reporting are contained in Allied Maritime Tactical
Instructions and Procedures, ATP 1, Volume I. There
are two conditions under which enemy contact reports
are to be made more than once:
When DO NOT ANSWER procedures are used
(texts are transmitted twice in this procedure).
When the text consists of emergency alarm
signals. In this case, the text is transmitted twice,
separated by the proword I SAY AGAIN, with a
time group in the ending.
When required, authentication is used in contact
reports. Lack of proper authentication, however, should
not prevent retransmission or relay of the message to
higher authority.
There are two types of contact reports: initial and
amplifying. As you would expect, initial reports are
used to report initial contact or sightings. These reports
should be sent as expeditiously as possible with
immediate, pertinent information (type vessel, location,
basic track, and so forth). The amplifying reports
contain all necessary amplifying information to be fully
analyzed by higher authority or command.
CODE AND CIPHER MESSAGES
Code words, such as VERDIN in the text
EXECUTE PLAN VERDIN, are sent as plain language
words. Encrypted groups, such as DRSRM, are spelled
phonetically: DELTA, ROMEO, SIERRA, ROMEO,
MIKE.
The phonetic alphabet is used for the names of
signal flags as well as for spelling words, letter groups,
and so on. Signal flags are combined into code groups
that have meanings of their own. DELTA ROMEO
ONE, for example, might mean “prepare to hover.”
Signal flag A is ALFA, flag B is BRAVO, and so on.
Meanings of such code groups are given in appropriate
signal publications.
Because flag signals are also sent by R/T, you must
be able to differentiate between the two uses of the
phonetic letters when you hear them. Here is the
way—if the phonetic alphabet is used, the proword I
SPELL precedes it and each phonetic letter is recorded
as a letter. If you hear I SPELL, followed by DELTA
OSCAR, write it as DO. On administrative nets, the
proword SIGNALS, followed by DELTA OSCAR,
means the groups have been taken from a signal book
and should be recorded as such. Prowords are not used
on nets used primarily for conveying signals.
Therefore, you may assume that alphabet flags are
intended.
The duties of an R/T operator require a knowledge
of the special language developed for tactical
maneuvering, air control, antiair warfare, naval gunfiie
support, electronic countermeasures, antisubmarine
warfare, and other specialized uses. Words, phrases,
and abbreviations used in R/T for these specialized uses
are called operational brevity codes. A complete list of
operational brevity code words is found in Operational
Brevity Codes, ACP 165.
You should understand that the words and phrases
of the brevity code provide no communications
security. The purposes of the codes are to:
Standardize the vocabulary;
Improve the accuracy of the transmission; and
Shorten transmission time.
AUTHENTICATION
Authentication is a security measure designed to
protect a communications system against fraudulent
transmissions. There are specific times when you will
have to use authentication procedures. Several types of
authentication systems are in use, and the method of
authentication will vary with the system that you are
using. Authentication systems are accompanied by
specific instructions outlining the method of use. You
can find more information about the types of
authentications and specific reasons when and why to
use the authentication process in Communications
Instructions—Security (U), ACP 122, and in NTP 5.
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
ADMINISTRATION
We will now show you some of the basic logs,
command guard list (CGL), and changing call signs that
deal with communications center administration.
These short instructions are in no way a complete list of
communications center operations. Each command has
its own check-off lists or SOPs of how their command
runs its center.
CIRCUIT BACKLOGS
Each circuit operator will notify the supervisor
when the circuit status changes, when a backlog of
traffic develops, when an outgoing transmission is
delayed, or when any deviation from prescribed
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