Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Radio procedure

[VBra676539@aol.com]

Ty,

If you mean radio communications, the protocol is precisely the same as in 
any other boat to boat transmission. Clarity is the key--and keeping the 
chatter to a minimum (especially if you are in my neck of the woods, where 
fishermen gab on the radio like a bunch of crows).

UQC comms are a different medium. The trick is to speak clearly, use small 
words rather than big ones when possible, and announce yourself. "Surface, 
surface, surface....this is DeepTy" click. Don't start talking about things 
until the guy up top puts his coffee down and gets to the microphone. He (or 
she) should respond to acknowledge that they have heard and are ready to 
listen. "DeepTy, this is surface. Go ahead." or some such. It is often better 
to repeat your commo, to give them time to scribble something in the log, as 
in: "Passing six-zero-zero feet. Repeat, six-zero-zero feet." They will 
reply: "Roger, six-zero-zero" to let you know that they have understood your 
message. Six-zero-zero is easier to understand over the UQC than six-hundred. 
Remember, clarity.

It is common to report in 100 foot increments when ascending or descending in 
deeper water. You will also want to announce bottom contact and 
situation/condition information (depth, viz, current, bottom condition as 
needed). When you set a course, let them know, or when you do something else 
that will impact their tracking efforts, let them know. If you have 
pre-planned the dive carefully, then most of this will turn out to be 
confirmation of the plan .... we hope.

Comm checks are typically performed with just a double click on the mike, 
which puts out a biggish pair of acoustic blips that is clearly audible. This 
is a mission choice, maybe every ten or fifteen minutes depending on 
circumstances. This is done to stay in touch and to let people know that all 
is well. The comm check double-click is normally initiated by the surface, 
and responded to by the submarine. You'd be surprised how annoying it is to 
be constantly interrupted by the need to "answer" a comm check. It breaks 
your concentration something fierce. A good dive will have a couple of 
paragraphs in the top-side log and a whole string ot "Comm check--ok" entries.

When you are surfacing, always stop at some pre-determined depth to let your 
surface support ship know where you are so they can verify that all is clear 
and ready for you to surface. A depth of fifty feet or so is common offshore. 
I'll release a "bubble" from the ballast (air) which is clearly visible on 
the surface and gives them location and direction for recovery. This is in 
addition to the commo telling them what you are up to prior to surfacing. The 
belt and suspenders approach is common practice--better safe than sorry, as 
the old saying goes.

There were lots of bubbles anyway, as we always surfaced on the main ballast 
system (in the Perry boats and Aquarius) as this allowed us to vent or blow 
as needed to control ascent rate. The VBT was pumped electrically and was 
painfully slow. However, with a hard tank system (like the JSLs or Pisces, or 
K-subs), we did the same using the VBTs, as they were just as quick as the 
Mains and didn't get you going too fast. Remember that the volume of air 
expands in the Mains, and very rapidly, I might add, when you are in shallow 
water or close to the surface. You want to hold 60 - 70 feet per minute or 
thereabouts. Just follow the bubbles up and you'll be fine.

You haven't lived until you come back to the light from a deep dive and look 
up to see that silvery canopy above you with all the released bubbles from 
your tanks rising around you. It'll take your breath away. Just don't forget 
to call those poor saps on top who didn't get to go. They'll need time to 
finish their balogna sandwiches.

Best Regards,
Vance