mechanisms. This antenna is particularly useful where
antenna area is limited. A rotatable LP antenna, known
as an RLP antenna (figure 2-35), possesses essentially
the same characteristics as the fixed LP antenna but has
a different physical form. The RLP antenna is
commonly used in ship-shore-ship and in point-to-point
communications.
EMERGENCY ANTENNAS
Damage to an antenna from heavy seas, violent
winds, or enemy action can cause serious disruption of
communications. Sections of a whip antenna can be
carried away, insulators can be damaged, or a wire
antenna can snap loose from its moorings or break. If
loss or damage should happen when all available
equipment is needed, you may have to rig, or assist in
Figure 2-34.—Log-periodic antenna.
rigging, an emergency antenna to temporarily restore
communications until the regular antenna can be
repaired.
bands. Figure 2-34 shows a typical LP antenna
The simplest emergency antenna consists of a
designed for extremely broadbanded, VHF
length of wire rope to which a high-voltage insulator is
communications. The LP antenna can be mounted on
attached to one end and a heavy alligator clip, or lug, is
steel towers or utility poles that incorporate rotating
soldered to the other. The end with the insulator is
Figure 2-35.—Rotatable log-periodic antenna.
2-26
