Radio Communications and Signals Intelligence in the RCN

Avenger             AS3   (1950 to 1960)
Argus             CP107   (1957 to 1980)
Firefly                AS5   (1946 to 1950)
Lancaster   MR/MP   (1945 to 1959)
Neptune          P2V7    (1955 to 1968)

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 1990's

Satellite Communications
Monitoring Canada's Navy - 1994
Future Developments in RCN Radio Communications

CURRENT NAVY - THE 2000's

Naval Communications in 2005
Naval Communications in 2009
AOR Class
Halifax-Class Frigates Radio and Other Systems
Iroquois 280
Kingston Class Electronic Fit
Orca Class PCTs
Victoria Class Submarines

Radio Communication Training Facilities

SUMMARY SECTION

Closing Comments
Epilogue

Appendix A - General Frequency Allocations - 1940's
Appendix B1 - W/T Convoy Orders (WWII)
Appendix B2 - Convoy Crusing Orders (WWII)
Appendix C - Exam For Telegraphists (1944)
Appendix D - RCN Shore Radio Stations
Appendix E - Band/Power Levels
Appendix F - Past Radio Frequencies Used By The RCN
Appendix G - Past and Current Call Signs of Canadian Navy Ships
Appendix H - RCN Trade Specifications - Radioman
Appendix I - Evolution of the Phonetic Alphabet
Appendix J - Antenna Fittings
Appendix K - Uniforms
Appendix L - Trade Badges and Abbreviations

About The Author
Acknowledgments
Bibliography
Glossary

SHORE AND SUPRAD STATIONS - PAST AND PRESENT

Alert
Aklavik
Albro Lake
Aldergrove (includes Matsqui)
Bermuda
Cap D'Espoir
Chimo
Churchill
Coverdale
Frobisher Bay (SUPRAD CFI)
Frobisher Bay - CZF
Gander
Gloucester
Gordon Head, BC
Harbour Grace, NF
Hartlen_Point, NS
Inuvik
Ladner
Leitrim
Masset
Mill Cove (includes Newport Corner)
Whitehorse
Other Stations
Station Designators
Summary of All Canadian SIGINT Stations

CANADIAN NAVAL COMMUNICATOR WEB PAGES (External Links)

Terry Misner's Canada's Naval Communicators
NRS Halifax Naval Communicator

An archived copy of this web page can be found at the Wayback Machine

LAST THREE CONTENT UPDATES

10/05/09 - Added Fairey Firefly.
11/24/09 - Added Lancaster
01/18/10 - Addes Frobisher Bay CZF

SCOPE AND DISCLAIMER

This document was formerly known as "Radio Systems Aboard HMCS HAIDA", then changed to "Radio Communications and Signals Intelligence in the Canadian Navy". Its initial purpose was to record the radio systems fitted on the ship when she paid off in 1963. Over time, additional material was added so it became necessary to change the title to better reflect the contents of this web page. The content and topics covered in this web document have been selected by the author only and are not meant to represent an official account of naval radio communications.

Any descriptions of cryptography equipment listed in this document do not contravene The Official Secrets Act as the devices have been obsolete for some time now.

Please contact the author if you, the reader, can help to enhance the contents of this document.

The material in this document is copyrighted by Jerry Proc and no part of this document may be reproduced for commercial purposes in any form, whether by printing, photocopying, or other means without permission.

Jerry Proc
68 Braywin Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
M9P 2P3
CANADA
jerry.proc@sympatico.ca

First Edition : January 12, 1994
Second Edition: May 1, 1995
Third Edition : January 24, 1998
Modified as required thereafter

DEDICATION

This document has been a labour of love and my appreciation goes to my wife Dori, and my three sons Jeffery, Jason and David who kindly understood why I devoted countless evenings and weekends for nearly two years in producing the original research paper back in 1994. It is also being continuously updated as new material is discovered.

Jerry Proc

PREFACE

This research paper has been challenging to produce. Many procedures are documented in official naval publications, however, where does it state that you have to kick a transmitter at a certain point on the cabinet in order to get the power supply interlock to function ? The web page is therefore, a collection of both documented and undocumented information on radio systems and radio operations in the Royal Canadian Navy. Historians have taken a great deal of effort to record all of the great naval battles and outstanding ships. It was of course, a much bigger victory to score a hit on the enemy rather than obtain a precise copy of the broadcast in the radio office. Little information is available on the daily routine of telegraphists, radiomen, and communicators, yet without their skills and dedication, some of the great naval battles could have had very different outcomes.

In parts of the text, the term kilocycles has been used in place of the modern term kiloHertz where it is historically appropriate. When reading the text, one must consider that procedures, operating practices, and systems were constantly changing. What is factual for one period may not be correct for another period.