THE RADIOMAN FIGHTS
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Year Published: 1944
Format: 16mm
Description: Produced in 1944, the "unclassified" US Navy training film "Radio Operator Training" instructed seaman on how to become an effective radioman. Whether it be a PT boat, landing barge, submarine, or any other vessel, the narrator explains at mark 01:08 that a radioman is onboard and on duty. "He is the mouthpiece of his commanding officer. His right hand. Without him, the ship is crippled. The fleet is paralyzed." Mark 01:48 takes us to NSS Annapolis (officially known as Naval Communications Station Washington, D.C.), the Navy’s transmitter station from which orders and instructions emanate. To illustrate the film follows a message from NSS to a Navy communication station in California and then on to Hawaii, Guadalcanal, and finally the flag ship of a task force 10,000 miles away. What goes into the training of a radioman is examined starting at mark 04:35 as rows of men are shown learning Morse Code as well as the form and routing of messages and repair of transmitters and receivers. Advanced classes address various aspects of sending and receiving messages. Graduation day comes at mark 07:05 as the sailors march to receive their certification and are shipped off to active duty. The film ends as the narrator continues to sing the praises of the radioman — "the nerves of the Navy." NSS Annapolis, officially known as Naval Communications Station Washington, D.C. Transmitter or NavCommStaWashingtonDC(T), was a Very Low Frequency (VLF) and High Frequency (HF) transmitter station operated by the United States Navy. It was located at Greenbury Point, in Anne Arundel County, across the Severn River from Annapolis, Maryland at coordinates 38°58′40″N 76°27′12″W. NSS Annapolis was used by the USN for submarine communication. The station consisted of an umbrella antenna supported by a 1,200-foot (365.76 m) high central mast, which was insulated against ground, 6 guyed masts of 800-foot (243.84 m) and 3 freestanding towers of the same height. The huge towers were a local landmark, and served as a visual reporting point for aircraft landing at the nearby Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport. A golf course ran through the VLF antenna farm; special rules addressed hitting a tower with a ball (usually stroke and distance). The NSS HF receiver station, and the headquarters for NavCommStaWashingtonDC(T), was located at the Naval Communications Station in Cheltenham, Maryland until 1969. In late 1969, the receiver station at Cheltenham closed and a new receiver station was activated at Sugar Grove, West Virginia. NSS began transmitting in September, 1918 using 500 kilowatt Poulson Arc transmitters. However, arc transmitters were significantly inferior to the then state-of-the-art Alexanderson alternator and the arc transmitters were replaced by more modern vacuum tube transmitters in 1931. VLF, or "longwave" radio was the standard at the time for long range radio transmission, later to be generally replaced by shortwave. VLF later became essential for communicating with submerged submarines, a critically important capability as submarines became strategic missile platforms. The NSS transmitter fed one million watts of radio energy to its antenna, and during idle times, transmitted the string "W W W VVV VVV VVV DE NSS NSS NSS" in Morse code. The power was so high and the frequency so low, one could hear the signal on practically any kind of receiver anywhere in the Annapolis area.[dubious – discuss][citation needed] Messages were also sent in Morse code, but were either prearranged code signals or were encrypted. Rendered obsolete by satellite technology and the end of the cold war, NSS ceased operation and most of all of the antennas and most of the towers were demolished in 1999. Only three of the smaller towers were preserved for historic reasons.
Complete Record:
Transcription
for e [Music] these are the radio men of the Navy whether it be PT boat or Landing barge submarine or super dreadnut the radio man is aboard on duty specially trained highly skilled he is the mouthpiece of his commanding officer his right hand without him the ship is crippled the fleet is paralyzed [Music] this represents NSS Central Radio Shack in Washington [Music] DC it is the Navy's nerve center from here emanate important orders and instructions that are transmitted often thousands of miles to affect the Maneuvers and activities of ships and men fighting on our far-flung battle lines let us follow the course of this message first from Washington to San Francisco from s Francisco to Hawaii Hawaii to gule Canal [Music] wadle Canal to the flagship of a task [Music] force message for you sir send this message to the task force sir [Music] a short time later 10,000 miles away from point of origin those orders were executed responsible for correct transmission of that message was the skill of the radio man let's take a look at what goes into the training of a radio man these are the first steps in learning international mors code Queen yoke Peter charie this class is practicing sending in Rhythm Colleges and Schools throughout the country have turned over their facilities and instructors to train men in the service this class is studying Theory which includes practical experimentation as well in this classroom the radio men are being taught procedure this essential subject is concerned with the form and rooting of messages the radio man must be ready to make minor repairs in any emergency he must know how to tune his transmitter to various frequencies and of course learning to type correctly is highly important in the training of the radio man here we find a more advanced class practicing sending in this classroom the students have now Advanced to the point where they are receiving code on their typewriters the code is transmitted by the tape machine after preliminary training the advanced students work in the Radio Shack where code sending receiving typing Theory and procedure are all coordinated to simulate actual conditions of board Shi there the instructor assumes the duties of the radio man on a Division Flagship he is sending out orders to the rest of the division each of these men represents a ship in a division they are standing regular radio watch there are no caps and gowns but it's graduation day for those students who have successfully completed their training pears congratulations here than barelli fine work barelli thank you sir after many weeks of work and constant practice this first goal upon which they have set their sites has come to be a reality radio man third class and now they're off to what every landbased sailor dreams of active duty [Music] [Music] [Music] vital to the security of the Navy vital to the maintenance of its Communications vital to its Effectiveness as a formidable striking power that will bring us to final Victory are these men who have earned the respect of both their officers and their Shipmates they are the radio men the nerves of the Navy [Music] [Applause]
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