SwiftVets.com

[jalexson]

I'm writing a novel under the pen name Reason McLucus which involves a nuclear attack on Israel. The novel is set in an alternate or parallel universe in which the Israelis and Palestinians have reached a peace agreement. Someone decides to sabotage the agreement with a nuke. On this particular earth the U.S., Russia, and Egypt have different leaders and there was no invasion of Iraq because Bill Clinton was never elected president and thus the U.N. inspectors stayed in Iraq.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is in the vicinity at the time of the explosion and its planes play take control of airspace in the eastern Mediterranean. The following is my suggested account of the communications that follow.

Meanwhile the CDC of the USS Theodore Roosevelt had become very busy.

“313 to Rough Rider.”

“Rough Rider, go ahead 313.”

“313 to Rough Rider, a nuclear explosion has just occurred in or near Tel Aviv, Israel.”

“Rough Rider to 313, say again.”

“313 to Rough Rider, a nuclear explosion has just occurred in or near Tel Aviv, Israel. I’m sending pictures now.”

“Rough Rider to 313, we are receiving pictures. Pentagon also reporting the explosion. Attempt to contact Israeli military for additional information.”

On the Roosevelt an alarm sounded and an ominous message came over the PA. “Battle stations. Battle stations. All Personnel battle stations. This is not a drill. Repeat this is not a drill.”

Commander Nguyen quickened her pace to the CDC to a near run.

“U.S. Navy 312 calling Israeli air command. Can you copy?”

“U.S. Navy 312 calling Israeli air command. Can you copy?”

“Israeli Air Force 100 to U.S. Navy 312. We are very busy.”

“U.S. Navy 312 to Israeli Air Force 100, understand. Can we be of assistance?”

“Israeli Air Force 100 to U.S. Navy 312, did you observe any suspicious aircraft in the vicinity of the explosion?”

“U.S. Navy 312 to Israeli Air Force 100, negative but our computers will be reviewing video and radar tapes.”

“Israeli Air Force 100 to U.S. Navy 312, we are closing our air space to all civilian aircraft, including El Al. Can you divert incoming aircraft?”

“U.S. Navy 312 to Israeli Air Force 100, affirmative. We will begin diverting aircraft.”

“U.S. Navy 313 to Beirut air control.”

“Beirut air control to U.S. Navy 313, go ahead.”

“U.S. Navy 313 to Beirut air control, Israel has closed its air space to all civilian aircraft. Can we divert aircraft to your facility?”

“Beirut air control to U.S. Navy 313, advise reason for closing air space.”

“U.S. Navy 313 to Beirut air control, there has been a nuclear explosion in or near Tel Aviv.”

“Beirut air control to U.S. Navy 313, stand by.”

A few minutes passed.

“Beirut air control to U.S. Navy 313, negative. Believe our airport will be unsafe if Israel has been attacked. Foreign aircraft may wish to leave here. Will they be able to do so safely?”

“U.S. Navy 313 to Beirut air control, contact our embassy about outgoing aircraft. Believe they will need to clear with NATO HQ. We will stand by to escort if approval granted.”

“U.S. Navy 318 to Cairo air control.”

“Cairo air control go ahead U.S. Navy 318.”

“U.S. Navy 318 to Cairo air control, Israel has closed its air space to civilian aircraft due to nuclear explosion at Tel Aviv.. Can we divert to your facility?”

“Cairo air control to U.S. Navy 318, standby.”

“Cairo air control to U.S. Navy 318, we prefer not to accept, but will do so for aircraft that cannot reach other destinations. Planes will have to fly under fighter escort. We will be closing our airspace.”


“Rough Rider to all aircraft, we are monitoring traffic and contacting NATO about location that will accept inbound aircraft this area.”

“Rough Rider to all aircraft, NATO advising all aircraft in our area to be diverted to Athens. You are to escort until relieved by Greek Air Force.”

“321 to Rough Rider moving to intercept El Al flight 1203"

“Rough Rider to 321, roger that.”

“U.S. Navy 321 to El Al flight 1203.”

“El Al 1203 go ahead U.S. Navy 321.”

“U.S. Navy 321 to El Al 1203, Israel has closed its air space. We will escort you to Athens.”

“El Al 1203 to U. S. Navy 321, advise reason for closure.”

“U,.S. Navy 321 to El Al 1203, I regret to inform you that a nuclear explosion has occurred in or near Tel Aviv. Exact location and extent of damage unknown at this time.”

“El Al 1203 understood U.S. Navy 321, diverting to Athens.”

I could explain any difference in communications what that used in the real world as a result of being on a different earth, but would like to keep close to the actual practice including how the alert is passed to the crew of the carrier.

Also would a navy commander still be flying. I'm suggesting that the OIC of the jets is a half Vietnamese commander whose biological father was awarded a posthumous MOH in Vietnam.

The story can be found at:
http://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1400524

I would be interested in any other comments also.
_________________
"That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoe making and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poor house."
-- Mark Twain

[SandiM]

Jalexon
Voice procedures (radio communications) have specific rules. The key to using correct communications techniques lies in the application of "prowords".

In the first line of your script you need to use the "THIS IS" proword. Example:

“313 to Rough Rider”, should be: "Rough Rider THIS IS 313".

Whatever you do never, never use "over and out". It is an utterly stupid contradiction. Proword OVER means that the speaker expects you to answer. Proword OUT means that communication is ended, do not reply. That would cost you a carton of beer in my unit.

If you download this PDF (not comprehensive but sufficient) you can go through your radio exchange script and make the appropriate corrections.

http://www.jamaicaham.org/VOICE%20PROCEDURE.pdf
_________________
Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. (Winston Churchill)

[I B Squidly]

Fun at you jalexson.

“313 to Rough Rider.”
For NATO there would be daily to quarter hourly code expressed alfa/numeric/alfa to whatever.

say again
IMI your last

sending pictures
fire control has already got it....what?
_________________
"KILL ALL THE LAWYERS!"

-Wlm Shakespeare

[jalexson]

Thanks.
_________________
"That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoe making and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poor house."
-- Mark Twain

[I B Squidly]

Morse signals have prowords for punctuation.

Q and Z Signals are prowords.

INTERCO and NATO have 1-4 letter codes.

The open dialogue you suggest is unlikely..... and where's the DTG? The IFF?
_________________
"KILL ALL THE LAWYERS!"

-Wlm Shakespeare

[jalexson]

[GoophyDog]

Most of the Q, Z, and I signals have fallen by the wayside over the years as technology has increased comm speed. These signals, begun in morse code days allowed for a greater amount of information to be passed with less comm time.

Surprisingly enough, if you've ever watched COPS, there appear to be some jurisdictions that use the phrase "QSL" on voice comms to acknowledge receipt of traffic. Note, ham radio operators still use the codes and swap QSL cards whether it is voice, tty, or morse.

INT - interrogative, ex: INT ZBZ "What is my readabilty?" which the other end would reply with the query and a number indicating how good the signal readability was: ZBZ 5. There are usually two signals used in this INT QSA ZBZ with a response of QSA 5 ZBZ 5. This is the equivalent of voice comms of "Loud and Clear" or the slang use of "5 by 5". This a rough example because you would not normally mix a Q and a Z signal, unfortunately my memory has faded somewhat (its been 30+ years) and I've forgotten them.

Your cell phone idea is already out there in the public domain. A multiplexed burst transmitter/receiver. I would have my reservations on using a sat cell since it broadcasts in too broad a spectrum leaving the ability to track it wide open. Bursting reduces exposure but it would still be there.

The radar sharing sounds like an airborne version of IVIS. Not really new technology.

Sandi - thank you! Its always been sand in my crotch to hear "Over and Out" and "Roger Wilco"
_________________
Why ask? Because it needs asking.

[SandiM]

GoophyDog
The worst comms operator I ever heard was on a missing person search. The dog teams insisted on running a separate comms network, so I (running the search teams comms) was seated opposite their operator in the back of the mobile command post.

He topped off a truly dreadful litany of errors with, "Wait. Out. Over". By then I wanted to strangle him, or ROFLMAO. Thankfully, I was too busy to do either.
_________________
Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. (Winston Churchill)

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

Yep, "over and out" is out.

"Roger, wilco" has always been greatly misused, but it's just radio shorthand for "I have received your message, (and) I will comply."

It's used a lot in air traffic control, along with just plain, "wilco." I don't know if it's used in any other areas, but it wouldn't be odd to have a pilot say "wilco" in response to ATC or to the wing commander or OOD or someone who has just given him a lawful order.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[Deuce]

[baldeagle]

"Q" signals, "Z" signals, etc are available (with their meanings) on the web.
Just google Q signals, etc.
_________________
"In a word, I want an American character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others; this, in my judgment, is the only way to be respected abroad and happy at home." --George Washington