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Radio freque3ncies/ African-Americans

Author: Patrick O'Connor (---.bay.webtv.net)
Date: 09-18-05 03:29

I'm looking for two different pieces of information concerning WW II US submarines.

1) Does anyone have a listing of the radio frequencies used by the submarine service during the war? I know all messages were sent via encrypted CW (Morse code), but on what radio frequencies? Also, was the "Fox" scheduled broadcast aimed only at the subs, or was it for the fleet in general?

2) During the war, African- AMericans in the Navy were pretty much restricted to the mess attendant rating. Did any of these men serve on the subs, and were any rated as Ships Cooks?

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Re: Radio freque3ncies/ African-Americans

Author: Webmaster
Date: 09-19-05 06:26

I don't have a specific listing of radio frequencies, but some patrol reports cite communication on 4370, 9250, and 12705 KC, among others.

A large number of black personnel served in submarines during World War II, mostly in the Steward's Mate rating. Submarines being somewhat different from the rest of the fleet, a StM in a sub would have to qualify just like everyone else in the crew, which means, regardless of rate, he would have learned how to do just about every job in the boat (this may have been the only thing U-571 actually got right).

It was quite common for black steward's mates to be employed as night lookouts, based on the then common (if mistaken) belief that blacks have better night vision than whites. Ned Beach noted in his memoirs that Trigger's Chief Wardroom Steward was assigned to steer the boat as his battle station.

It is, perhaps, a striking commentary on the quality of the men who took these StM jobs in subs that, despite not being allowed to attend Sub School, they normally managed to qualify just as quickly as the men who did.

J.T. McDaniel
Webmaster, FleetSubmarine.com
Author of: With Honour in Battle and Bacalao
General Editor: American Submarine War Patrol Reports series

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Re: Radio freque3ncies/ African-Americans

Author: Patrick O'Connor (---.bay.webtv.net)
Date: 09-25-05 17:06

A little further. Since they had to qualify, were they allowed to wear the Dolphins, and, if awarded, the Submarine Combat Pin?

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Re: Radio frequencies/ African-Americans

Author: Webmaster
Date: 09-26-05 04:28

As far as I know, yes. The Commanding Officer was the one who determined if a man was to be designated as "qualified in submarines," and attendance at Sub School wasn't a prerequisite. Knowing every pipe, wire, and system in the sub, of course, was.

The Combat Insignia didn't require the man receiving it to be qualified in submarines, just that he was a member of the crew during a "successful" patrol (normally defined as one where something was sunk, or something of similar significance was accomplished).

During WWII, by the way, enlisted personnel didn't wear dolphin pins like they do now; the dolphins were sewn onto the lower jumper sleeve.

J.T. McDaniel
Webmaster, FleetSubmarine.com
Author of: With Honour in Battle and Bacalao
General Editor: American Submarine War Patrol Reports series

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Re: Radio freque3ncies/ African-Americans

Author: oldbubblehead
Date: 02-24-07 20:28

1) Because many of the same radio frequencies used by the submarine force in World War II are still in use today they remain classified. The Fox Schedule was submarines only. The surface fleet copied the "Fleet Broadcast."

2) I can't recall seeing any African-Americans on submarines in any capacity until the seventies. While during the war some eighty per cent of Stewards were Filipinos, a review of WW II submarine sailing lists does not show any Filipinos on board. I don't think there were any Filipinos serving in submarines until 1948 when a major overhaul of personnel distribution policies and the rating structure was undertaken.

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