system. This system, known as HICOM, was activated in 1957 and operated parallel to the existing communications channels. Later, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), established an additional parallel circuit known as the "Atomic Strike Coordinator Circuit." It was determined that even more rapid communications would be necessary. Therefore, a new communications net, known as the "Naval Operation Net" was formed in 1959. from NCTAMS EASTPAC history	High Command Communications Network (HICOM)  The HICOM network provides a voice link between the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and all subordinate commands ashore, afloat, and airborne. CNO is the master control station and each fleet commander in chief has an area network control station. All naval communications stations are members.  In cases where a fleet unit is suffering communications difficulties with normal channels, HICOM is used on a not-to-interfere basis to restore communications. All naval communications stations are required to guard HICOM for their respective area networks and use this system from current USN training manual
Golf System	Charlie System
Uniform System	November HF System

1954 "Shore-Based Communications" manual -  NAVPERS 10891

US NAVY COMM STATION (1954)
   The control center may be called the nerve center of the Naval Communication Station for through this area pass all radio circuits to and from the overseas activities as well as landline facilities with continental activities. In outward appearance, the area resembles a telephone exchange.
   The control of landline circuits is, in fact, very similar to the operation of a telephone exchange. Circuits are made normal (balanced, compensated, or matched) throughout their entire length on a continuous basis except when landline casualties occur. In such cases, substitute radio facilities are provided.
   The communication equipment which is controlled from this area covers a rather wide range of telegraph and telephone application. The teletypewriter is the primary unit of telegraph equipment used at present on both radio and landline circuits. Manual radio (CW) operating facilities are available when needed.
   Continuity of communications on the circuits to and from the COMMCEN is the responsibility of the control center personnel. They patch (connect) circuits to the appropriate terminal equipment. Circuit signals are monitored in the control center, and adj ustments made to keep the signals of maximum quality. Operators keep informed as to the conditions on the circuits. Whenever frequency shifts are necessary they inform the transmitting and receiving stations, and the distant
stations. Control center operators make the connections for the teletypewriter and telephone conference calls. They monitor the latter.
   The equipment in the control center includes a supervisory control console, radiotelephone switchboard, and devices for the control, measuring, and monitoring of both direct current and tone circuits. In addition there are the single sideband and multiplex equipments used for high speed communications, the carrier control equipment used with the radio link to the transmitting and receiving stations, and the speech privacy gear for telephone conference calls.

US NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS STATION FLEET SUPPORT (1954)
When a NAVCOMMSTA provides facilities for primary fleet support, they may include :
1. A primary fleet broadcast.
2. A primary general broadcast.
3. A primary ship-shore high frequency (HF) manual CW circuit.
4. A ship-shore medium frequency (MF) manual CW circuit as required.
5. A ship-shore very high frequency (VHF) radioteletypewriter (RATT) harbor circuit as required.
6. A ship-shore ultra-high frequency (UHF) duplex RATT harbor circuit as required.
7. Ship-shore high command high frequency (HF) RATT circuit as required.
8. A ship-shore HF radiotelephone circuit as required.
9. A ship-shore MF radiotelephone circuit as required.
10. A ship-shore VHF radiotelephone harbor circuit as required.
11. A ship-shore UHF radiotelephone harbor circuit as required.
12. Point-to-point wire and radio circuits for external or inter-area communication as required.
13. Local wire and radio circuits as necessary for local and casualty communication.
14. Monitoring of distress frequencies and handling of distress traffic as required.
15. Interconnection with commercial communication systems as required.
16. Interconnection with Army, Air Force, or other Federal agency communication systems or networks as required.

US NAVY RATT BROADCASTS (1954)
   The Washington Primary Fleet RATT Broadcast schedules (designator WILLIAM ROGER) transmit traffic to ships in the Washington primary fleet broadcast area which are equipped to copy RATT. Ships copying WILLIAM ROGER do not copy WILLIAM (CW Fleet Broadcast), except during the former's maintenance period, or whenever it is closed down due to equipment failure.
   Messages to be broadcast by RATT are delivered by the outgoing traffic desk to the WILLIAM ROGER position, except in the case of high precedence traffic, then the same procedure is followed as was noted for WILLIAM high precedence traffic. The RATT operator time-stamps messages upon receipt and inspects them for accuracy of routing, heading, and text. He then transmits them in order of precedence and TOR. He types them on a Model 19 teletypewriter, which produces a page copy and a chad (completely perforated) tape. Page copies are retained for files and the tape fed into a T-D at a speed of 60 w.p.m.
   A guard list consisting of the call signs and delivery groups of ships and commands copying WILLIAM ROGER is transmitted once each day.

Fleet broadcast message format

1964 Fleet Broadcast Areas

1957 Naval Communication System TTY Network

1945 NTX System

• 1948 Naval Communication System TTY Network Map
• 1948 Naval Fixed Radio Circuits Map
• 1954 Naval Communication System TTY Network Map
• 1961 Naval Communication System TTY Network Map
• 1964 Naval Communication System TTY Network Map - note routing indicators changed between 1961 and 1964

Interesting messages illustrating  Navy communications operations
- released by NSA relating to 1967 USS Liberty incident - message index here and here

NAVCOMMSTA Morocco daily report of operations -

• https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/uss-liberty/navy-messages/eastlantmed_tacommrpt_june_5.pdf
• https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/uss-liberty/navy-messages/eastlantmed_tacommrpt_june_6.pdf
• https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/uss-liberty/navy-messages/eastlantmed_tacommrpt_june_7.pdf

NAVCOMMSTA Greece message handling

• http://www.thelibertyincident.com/messages/150731ZJUN67.html

USS Liberty message routing

• https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/uss-liberty/navy-messages/uss_liberty_communications_june_9.pdf

Z-Grams From CNO ADM Elmo Zumwalt - all messages

R 251505Z SEP 70
FM CNO (Z-35)

TO: NAVOP

UNCLAS //N11101//
BOQ/BEQ CONVENIENCES

A. SECNAVINST 1700.11
B. OPNAVNOTE 1700 OF 10 SEP 1970

1. RECENT CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BOQ/BEQ’S AS WELL AS MODERNIZATION OF EXISTING FACILITIES HAS IMPROVED HABITABILITY FOR OUR BACHELOR PERSONNEL. HOWEVER, CONVENIENCES AND PRIVILEGES AFFORDED PERSONNEL RESIDING THEREIN ARE NOT COMMENSURATE WITH THOSE ENJOYED BY PERSONNEL RESIDING IN BASE QUARTERS OR PRIVATE RENTALS. A CONCERTED EFFORT AT ALL LEVELS ALONG WITH INGENUITY ON THE PART OF CO’S IS REQUIRED TO ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION. ONE AREA OF SUCH DISPARITY IS IN THE POSSESSION AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN QUARTERS. THIS DISPARITY WAS PARTIALLY ALLEVIATED BY REFERENCE (B) WHICH CLARIFIED THE INTENT OF REFERENCE (A) WITH RESPECT TO PERMITTING POSSESSION AND USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN ROOM TYPE BEQS.

2. AS A FURTHER STEP IN THIS AREA, AND SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH 9 OF REF A, BASE/STATION COMMANDERS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND OVERSEAS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INSTALL BEER VENDING MACHINES IN BOQ’S AND SENIOR BEQ’S FOR USE OF THE OCCUPANTS THEREOF. SUCH USE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS ISSUED BY BASE/STATION COMMANDERS. OUR SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, MR JOHN CHAFEE, HAS AUTHORIZED AN EXCEPTION TO PARAGRAPH 8 OF REF A TO PERMIT THE FOREGOING PRACTICE.

3. NAVY POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BY MEMBERS OF THE NAVY IS TO ENCOURAGE ABSTINENCE, ENFORCE MODERATION AND PUNISH OVERINDULGENCE. I RECOGNIZE OUR JUNIOR OFFICERS AND SENIOR PETTY OFFICERS AS MATURE, RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE AND AM CONFIDENT THAT SUCH A CONVENIENCE WILL NOT BE ABUSED. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.
BT