Battleship North Carolina makes worldwide radio calls

The Battleship North Carolina had all hands on deck. Trying to radio other memorial ships across the world using the very same equipment used when the Battleship was active in the United States Naval Fleet. Amateur Radio Club member Allan Pallnat says, “When we talk to the other ships, we try and get a little information about whether they are using modern equipment or actually using the ships original equipment.”

Deep in its cabin, Allan Pellnat is talking to a memorial ship in Spain. Pellnat is a member of the Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club. In honor of museum’s ships weekend, he’s reenacting the job of a navy radio commander back in the World Wars. “I enjoy having conversations with other people doing other things in other parts of the world.”

It’s a conversation across continents, and Pellnat uses HAM radios to see what kind of equipment other memorial ships are using. “Most of them are very short and sweet. It’ usually an exchange of a numerical signal report that says how strong are you, and how well we can hear you.”

The saying out with the old and in with the new doesn’t apply here. Pellnat says the old navy veteran equipment still works just fine.