Farragut (DDG 37) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 75 text:

Radio . . . Due to the importance of radio traffic, Radiomen are constantly on duty, usually standing 12 hours on and 12 hours off. While FARRAGUT'S Radio Central is used main- ly for official business, there are times when cir- cuits are open for receiving national and international news, including sports, which is passed to the crew via a closed circuit televi- sion report. Radiomen can also set up telephone calls from overseas under certain circumstances for the crew. Class E messages are another way to commun- icate to family and friends stateside and the Radiomen are responsible for that also. The job of a Radioman is a busy and diverse one, and if it wasn't for the radio circuits and the men who man them, we would cer- tainly be uninformed and unable to do our job as effectively as possible. '71

Page 74 text:

CC DIVISICN: Radiomen Communications onboard FARRAGUT is critical to the ship's mission as a combat Warship. Without the radio networks, teletypes, satellite feeds and links, FARRAGUT would be cut-off not only from the rest of the fleet, but from the world as well. It is the job of the Radioman to ensure that all message traffic moves on and off FARRA- GUT smoothly and in a timely manner. Radio Central is the communications nerve center of the ship with a total of 30 circuits, 10 HF receivers, 10 UHF tranceivers, 6 HF transmitters, 2 satellite circuits Cone transmit, one receivel, and 2 NTDS link circuits. As flagship for Commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Two, FARRAGUT'S message traffic triples. Ccont'dJ.

Page 76 text:

OC DIVI IO : Signalmen The Signalmen fSM'sJ of OC Division provide FARRAGUT'S visual communications. Through the use of flashing lights GZ incondecent search lightsb, flag hoist, and sema- phore Chand signalsl, Signalmen can communicate with other surface ships within line of sight. With the help of the big-eyes line of sight can extend over the horizon. FARRAGUT has two big-eyes, giant binoculars, located on the port and starboard sides of the signal bridge. These are essential in identifying visual communications from other ships. On a clear day big-eyes can see up to about 16 miles. Flags are used both underway and inport to notify other ships of an evolution or maneuver FARRAGUT is or is about to be engaged in. For example, if FARRAGUT is involved in a turning maneuver while steaming in formation, a flag goes up the halyard which identifies their inten- tions and subsequent actions. Inport flags are used to identify such shipboard evolutions as men working aloft, divers over the side, re-fueling, explosives handling, etc. Even though Radio has a much wider range of capabilities and is used for most of the ship's major commun- ications, visual communications can always be counted on by the Signal- men even when the radio equipment is out-of-commission. 555-