Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-31
RADIO EQUIPMENT
OF NAVY OBSOLETE
Depforable Condition of Ap.
paratus Is Revealed in
House Hearings.
By CARL II. BUTNiAN.

naval radio equipment, both afloat and
ashore, and the necessary use of OBJ.
solete radio equipment. in violation OF
the agreement with the National Radio
Conference, were revealed recently to
the House naval appropriations com
mittee by Rear Admiral Halllgan
chief of the Bureau of Engineering.
Considerable old equipment, particu
larry spark sets, has become useless
aboard ships. but no reliable contin-
uous-wave transmitter has been pro-
vided for replacing them. The Navy
is the last large organization TO reltn-
quish the use of this Anticipated ap-
paratus, he testified; but it plant to
do so as soon as funds are provided.
Lack of suitable modern equipment
was said to have handicapped the
operations and maneuvers of the fleet,
according to reports from flag officers,
quoted by the chief of the bureau to
the committee.
Needs MOdernizatiOn.
In this connection, the commander
of the Battle Fleet reported: With
present radio equipment the Battle
Fleet is not ready for battle. Indoors
ing this statement, the comma nder-in-
chief said this was equally true with
other major subdivisions of the United
States Fleet The chief of operations
is quoted as follows: The radio equip
1nent of the feet should be modernized
without delay" "A careful survey Of
he ships of the Navy on a war basis
shows that a sum of $4,000, 900 is
necessary to replace WORKOUT, deficient
equipment and provide an efficient sys-
tenn of radio communication The
sum of $7.SS7.000 is required to pro.
vide efficient radio apparatus for the
ships in actual commission.
Although the sum OF $729.631 was
alIocated to radio for the fiscal year
1926, it is reported essential that an
additional amount be provided for
ensuing years, IL the proposed pro-
gram is to be completed before the
radio equipment now being provided Is
worn out in use. In December, $780,
900, originally allocated for radio re-
placements, was diverted Tor Use IN
paying for urgent repairs to propell-
Ing machinery, thereby postponing
radio replacements already under way.
Service Draws Prejudice.
Explaining the present radio situa-
ton in the Navy, Admiral Halllgan
pointed out that, whereas originally
the naval radio service had the ether
practically to itself, nowadays the use
of radio by the amateurs, commercial
and broadcast stations made it neces-
sary for the Navy to release many
channels in order to prevent severe
interference ashore. The Navy De-
partment is still in receipt of many
complaints because its shore stations
are causing embarrassment to people
trying to listen to broadcasting sta
tons, which condition was cited as
building up prejudice against the
naval service. To avoid this, the
naval radio service is installing.
when available, sharp-tuned instru-
mentS, which cause less interference,
and replacing some of the heavy spark
sets, which create interference to
listeners and marine stations. But
2 adequate funds are lacking.
Due to the necessary complexity of
communications. developing in the
+ fleet including wireless circuits with
RirplaneS, it is necessary today for 4
flagship to he able to communicate
simultaneously by radio on six or
seven wave lengths, while on regu
lar battleship operation on four sep
arate channels is required. The mes
sages on these different channels must,
of course, not interfere with each
other, which requires sharper tuned
receiving and transmitting apparatus
than vas ever used before.
Handicaps Clearly Shown.
Many of the Nays handicapS in
radio equipment were reported fol-
lowing the maneuVerS in the Pacific,
by the commander-in-chief of the fleet,
who stated that the present rate Of
Inodernization of radio equipment was
not satisfactory. If the maneuvers
had been an actual series of engage
ments, the indicated efficiency would
have fallen off due to interferA ce
from the enemy sets and a lack Of
sufficiently strong apparatus on the
ships. TransmitterS could not have
been adjusted exactly due to lack OF
measuring instruments. and some OF
the f1agships could not have operated
in duplex that is, carried on stimuli
taneouS transmission and reception.
No flagship had transmitter ca.
pablo of communicating with a shore
station during the maneuvers, without
diSrupting its other radio circuits.
There We're not sufficient circuits
AVAILABLE for actual battle operations
and many other deficiencies, which. it
was pointed out, had been reported
repeatedly in the past.
During the hearings Capt McNeely
of the Radio Division of Engineering
= urged the equipment of warships with
The latest radio devices and equip
lnent to replace apparatus installed
many years ago and now obsolete.
Thirty or forty deStroyers will prob
high-poWered sets on battleships, in
stalled two years ago at a cost of 49,.
900 each, will be used until much older
transmitters are replaced. he said.
S1,OO0,OOO Fund O.K'd.
Estimated expenditures O.k.'d By
The Budget Bureau for naval radio
during the fiscal year 1927 approx
mate $1,000 900, of which $4,000
is for replacement of Anticipated sets
af1oat and the balance for the inn
provement and maintenance of shore
radio stations. Out of the ship equip
ment ALLEGATIONS, about 100000 will
cover the manufacture and installa-
lion of new transmitterS for communi-
eating with air craft, these to he in
stalled on capital ships. while $4,000
will be expended to equip Is vessels
for intraiieet communications. \ part
of the money would be spent to pro
vide suitable apparatus To operate in
channels outside the broadcast bands.
Radio equipment for airplanes, it
was pointed out. is appreciated in the
T. budget for the Bureau of AeronautiCs
& and is not included in the total
s amount asked for radio and apparatus
by the Bureau of Engineering. This
Z wear air radio estimates amount TO
around $500 900
: The naval radio system during the
past fiscal year, it Was stated. served
f the Government bureaus as We'll as
5 the Navy, it being estimated that u
{ saving OF about $1,000 600 WAS effect
I ed over ordinary transmitting costs.
! Pays to Get Out of Jail.