{"id":64879,"date":"2025-12-12T07:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=64879"},"modified":"2025-12-12T09:18:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T13:18:59","slug":"cold-war-vlf-and-a-bobs-homemade-lwl-qsl-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/12\/cold-war-vlf-and-a-bobs-homemade-lwl-qsl-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold War VLF and a Bob’s Homemade \u201cLWL\u201d QSL Card"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Bob (K7ZB), who writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi Tom,<\/p>\n

Bob, K7ZB here, and I was just looking at a post on your SWL site for NSS, the US Navy station which was activated back in 1918.<\/p>\n

It brought to mind a very unique QSL card I made for a listening event back in the days that I served on board a Polaris missile submarine during the Cold War.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I created an “LWL” QSL card (I did this tongue-in-cheek) for Long Wave Listening confirmation of TACAMO transmissions sent from a special Hercules C-130 aircraft which was used in the event of nuclear war and the anticipated destruction of all land-based military communications capabilities. TACAMO aircraft are still in use in this system today and aviation enthusiasts track them occasionally.<\/p>\n

The National Command Authority would issue commands to launch retaliatory nuclear strikes from our missile subs through the signals sent at VLF 17KHz from the aircraft and received by our boats while submerged.<\/p>\n

The system is unclassified (like the Doomsday Machine in ‘Dr Strangelove” of the 1960’s film noir – if it is kept secret it is not a deterrent) so you can read about it here:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.wikiwand.com\/en\/articles\/TACAMO<\/a><\/p>\n

I was a Missile Technician and Navy SCUBA Diver on a missile boat during the Cold War and had been a ham radio operator (WA8KEX) for 6 years prior to serving on board. When I reported to the submarine, the LPO (Leading Petty Officer) of the Radio gang was also a ham and when I spoke with him he got permission for me to qualify as a Radioman of the Watch so I could stand watches in the radio shack while out at sea on our 75 day patrols in the Mediterranean Sea and above the Arctic Circle. I did that when I was off watch back in the Missile Compartment which was my normal duty staton.<\/p>\n

Of course we maintained radio silence during patrols but we could copy VLF when we put out our long trailing floating wire antenna when we were near but below the surface. We could then pick up the transmissions from the TACAMO EC-130Q’s flying in very tight circular patterns just above stall speed with a 5-mile long wire trailing behind them which circled down in a helical form just above the sea somewhere out in the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

This allowed the VLF signal to travel great distances and we could then copy it while submerged.<\/p>\n

The transmissions were digital with the exception that Morse code was also used back in my day. I served on board the USS Alexander Hamilton SSB(N)617 Gold Crew from 1969-72 for 6 patrols out of Rota, Spain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

I was an MT1(SS)DV, and here is the uniform I wore. I am on the right in the photo of the two divers and with my swim buddy at the US Navy Diver School in Key West, FL (1970), who was a Recon Marine.<\/p><\/div>\n

I or another RM (Radioman) would strap on headphones and sit at an IBM Selectric ‘mill’ and copy 5-letter code groups sent in International Morse code from a Navy RM up in the aircraft. That RM was working in tough conditions because the C-130’s had to fly at a steep angle approaching 45 degrees which put them at about 1G and they were sending on a straight key at 15wpm.<\/p>\n

Once the messages were received I handed them off to the RM’s and then I left for the Missile Compartment because it meant we were going to have a Weapons System Readiness Test soon – a drill in preparation for the real thing.<\/p>\n

Which never came, thank God, or we wouldn’t be seeing this email.<\/p>\n

The special LWL QSL card I made shows a real C-130 with the antenna spooling out with its counterpoise – you can just see the drogues at the end of the wires – and the middle photo is of the aircraft internal transmitter gear where the signals were sent.<\/p>\n

My submarine is shown in the card with our ship’s patch and a pencil sketch of what the radio shack on board an FBM Polaris submarine looked like – the RM with his headphones is sitting at the mill copying TACAMO messages.<\/p>\n

I put a small QSL data block on the card detailing some of the conditions of a typical message received as if we had been SWL QSLing a ham station.<\/p>\n

I posted this on my submarine’s FB group as well as the FB Submarine Radioman’s group for their enjoyment – if any of them were also hams or SWL’s they would get it immediately.<\/p>\n

73,<\/p>\n

Bob
\nK7ZB<\/p>\n

Thank you, Bob, for allowing us a glimpse into this chapter of Cold War communications history through your unique LWL QSL. It\u2019s a wonderful blend of personal story, service, and radio heritage.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bob (K7ZB), who writes: Hi Tom, Bob, K7ZB here, and I was just looking at a post on your SWL site for NSS, the US Navy station which was activated back in 1918. It brought to mind a very unique QSL card I made for a listening event back […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,894],"tags":[10990,10991,899,3486],"class_list":["post-64879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-qsl-gallery","tag-bob-k7zb","tag-lwl-qsl","tag-qsl-cards","tag-vlf"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gSr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57583,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/can-you-help-bob-identify-this-mystery-signal\/","url_meta":{"origin":64879,"position":0},"title":"Can you help Bob identify this mystery signal?","author":"Thomas","date":"August 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob (K7ZB), who shares the following note and recording:\u00a0 Hi Thomas, I recently started using an SDRplay RSP1A with their new software release SDRconnect. Quite a nice piece of work and my first foray into SDR after 60 years of analog radio (K7ZB). Today\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-of-Myster-Signal-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-of-Myster-Signal-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-of-Myster-Signal-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-of-Myster-Signal-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screenshot-of-Myster-Signal-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61368,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/bobs-1968-radio-tirana-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":64879,"position":1},"title":"Bob’s 1968 Radio Tirana QSL Card","author":"Thomas","date":"December 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bob Colegrove, who writes: Kudos to Don Moore for his excellently crafted article on Albanian radio. [...]Perhaps some might be interested to see a 1968 QSL from R. Tirana. Regards, Bob Colegrove Thank you for sharing this excellent Radio Tirana QSL card, Bob!","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44500,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/toms-amazing-1986-voyager-experimental-aircraft-flight-communications-recording-and-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":64879,"position":2},"title":"Tom’s amazing 1986 Voyager Experimental Aircraft flight communications recording and QSL card","author":"Thomas","date":"July 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the most amazing things about hosting and curating a massive collection of shortwave radio recordings is listening to each recording as they\u2019re published on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive (SRAA). SRAA contributor, Tom Gavaras, has shared some brilliant off-air and studio recordings over the years including the following\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1024px-Voyager_aircraft.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1024px-Voyager_aircraft.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1024px-Voyager_aircraft.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1024px-Voyager_aircraft.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10460,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/kens-favorite-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":64879,"position":3},"title":"Ken’s favorite QSL card","author":"Thomas","date":"August 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Regarding memorable QSL cards, SWLing Post reader, Ken Carr comments: \"I received my favorite QSL card many years ago as a result of a random contact. 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I was thrilled because I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"W7LR-KenCarr","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/W7LR-KenCarr1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/W7LR-KenCarr1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/W7LR-KenCarr1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51423,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/radio-waves-air-doubles-broadcast-times-radio-pragues-2022-qsl-cards-ham-on-the-moon-and-allouis-transmitter-silenced\/","url_meta":{"origin":64879,"position":4},"title":"Radio Waves: AIR Doubles Broadcast Times, Radio Prague’s 2022 QSL Cards, Ham On The Moon, and Allouis Transmitter Silenced","author":"Thomas","date":"January 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Radio-Prague-QSL-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9424,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/the-juno-earth-flyby-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":64879,"position":5},"title":"The Juno Earth Flyby QSL card","author":"Thomas","date":"April 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Happiness is receiving the Juno Earth Flyby QSL card in the mail: Many thanks to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for making the Juno Flyby such a fun experiment. 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Were any readers able to \"work\" the Juno\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"JunoQSLFront-Med","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/JunoQSLFront-Med.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/JunoQSLFront-Med.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/JunoQSLFront-Med.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64879"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64883,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64879\/revisions\/64883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}