WW2OK/WW2SUB AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

USS BATFISH AND USS OKLAHOMA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - 01/07/15

Hello and Welcome to the official website for WW2OK and WW2SUB callsigns.

The USS BATFISH SS-310 was begun when her keel was laid on 27

December 1942 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, N.H. It was launched on 5

May 1943, Commissioned on 21 August 1943. After a shake down cruise it

passed thru the Panama Canal and on to Pearl Harbor. T.H. The Batfish

made seven wartime patrols sinking 14 ships (including 3 submarines in 76

hours) 37,080 tons of enemy shipping plus damage to 3 other ships (4500

tons damaged) and rescued 3 down airmen.

After WW2 the USS BATFISH was re-commisioned during Korean War &

the Cuban Missile Crisis, then served as a training submarine and then was

decommissioned again. In 1972 It was given to the city of Muskogee,

Oklahoma to be used as a memorial to members of the silent service. It was

slung between 2 barges to make its trip up the Mississippi river and then up

the Arkansas river (thru 16 locks) to the port of Muskogee (yes, Muskogee

is considered a deep water port for barge traffic up the Mississippi and

Arkansas river systems).

A slit was cut in the bank and the boat was nudged into the slit and closed

off from the Arkansas River. The water was drained from the slit and the

boat rested on the ground kept in position by heavy cables.

MUSEUM HOURS at The Memorial Park are 10am-6pm Wednesday thru

Saturday and Sundays Noon-6PM

WELCOME TO 2015 AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ROYCE RAINWATER KE5TC OUR NEW CLUB PRESIDENT

CHECKOUT NEW PHOTO GALLERY AT: HTTP://GALLERY.WW2OK.ORG

MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY THE FIRST SATURDAY EACH MONTH ON THE BATFISH AT 10AM

USS BATFISH AND USS OKLAHOMA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - 09/05/14

Hello and Welcome to the official website for WW2OK and WW2SUB callsigns.

The USS BATFISH SS-310 was begun when her

keel was laid on 27 December 1942 at the

Portsmouth Navy Yard, N.H. It was launched on 5

May 1943, Commissioned on 21 August 1943.

After a shake down cruise it passed thru the

Panama Canal and on to Pearl Harbor. T.H. The

Batfish made seven wartime patrols sinking 14

ships (including 3 submarines in 76 hours) 37,080

tons of enemy shipping plus damage to 3 other

ships (4500 tons damaged) and rescued 3 down

airmen.

After WW2 the USS BATFISH was re-

commisioned during Korean War & the Cuban

Missile Crisis, then served as a training submarine

and then was decommissioned again. In 1972 It

was given to the city of Muskogee, Oklahoma to be

used as a memorial to members of the silent

service. It was slung between 2 barges to make its

trip up the Mississippi river and then up the

Arkansas river (thru 16 locks) to the port of

Muskogee (yes, Muskogee is considered a deep

water port for barge traffic up the Mississippi and

Arkansas river systems).

A slit was cut in the bank and the boat was nudged

into the slit and closed off from the Arkansas River.

The water was drained from the slit and the boat

rested on the ground kept in position by heavy

cables.

MUSEUM HOURS at The Memorial Park are

10am-6pm Wednesday thru Saturday and Sundays

Noon-6PM

CHECKOUT NEW PHOTO GALLERY AT: HTTP://GALLERY.WW2OK.ORG

MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY THE FIRST SATURDAY EACH MONTH ON THE BATFISH AT 10AM

Hello and Welcome to the official website for WW2OK and WW2SUB callsigns.

The USS BATFISH SS-310 was begun when her keel

was laid on 27 December 1942 at the Portsmouth Navy

Yard, N.H. It was launched on 5 May 1943,

Commissioned on 21 August 1943. After a shake down

cruise it passed thru the Panama Canal and on to Pearl

Harbor. T.H. The Batfish made seven wartime patrols

sinking 14 ships (including 3 submarines in 76 hours)

37,080 tons of enemy shipping plus damage to 3 other

ships (4500 tons damaged) and rescued 3 down airmen.

After WW2 the USS BATFISH was re-commisioned

during Korean War & the Cuban Missile Crisis, then

served as a training submarine and then was

decommissioned again. In 1972 It was given to the city

of Muskogee, Oklahoma to be used as a memorial to

members of the silent service. It was slung between 2

barges to make its trip up the Mississippi river and then

up the Arkansas river (thru 16 locks) to the port of

Muskogee (yes, Muskogee is considered a deep water

port for barge traffic up the Mississippi and Arkansas

river systems).

A slit was cut in the bank and the boat was nudged into

the slit and closed off from the Arkansas River. The

water was drained from the slit and the boat rested on

the ground kept in position by heavy cables.

MUSEUM HOURS at The Memorial Park are 10am-

6pm Wednesday thru Saturday and Sundays Noon-

6PM

MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY THE FIRST SATURDAY EACH MONTH ON THE BATFISH AT 10AM

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

A Day in the Life: Batfish Living History Day

Back in February, the Museum hosted the Oklahoma Historical Society’s “Batfish Living

History Association” (BLHA), which placed re

enactors on the boat, each working and telling a

part of the story of a d

ay in the life of the World War Two Submariner.

Our club in support of their

activities manned the radio

shack during the day. Gary

W5ODS and myself both

“dressed the part” to fit in

with the crew. Gary operated

the radio and ran CW while I

did mostly a

dministration

duties like logging and

talking to visitors, which was

kind of difficult as the radio

operator sits between the

guests in the door way, and

the second op position. This

of course was a distraction to

Gary, but we both had a lot of

fun as that

weekend was also

the WWDX contest and Gary

ended up working 50 to 60 contacts on CW, and about 30 to 40 different countries, all on CW.

It is my hope that we will continue to support the BLHA and the museum by providing CW

operators for their events. So

me of us might even consider joining the BLHA as well. In

following this direction of thinking, It is my hope that the “Sub Club” will get the original RAL

and RAK receivers and at least the Collins TCS

8 Transmitter up and working, so that they may

be use

d for these events. I

know they are not

practical for today’s SSB

and Data communications

that hams use today, But

for CW, which is about

all that was used at the

time of WW2, they would

be just as good today, as

they were in WWII. They

were state of the a

rt back

then, and most still

consider them good rigs

for CW.

Once the museum closed

down for the day, the

activities continued but at

a much more relaxed

pace. The first thing we did was eat dinner, which was prepared by the crew in the galley, during

e day. We were invited to join the BLHA dinner that evening, and I am glad that I accepted, as

it was a special treat. Like all Submariners before, the BLHA crew knows how to enjoy a good

meal, and this one did not disappoint anyone.

The dinner was made

even more special when the crew ate in the crew’s mess on the boat. This

one act, as simple as it seems, did more to place me in the mindset of what life must have been

like for the men aboard these boats. You really learn that the guy next to you, no matt

er how

much you like, or dislike him, is an integral part of your life at every level. What it seems to

bring out in everyone is a camaraderie that obviously builds lifelong relationships among the

men that served onboard.

After Dinner, and its clean up,

the

BLHA relocated to the meeting

room of the museum and held a

meeting that also doubled as a

training seminar that I sat in on. I

am glad I joined them as a era

appropriate desert was severed,

Orange Crush Floats! Ice cream

and Orange Crush soda. I must

say

that I wasn’t sure about it when

they first handed it to me, but I

enjoyed it immensely, so much so

that I now have a case of Orange

Crush under the counter and a

gallon of vanilla Ice cream in the

freezer.

Once desert was finished, we did a fire an

d safety walk through the boat, learning where the

flashlights and fire extinguishers are, how to open and close the fire dampers in the ventilation

duct through out the boat, as well as learning about all sorts of miscellaneous equipment onboard

the boat.

It was good for me to take that walk, as it allowed me to identify a serious safety issue

that our radio equipment was causing.

It seems that when the original cabling was installed for the tower’s antenna rotor, it was run

down the hallway over the off

icer’s quarters, and to get it though the bulkheads between

compartments, the rotor cable was routed thought the ventilation ducts. The problem is that they

were preventing the fire damper doors from closing.

Shortly thereafter, the guys from the sub

clu

b removed the cable and re

run it on the outside of

the boat, fixing the fire safety issue and it also cleaned up the control room and officer’s area

considerable. At the very least, getting this cable moved, saved the cable from getting cut when

someone t

ried to close the dampers. But this really could have been disastrous had there been a

fire.

Later this summer the BLHA is expected to have yet another living history day at the boat, and I

hope that you will volunteer to help out during the event. It mig

ht seem awkward at first, but you

will enjoy it.

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

A Day in the Life: Batfish Livi

Back in February, the Museum hosted the Oklahoma Historic

History Association” (BLHA), which placed re

enactors on t

part of the story of a d

ay in the life of the World War Two S

ended up working 50 to 60 contacts on CW, and about 30 to

It is my hope that we will continue to support the BLHA and

operators for their events. So

me of us might even consider jo

following this direction of thinking, It is my hope that the “Sub

and RAK receivers and at least the Collins TCS

8 Transmitte

be use

d for these events. I

know they are not

practical for today’s SSB

and Data communications

that hams use today, But

for CW, which is about

all that was used at the

time of WW2, they would

be just as good today, as

they were in WWII. They

were state of the a

rt back

then, and most still

consider them good rigs

for CW.

Once the museum closed

down for the day, the

activities continued but at

a much more relaxed

pace. The first thing we did was eat dinner, which was prepar

e day. We were invited to join the BLHA dinner that evenin

it was a special treat. Like all Submariners before, the BLHA

meal, and this one did not disappoint anyone.

The dinner was made

even more special when the crew ate in

one act, as simple as it seems, did more to place me in the mi

like for the men aboard these boats. You really learn that the

much you like, or dislike him, is an integral part of your life a

bring out in everyone is a camaraderie that obviously builds l

men that served onboard.

Once desert was finished, we did a fire an

d safety walk through

flashlights and fire extinguishers are, how to open and close t

duct through out the boat, as well as learning about all sorts o

the boat.

It was good for me to take that walk, as it allowed m

that our radio equipment was causing.

It seems that when the original cabling was installed for the to

down the hallway over the off

icer’s quarters, and to get it tho

compartments, the rotor cable was routed thought the ventila

were preventing the fire damper doors from closing.

Shortly thereafter, the guys from the sub

clu

b removed the ca

the boat, fixing the fire safety issue and it also cleaned up the

considerable. At the very least, getting this cable moved, save

someone t

ried to close the dampers. But this really could hav

fire.

Later this summer the BLHA is expected to have yet another

hope that you will volunteer to help out during the event. It m

will enjoy it.

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

A Day in the Life: Batfish Living History Day

Back in February, the Museum hosted the Oklahoma Historical Society’s “Batfish Living

History Association” (BLHA), which placed re

enactors on the boat, each working and telling a

part of the story of a d

ay in the life of the World War Two Submariner.

Our club in support of their

activities manned the radio

shack during the day. Gary

W5ODS and myself both

“dressed the part” to fit in

with the crew. Gary operated

the radio and ran CW while I

did mostly a

dministration

duties like logging and

talking to visitors, which was

kind of difficult as the radio

operator sits between the

guests in the door way, and

the second op position. This

of course was a distraction to

Gary, but we both had a lot of

fun as that

weekend was also

the WWDX contest and Gary

ended up working 50 to 60 contacts on CW, and about 30 to 40 different countries, all on CW.

It is my hope that we will continue to support the BLHA and the museum by providing CW

operators for their events. So

me of us might even consider joining the BLHA as well. In

following this direction of thinking, It is my hope that the “Sub Club” will get the original RAL

and RAK receivers and at least the Collins TCS

8 Transmitter up and working, so that they may

be use

d for these events. I

know they are not

practical for today’s SSB

and Data communications

that hams use today, But

for CW, which is about

all that was used at the

time of WW2, they would

be just as good today, as

they were in WWII. They

were state of the a

rt back

then, and most still

consider them good rigs

for CW.

Once the museum closed

down for the day, the

activities continued but at

a much more relaxed

pace. The first thing we did was eat dinner, which was prepared by the crew in the galley, during

e day. We were invited to join the BLHA dinner that evening, and I am glad that I accepted, as

it was a special treat. Like all Submariners before, the BLHA crew knows how to enjoy a good

meal, and this one did not disappoint anyone.

The dinner was made

even more special when the crew ate in the crew’s mess on the boat. This

one act, as simple as it seems, did more to place me in the mindset of what life must have been

like for the men aboard these boats. You really learn that the guy next to you, no matt

er how

much you like, or dislike him, is an integral part of your life at every level. What it seems to

bring out in everyone is a camaraderie that obviously builds lifelong relationships among the

men that served onboard.

After Dinner, and its clean up,

the

BLHA relocated to the meeting

room of the museum and held a

meeting that also doubled as a

training seminar that I sat in on. I

am glad I joined them as a era

appropriate desert was severed,

Orange Crush Floats! Ice cream

and Orange Crush soda. I must

say

that I wasn’t sure about it when

they first handed it to me, but I

enjoyed it immensely, so much so

that I now have a case of Orange

Crush under the counter and a

gallon of vanilla Ice cream in the

freezer.

Once desert was finished, we did a fire an

d safety walk through the boat, learning where the

flashlights and fire extinguishers are, how to open and close the fire dampers in the ventilation

duct through out the boat, as well as learning about all sorts of miscellaneous equipment onboard

the boat.

It was good for me to take that walk, as it allowed me to identify a serious safety issue

that our radio equipment was causing.

It seems that when the original cabling was installed for the tower’s antenna rotor, it was run

down the hallway over the off

icer’s quarters, and to get it though the bulkheads between

compartments, the rotor cable was routed thought the ventilation ducts. The problem is that they

were preventing the fire damper doors from closing.

Shortly thereafter, the guys from the sub

clu

b removed the cable and re

run it on the outside of

the boat, fixing the fire safety issue and it also cleaned up the control room and officer’s area

considerable. At the very least, getting this cable moved, saved the cable from getting cut when

someone t

ried to close the dampers. But this really could have been disastrous had there been a

fire.

Later this summer the BLHA is expected to have yet another living history day at the boat, and I

hope that you will volunteer to help out during the event. It mig

ht seem awkward at first, but you

will enjoy it.

I wish to thank the officer’s and crew of the BLHA for their hospitality and for allowing me to

be a part of their group; I look forward to doing it again sometime soon. If you would like more

information o

n the BLHA, please check out their website at

http://www.ss310.com/

Club and Museum Want List

Currently we are looking for florescent lamps and starters for the on board lighting on the

Batfish. We need

F8T5 Lamps and FS

5 Starters. The Bulbs are 12 inc

hes long, and are 8

watts

bulbs. All together, the boat has 72 of these with very few actually working. We probably need

several Ballast transformers, but I am uncertain of the model and type.

The boat also has 12 lamps that are 20

watt lamps and 24 inch

long and we need a few of those.

Project Completion report

Cushcraft A4S Beam Antenna Rebuild Project

April 16, 2011

After having problems with the feed line, and getting the connectors all repaired, we continued to

have problems with the Cushcraft A4S

Beam antenna, particularly with the 20 Meter band. The

10 and 15 meter bands seemed to be ok as far as SWR went, but 20M was nearly 3:1 at the band

edges and about 2.1:1 at resonance. We were just tuning the antenna with the tuner, but then the

received st

ations were normally at some odd angel to the direction the antenna was

pointed……… Way off at times.

I know it is normal to get stations off the sides, but when we would turn the antenna to point to

the station, it would then be null

ed out. Clearly, so

mething was wrong.

Saturday April 16 started out very cold, about 35 degrees, and after several days of rain, it was a

cold, moist breeze at the boat, most all wore coats, hats and gloves at 8am when we started. By

mid day, it was well into the seventies

and hotter than anyone ever thought possible. Several,

including myself, reported sun burns from too much sun, and not enough protection… Lesson

learned… I hope!

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

As Murphy is always a part of any project,

we started out with a long delay, when the

keys t

o the pad

lock on the tower were not

the right keys. It took about an hour to

finally get it opened and to get the tower

tilted over.

Once the tower was down, we removed the

beam from the mast and sent the tower back

up to get it out of the way. Working

in 2

man crews, each of the Elements were each

removed from the boom, and completely

disassembled and inspected for damage.

Since the antenna and tower had been reported to

have fallen to the ground at one time, we expected

to see some damage and repai

rs to the antenna,

but not to the extent we found. The driven

element’s mounting block was broken, and fell

apart, which explained why the antenna element

was hanging at a 45 degree angle from then others

when we got there.

The 4th element, a parasitic

for 10 M, literally feel

apart as the element had fractured and broken in

the mounting. We are lucky it had not fallen off

the antenna and hit the ground. Upon looking at it,

it was heavily damaged in the fall and someone

had used electrical tape to tape t

he element up too hold it better in its mounting. I guess it was

not fully broken at the time, so it

was taped. But then through

years of use, the antenna blowing

in the wind, the metal fatigued

and broke inside the mounting

sleeve. The only thing holding

the element to the antenna was

the electrical tape, and its friction

to the inside of the mounting

sleeve. This required the

fabrication of an all

new element

for the antenna to go back up.

John N5TBM and James NN5Q

did a fabulous ad hock

fabrication job o

f the new 10

meter element!

I wish to thank the officer’s and crew of the BLHA for their

be a part of their group; I look forward to doing it again som

information o

n the BLHA, please check out their website at

Club and Museum Wan

Currently we are looking for florescent lamps and starters for

Batfish. We need

F8T5 Lamps and FS

5 Starters. The Bulbs

bulbs. All together, the boat has 72 of these with very few ac

several Ballast transformers, but I am uncertain of the model

The boat also has 12 lamps that are 20

watt lamps and 24 inc

Project Completion r

Cushcraft A4S Beam Antenna

April 16, 2011

After having problems with the feed line, and getting the con

have problems with the Cushcraft A4S

Beam antenna, particul

10 and 15 meter bands seemed to be ok as far as SWR went,

edges and about 2.1:1 at resonance. We were just tuning the

received st

ations were normally at some odd angel to the dire

pointed……… Way off at times.

I know it is normal to get stations off the sides, but when we

the station, it would then be null

ed out. Clearly, so

mething

Saturday April 16 started out very cold, about 35 degrees, an

cold, moist breeze at the boat, most all wore coats, hats and

mid day, it was well into the seventies

and hotter than anyone

including myself, reported sun burns from too much sun, and

learned… I hope!

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

As Murph

we starte

keys t

o t

the right

finally ge

tilted ov

Once the

beam fro

up to ge

man crews

removed

disassem

Since the antenna and tower had been reported to

have fallen to the ground at one time, we expected

to see some damage and repai

rs to the antenna,

but not to the extent we found. The driven

element’s mounting block was broken, and fell

apart, which explained why the antenna element

was hanging at a 45 degree angle from then others

when we got there.

The 4th element, a parasitic

for 10 M, literally feel

apart as the element had fractured and broken in

the mounting. We are lucky it had not fallen off

the antenna and hit the ground. Upon looking at it,

it was heavily damaged in the fall and someone

had used electrical tape to tape t

he element up too hold it bet

I wish to thank the officer’s and crew of the BLHA for their hospitality and for allowing me to

be a part of their group; I look forward to doing it again sometime soon. If you would like more

information o

n the BLHA, please check out their website at

http://www.ss310.com/

Club and Museum Want List

Currently we are looking for florescent lamps and starters for the on board lighting on the

Batfish. We need

F8T5 Lamps and FS

5 Starters. The Bulbs are 12 inc

hes long, and are 8

watts

bulbs. All together, the boat has 72 of these with very few actually working. We probably need

several Ballast transformers, but I am uncertain of the model and type.

The boat also has 12 lamps that are 20

watt lamps and 24 inch

long and we need a few of those.

Project Completion report

Cushcraft A4S Beam Antenna Rebuild Project

April 16, 2011

After having problems with the feed line, and getting the connectors all repaired, we continued to

have problems with the Cushcraft A4S

Beam antenna, particularly with the 20 Meter band. The

10 and 15 meter bands seemed to be ok as far as SWR went, but 20M was nearly 3:1 at the band

edges and about 2.1:1 at resonance. We were just tuning the antenna with the tuner, but then the

received st

ations were normally at some odd angel to the direction the antenna was

pointed……… Way off at times.

I know it is normal to get stations off the sides, but when we would turn the antenna to point to

the station, it would then be null

ed out. Clearly, so

mething was wrong.

Saturday April 16 started out very cold, about 35 degrees, and after several days of rain, it was a

cold, moist breeze at the boat, most all wore coats, hats and gloves at 8am when we started. By

mid day, it was well into the seventies

and hotter than anyone ever thought possible. Several,

including myself, reported sun burns from too much sun, and not enough protection… Lesson

learned… I hope!

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

As Murphy is always a part of any project,

we started out with a long delay, when the

keys t

o the pad

lock on the tower were not

the right keys. It took about an hour to

finally get it opened and to get the tower

tilted over.

Once the tower was down, we removed the

beam from the mast and sent the tower back

up to get it out of the way. Working

in 2

man crews, each of the Elements were each

removed from the boom, and completely

disassembled and inspected for damage.

Since the antenna and tower had been reported to

have fallen to the ground at one time, we expected

to see some damage and repai

rs to the antenna,

but not to the extent we found. The driven

element’s mounting block was broken, and fell

apart, which explained why the antenna element

was hanging at a 45 degree angle from then others

when we got there.

The 4th element, a parasitic

for 10 M, literally feel

apart as the element had fractured and broken in

the mounting. We are lucky it had not fallen off

the antenna and hit the ground. Upon looking at it,

it was heavily damaged in the fall and someone

had used electrical tape to tape t

he element up too hold it better in its mounting. I guess it was

not fully broken at the time, so it

was taped. But then through

years of use, the antenna blowing

in the wind, the metal fatigued

and broke inside the mounting

sleeve. The only thing holding

the element to the antenna was

the electrical tape, and its friction

to the inside of the mounting

sleeve. This required the

fabrication of an all

new element

for the antenna to go back up.

John N5TBM and James NN5Q

did a fabulous ad hock

fabrication job o

f the new 10

meter element!

There were a number of pieces that had to be straightened to make the antenna look good when

in the air. John and James also took care of that part of the project, and did a great job at it.

We also found that the antenna w

as not built “quite right” with some of the elements not being in

the right spot… Though I am not certain about this, several have speculated that the reflector and

the director were reversed. Now on a 3

element antenna, that would not make any difference,

except to point the antenna in the other direction, but with 4 elements, things are different. The

element is supposed to be between the driven element and the reflector, but somehow, it

seemed to be mounted between the driven and the director… That

could explain the disruption of

the pattern when trying to point to a station.

While all the Team members disassembled all

the pieces, Dan W5BM tested each and every

trap on the antenna to make sure they were on

frequency and that the traps were properl

paired up and oriented to make sure the antenna

tuned properly once up in the air. Now there are

“only” 10 traps on the antenna, but we put that

poor man through hell, and he had to tests each

trap 3 or 4 times! He would get done, put his

equipment up, a

nd then shortly thereafter, he

would happily drag it all out again to check it

one more time. He repeated this cycle of events

several times, but he was always good

natured

about it!

We all learned from Dan’s training on how to check the traps, and while

at it, he did find that one

of the traps were “backwards” from the others. We never really figured out why, but luckily we

were able to replace the trap with another.

After disassembly, each and every connecting joint of the antenna was sanded down and

cleaned

with scouring pads and steel wool. While

reassembling the antenna, each and every joint

was greased with No

Ox, an electrically

conductive, anti

corrosion compound to make

sure our repairs last. Continuing this train of

thought, ALL the hardware,

nuts, bolts,

washers, hose clamps and muffler clamps were

replaced with NEW Stainless Steel hardware

bought from MFJ as a “rebuild” kit.

Each of the traps were also rebuilt by cleaning

around and replacing the rusted screw that

makes the outer shield a c

apacitor for the trap,

and while we were at it, we replaced all the Trap

Caps with new caps to keep the water and bugs

out

--USS OKLAHOMA AND USS BATFISH HANDOUT--

After the boom was disassembled

and cleaned, No

Ox was applied

and then reassembled with new

hardware. Each element was

measured an

d adjusted according

to the manual for the center of the

band, and the elements were re

attached to the boom. Once done,

with the bolts tight, a crew went

through again and measured all the

dimensions again, and made a

couple of minor adjustment. Then

a se

cond crew made sure ALL the

clamps, nuts and bolts were tight as

a final check.

The final nicety was the application of new end caps for all the elements and also both ends of

the boom to eliminate the wind from making music with the holes in the elemen

ts, like a drunken

flutes. To make sure they stay there, each cap was glued in place with “black death” 3M

automotive weather gasket glue.

The crew then tilted the tower back down and the Beam was stood up on its end and the boom

was remounted to the mas

t. A long run of temporary / test coax was connected, and then the

antenna was raised in to position. Testing with the antenna analyzer indicated all was working

properly on all three bands. The tower

was then lowered again and the main

run of coax was re

attached, and the

connections were then weather proofed

and cable tied to the boom and tower.

The tower was then raised again and

secured to the mounting post. The head

CW OP, Gary W5ODS, and myself,

then took the 700 foot walk to the

radio room of the Ba

tfish and retested

the antenna from there. The results

were not as great as they were before,

but they were acceptable. The antenna

was connected to the radio and I must

say the bands were open, even 10 and

15 were hopping, I wanted to get on the air and

call CQ, but there was still more to do, and the

museum was closing soon. We secured the station and went back to help clean up the work area,

and pack up to go home.

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

While there, Gary also took the ends down on the 40 Meter inverted V antenna that is on

the

boat, and he soldered a few extra inches on to the ends to lower the resonate frequency some, to

help center the antenna in the band, and to help remove the need for an antenna tuner when

operating CW in

the lower part of

the bands.

ALL in ALL, it

as a very full

day, far more so

then dreamed,

and considering

the issues we

had, it was very

impressive that

it all got done in

one day! With

everyone’s hard

work, and about

$150.00 in new

stainless steel

parts, we have

built a nearly

new antenna

that with

any luck should give the club another 15 to 20 years of good service.

A special thank you goes out to all those folks that made a special financial donation to this

project. Without the financial support of our members, projects like these would not be p

ossible.

I want to thank a wonderful group of guys for all their help, everyone did more then their

fair

share of the work to make sure the project was a success and to make sure it was done in just one

day! The crew consisted of th

e following, but are not listed in any particular order:

Dan, W5BM

Ron, KB5VDB

Mike, AE5QL

John, N5TBM

James, NN5Q

Gary, W5ODS

John, W5EJK

Wade, KF5IF

Thank you guys! Your hard work is very much appreciated!

I would also like to th

ank Courtney, KF5BRC for taking the photos of the project.

Have a suggestion

Have a story idea! Want to write an article of interest? Just want to have

your opinion heard? Anything from discussion topics for meetings to projects to newsletter

items,

or articles that others would enjoy. Please send an email to

U S S O k l a h o m a _U S S B a t f i s h @h o t m a i l .c o m

There were a number of pieces that had to be straightened to

in the air. John and James also took care of that part of the pr

We also found that the antenna w

as not built “quite right” wi

the right spot… Though I am not certain about this, several h

the director were reversed. Now on a 3

element antenna, tha

except to point the antenna in the other direction, but with 4

element is supposed to be between the driven element and

seemed to be mounted between the driven and the director…

the pattern when trying to point to a station.

While all the Team members disassembled all

the pieces, Dan W5BM tested each and every

trap on the antenna to make sure they were on

frequency and that the traps were properl

paired up and oriented to make sure the antenna

tuned properly once up in the air. Now there are

“only” 10 traps on the antenna, but we put that

poor man through hell, and he had to tests each

trap 3 or 4 times! He would get done, put his

equipment up, a

nd then shortly thereafter, he

would happily drag it all out again to check it

one more time. He repeated this cycle of events

several times, but he was always good

natured

about it!

We all learned from Dan’s training on how to check the traps

of the traps were “backwards” from the others. We never rea

were able to replace the trap with another.

After disassembly, each and every connecting joint of the ant

with scourin

reassemblin

was greased

conductive,

sure our repa

thought, AL

washers, ho

replaced wi

bought from

Each of the

around and

makes the o

and while we were at it, we replaced all the Trap

Caps with n

out

--USS OKLAHOMA AND USS BATFISH HANDOUT--

After the boom was disassembled

and cleaned, No

Ox was applied

and then reassembled with new

hardware. Each element was

measured an

d adjusted according

to the manual for the center of the

band, and the elements were re

attached to the boom. Once done,

with the bolts tight, a crew went

through again and measured all the

dimensions again, and made a

couple of minor adjustment. Then

a se

cond crew made sure ALL the

clamps, nuts and bolts were tight as

a final check.

The final nicety was the application of new end caps for all t

the boom to eliminate the wind from making music with the

flutes. To make sure they stay there, each cap was glued in pl

automotive weather gasket glue.

The crew then tilted the tower back down and the Beam was

was remounted to the mas

t. A long run of temporary / test c

antenna was raised in to position. Testing with the antenna a

run

but

15 were hopping, I wanted to get on the air and

call CQ, but

museum was closing soon. We secured the station and went

and pack up to go home.

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

While there, Gary also took the ends down on the 40 Meter

boat, and he soldered a few extra inches on to the ends to lo

help center the antenna in the band, and to help remove the n

operating CW in

the lower part of

the bands.

ALL in ALL, it

as a very full

day, far more so

then dreamed,

and considering

the issues we

had, it was very

impressive that

it all got done in

one day! With

everyone’s hard

work, and about

$150.00 in new

stainless steel

parts, we have

built a nearly

new antenna

that with

any luck should give the club another 15 to 20 year

A special thank you goes out to all those folks that made a s

project. Without the financial support of our members, proje

I want to thank a wonderful group of guys for all their help,

share of the work to make sure the project was a success an

day! The crew consisted of th

e following, but are not listed

Dan, W5BM

Mike, AE5QL

James, NN5Q

John, W5EJK

Thank you guys! Your hard work is

I would also like to th

ank Courtney, KF5BRC for ta

Have a suggestion

Have a story idea! Want to write a

your opinion heard? Anything from discussion topics fo

items,

or articles that others would enjoy. P

U S S O k l a h o m a _U S S B a t f i s h @h

There were a number of pieces that had to be straightened to make the antenna loo

in the air. John and James also took care of that part of the project, and did a great

We also found that the antenna w

as not built “quite right” with some of the elemen

the right spot… Though I am not certain about this, several have speculated that th

the director were reversed. Now on a 3

element antenna, that would not make any

except to point the antenna in the other direction, but with 4 elements, things are di

element is supposed to be between the driven element and the reflector, but som

seemed to be mounted between the driven and the director… That

could explain th

the pattern when trying to point to a station.

While all the Team members disassembled all

the pieces, Dan W5BM tested each and every

trap on the antenna to make sure they were on

frequency and that the traps were properl

paired up and oriented to make sure the antenna

tuned properly once up in the air. Now there are

“only” 10 traps on the antenna, but we put that

poor man through hell, and he had to tests each

trap 3 or 4 times! He would get done, put his

equipment up, a

nd then shortly thereafter, he

would happily drag it all out again to check it

one more time. He repeated this cycle of events

several times, but he was always good

natured

about it!

We all learned from Dan’s training on how to check the traps, and while

at it, he di

of the traps were “backwards” from the others. We never really figured out why, b

were able to replace the trap with another.

After disassembly, each and every connecting joint of the antenna was sanded down

with scouring pads and steel wool

reassembling the antenna, each an

was greased with No

Ox, an elect

conductive, anti

corrosion compo

sure our repairs last. Continuing t

thought, ALL the hardware,

nuts,

washers, hose clamps and muffler

replaced with NEW Stainless Stee

bought from MFJ as a “rebuild” ki

Each of the traps were also rebuil

around and replacing the rusted sc

makes the outer shield a c

apacitor

and while we were at it, we replaced all the Trap

Caps with new caps to keep the wa

out

--USS OKLAHOMA AND USS BATFISH HANDOUT--

After the boom was disassembled

and cleaned, No

Ox was applied

and then reassembled with new

hardware. Each element was

measured an

d adjusted according

to the manual for the center of the

band, and the elements were re

attached to the boom. Once done,

with the bolts tight, a crew went

through again and measured all the

dimensions again, and made a

couple of minor adjustment. Then

a se

cond crew made sure ALL the

clamps, nuts and bolts were tight as

a final check.

The final nicety was the application of new end caps for all the elements and also b

the boom to eliminate the wind from making music with the holes in the elemen

ts,

flutes. To make sure they stay there, each cap was glued in place with “black death

automotive weather gasket glue.

The crew then tilted the tower back down and the Beam was stood up on its end a

was remounted to the mas

t. A long run of temporary / test coax was connected, an

antenna was raised in to position. Testing with the antenna analyzer indicated all wa

properly on all three ban

was then lowered again

run of coax was re

attac

connections were then we

and cable tied to the boo

The tower was then rais

secured to the mounting

CW OP, Gary W5ODS,

then took the 700 foot wa

radio room of the Ba

tfis

the antenna from there.

were not as great as the

but they were acceptabl

was connected to the ra

say the bands were open

15 were hopping, I wanted to get on the air and

call CQ, but there was still more t

museum was closing soon. We secured the station and went back to help clean up

and pack up to go home.

Volume1 Issue 3 June 2011

While there, Gary also took the ends down on the 40 Meter inverted V antenna tha

boat, and he soldered a few extra inches on to the ends to lower the resonate freque

help center the antenna in the band, and to help remove the need for an antenna tun

operating CW in

the lower part of

the bands.

ALL in ALL, it

as a very full

day, far more so

then dreamed,

and considering

the issues we

had, it was very

impressive that

it all got done in

one day! With

everyone’s hard

work, and about

$150.00 in new

stainless steel

parts, we have

built a nearly

new antenna

that with

any luck should give the club another 15 to 20 years of good service.

A special thank you goes out to all those folks that made a special financial donatio

project. Without the financial support of our members, projects like these would n

I want to thank a wonderful group of guys for all their help, everyone did more th

share of the work to make sure the project was a success and to make sure it was

day! The crew consisted of th

e following, but are not listed in any particular orde

Dan, W5BM

Ron, KB5VDB

Mike, AE5QL

John, N5TBM

James, NN5Q

Gary, W5ODS

John, W5EJK

Wade, KF5I

Thank you guys! Your hard work is very much appreciated!

I would also like to th

ank Courtney, KF5BRC for taking the photos of the

Have a suggestion

Have a story idea! Want to write an article of interest? J

your opinion heard? Anything from discussion topics for meetings to projects

items,

or articles that others would enjoy. Please send an email to

U S S O k l a h o m a _U S S B a t f i s h @h o t m a i l .c o m

CHECKOUT THE NEW GALLERY AT: HTTP://GALLERY.WW2OK.ORG

CHECKOUT THE NEW GALLERY AT: HTTP://GALLERY.WW2OK.ORG

CHECKOUT THE NEW GALLERY AT: HTTP://GALLERY.WW2OK.ORG

USS Oklahoma and USS Batfish ARC c/o Muskogee War Memorial P.O.Box 253 Muskogee, OK 74402 United States of America CLUB OFFICERS - Elected 2014 and Trustee email: royce: president@ww2ok.org KE5TC john: vicepresident@ww2ok.org W5EJK mitch: secretary@ww2ok.org KE5HWW gary: treasurer@ww2ok.org W5ODS wade: trustee@ww2ok.org KF5IF www.ww2sub.org www.ww2ok.org

2015 - USS OKLAHOMA AND USS BATFISH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - WW2OK / WW2SUB

Thanks to all the officers, trustee, and members for photos and content for this website.

Special thanks to Don Wilkinson K0EMF for many of the terrific photos on website and

gallery. See QRZ.com for WW2OK and WW2SUB license information, and QSL card

information. Thanks to Wade KF5IF (trustee listed above) for newsletter content. Contact

the secretary (listed above) to submit other photos and ideas for the newsletter. Have a wonderful New Year in 2015.

USS Oklahoma and USS Batfish ARC c/o Muskogee War Memorial P.O.Box 253 Muskogee, OK 74402 United States of America CLUB OFFICERS - Elected 2014 and Trustee email: royce: president@ww2ok.org john: vicepresident@ww2ok.org mitch: secretary@ww2ok.org gary: treasurer@ww2ok.org wade: trustee@ww2ok.org www.ww2sub.org www.ww2ok.org

2015 - USS OKLAHOMA AND USS BATFISH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - WW2OK / WW2SUB

Thanks to all the officers, trustee, and members for photos and content for this website.

Special thanks to Don Wilkinson K0EMF for many of the terrific photos on website and

gallery. See QRZ.com for WW2OK and WW2SUB license information, and QSL card

information. Thanks to Wade KF5IF (trustee listed above) for newsletter content. Contact

the secretary (listed above) to submit other photos and ideas for the newsletter. Have a wonderful New Year in 2015.

2015 - USS OKLAHOMA AND USS BATFISH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - WW2OK / WW2SUB

Thanks to all the officers, trustee, and members for photos and content for this website.

Special thanks to Don Wilkinson K0EMF for many of the terrific photos on website and

gallery. See QRZ.com for WW2OK and WW2SUB license information, and QSL card

information. Thanks to Wade KF5IF (trustee listed above) for newsletter content. Contact

the secretary (listed above) to submit other photos and ideas for the newsletter. Have a wonderful New Year in 2015.