Supplementary Radio for telemetry collection on board Claud Jones class destroyers Escorts used for PONY EXPRESS Operations, circa 1973.

The photo shows the interior of the SUPRAD (telemetry intercept suite) looking aft from the door to the radio room.  The teletypes and crypto gear for SECGRU communications were just to the right of the camera.  An HF intercept position was just to the left of the camera.  On the left are telemetry intercept positions and the two high-speed, 14-channel tape recorders.  There was about a 15” space behind the equipment racks that provided maintenance access. The area was also used to for storage space for teletype paper, manuals, snacks and sodas. Sodas were often placed in the overhead AC ducts for chilling.  At the far end are signal generators and test equipment.  To the right is another telemetry intercept position generally occupied by the supervisor, usually a Chief Petty Officer.  In the right corner you can see the display of a very precise digital time base display. 

The omni-directional antennas above the pre-amplifier box were used for telemetry intercept. The rotatable log-periodic VHF antenna in front of the after stack was used for telemetry intercept.  The dish antenna inside the dome aft of the after mast was used for SHF satellite communications.  It was generally not very useful as the aiming servos could not compensate for 20 to 30-degree rolls.  The SATCOMM capability generally  failed in a few days if seas were anything but dead calm.

Manning and Training

  • CTTs, CTOs, CTMs assigned to Technical Guidance Unit, Pearl Harbor,  a division of Naval Security Group Detachment, CINCPACFLT.
  • Division officers assigned to either NSG Detachment or NSG Division, NAVCOMMSTA Honolulu (then TAD to CINCPACFLT as required).
  • Training facilities and administration at TGU building 395, Pearl Harbor Naval shipyard.

Above is cleared for the public by NSA Pre-Publication Review Case  PP-19-0974 on 8/22/2019