Running the 15m lunchtime net last Friday, I was called by NJ2BB, the Iowa-class battleship USS New Jersey with Bob N4XAT on the mic. The USS New Jersey is a museum ship, much like HMS Belfast, and is moored at Camden, New Jersey, USA.
Communications with NJ2BB were good, averaging 5/4 to 5/5, peaking S8 with me in my car at the Jack & Jill windmill site. Bob exchanged reports with George G4PTJ, Chris G4ZCS and Barry SA7GDB. Barry is also a regular on the net. Unfortunately, David WB1EAD could not hear Bob.
Bob is hoping to operate from U-995, a U-boat museum in Laboe, Germany in June next year. If all goes well, Fraser OZ1JKU (ex G0JDR) and I plan to meet up with Bob on the U-boat.
Bob was using a Kenwood TS-870D barefoot into the ship’s twin stub antennas mounted about 60 feet ASL. With a 50,000 ton ground-plane it works pretty good hi.
Dick G0LFF
