Randolph (CVS 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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C ommunications D ep artment Functioning as the ears and voice f Rczna'04blz the Communications Department plays a vital role in the ship s over-all opera- tions Mamtaining contact with aircraft and escort ships in the ASW task group this Depart- ment provides the communications necessary for a smooth performance by all units Operating closely together, vessels engaged in an anti- submarine tracking exercise cannot tolerate a breakdown in meaningful tactical communica- tions so the importance of this Departments responsibilities is easily recognized. Messages received from other Departments on the carrier are converted into electronic pulses in Radio Central or one of several auxiliary rad1o rooms aboard and relayed as appropri- ate. A considerable volume of messages is handled by the ship s communications network during a typical day of Task Group operations There are numerous radio circuits aboard to be maintained by the radiomen who are also re- sponsible for radio teletype radio telephone and radio telegraph in addition to cryptographic equipment antennas transmitters and receivers. The other means of external communication used aboard a naval vessel is the visual phase which consists of several components each re- quiring a special skill of the men involxed. Flashing light flag hoists and semaphore are still very much a part of the modern Navy and in times of radio silence become the onbf means of communication. Personnel of this Department are required to stand watches in radio or on the signal bridge in port as well as while underway standing ready to transmit an important dispatch or alert to receive a vital warning and spread the word. Communications men are justly proud of their important function aboard. The ship s long- standing reputation as one of the most proficient communications vessels in the Fleet has helped earn her past assignments in recovery of L. S astronauts and assignment of the Green C for excellence in communications during 1962 and 1963. I 1. . 3 I 3 . . 1 3 3 I l I 5 . cc as , , , O a 9 Q ' , f , I - a , f , f f i . 3 . . , , a . . tl u 1 I i i f - 3 - ' Q . v if L l, l o a . 1 - - 9 , r 3 ' : - . e i l J . f o QI . 5 4 J 5 - .J 0 ' - T 3 . i bl - . U ,, 1 1 7 . . 7 . I i ' U a fr 7 . A: 'z il i li ti 5 . v i' i 1 , ., .. ....,-........,----avi

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9,4-uv-4 :mam CR DIV I-'R97-100 Randolph is one part offlmericaisfar- flung defense system. Communications form a linh that tie that system together. Aboard ship, the Communications De- partment handles virtualbi all ofthe in- coming and outgoing message traffic. Communications take a variety of forms: visual signalling is still an im- portant means of quickb and silently communicating between ships at sea. Voice and Continuous Wave radio and telegipe connect Randolph with the en- tire American defcnse establishment.