US Navy Communication Stations

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  • NAVCOMSTA or NAVCOMMSTA or NAVCOMFAC  or NAVCOMMU
    Naval Communication Station or Naval Communication Facility or Naval Communications Unit - main control site and message handling centers
  • NAVRADSTA or NAVRADFAC  
    Naval Radio Station or Naval Radio Facility - transmitter (T) or receiver (R) remote sites
  • NRTF  
    Naval Radio Transmitter Facility - transmitter site
  • NRRF  
    Naval Radio Receiver Facility - receiver site
  • NAVSECGRU - Not covered on this web site -  (Interception sites) 

 


Click here for COMMSTA Equipment Page

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FRR-49 rcvrs at Wahiawa, HI
photo from TMC vintage radio web site
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FRR-38 and FRR-40 dual diversity receiver systems at Salinas, PR - 1968
photo thanks to George Langenbrunner
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FRT-40 transmitters at Barrigada, Guam
AN/UGC-6 teletype units
Message processing at Finegayan, Guam

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US Naval Communication System Circuits

Circuits, Traffic Handling, and Messages

Radio Ship-Shore Communication Circuits

1964 Fleet Broadcast Areas
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1957 Naval Communication System TTY Network
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US Navy Communication Station FacilitiesRadioBarrigada02-vi.jpg (43615 bytes)

Transportable Communication Stations

1954 "Shore-Based Communications" manual - NAVPERS 10891

COMMSTA Functional Organization Chart

COMMSTA Physical Organization Chart

COMMSTA Design and Construction - NAVELEX 0101,102 

COMMSTA Building Plans and Equipment Layout 
     - from 1956-60 NAVSHIPS 92675 "Handbook of Naval Shore Station Electronics Criteria"



US Navy Communication Stations - with associated sites when known

Pre-war list of Naval Radio Stations

1952 Naval Communication System Activities - list of facilities 

  • Miscellaneous Commsta photos page - includes several very early shots
  •  
  • AK - Kodiak (NHB) - photos & info
    • AK - Buskin Lake transmitter site - photo
    • AK - Buskin Beach (Holiday Beach)  receiver site
    • AK - Kodiak VLF transmitter site
  • AK - Adak (NUB) - patch, photo
    • AK - Mount Moffett transmitter site (NHC & NUD) - patch, photo, mystery photo
    • AK - Clam Lagoon receiver site
  • CA - San Francisco (NPG) - moved to Stockton 1962
    • CA - Stockton VLF transmitter (NPG)
    • CA - Mare Island transmitter site (moved to Dixon) - photo
    • CA - Dixon transmitter site - info
    • CA - Skaggs Island (Sonoma) receiver site (NAP & NAG) - photos and info
  • CA - San Diego (NPL) early history and photos
  • DC - Washington (NSS) patch
    • DE - Lewes (NNQ) est. 1963
    • DE - Lewes - tropo link for CC ships (with Lola and Cape Cod) 
    • VA - Arlington transmitter site (NAA) 
               - history, replaced by Cutler in 1960 - early photo of towers
    • MD - Annapolis HF & VLF transmitter site (NSS) 
                - great photos, more photos, more photos, 1920 photo of towers, more info
    • MD - Cheltenham receiver site - replaced by Sugar Grove in 1969 - info, patch
    • WV - Sugar Grove receiver site (two FRD-10 Wullenweber arrays) 1969-90 - history  
  • FL - Key West (NAR) - now NAVCOMTELSTA JAX Detachment Key West
            - history, early photo of towers, 1969 photo of receiver trailer (thanks to Bob Roderick)
    • FL - Boca Chica transmitter site changed to receiver site in 1969
    • FL - Saddlebunch Key transmitter site est. 1969 - site photo
  • HI -  Pearl Harbor (NPG) - history, history
  • IL - Great Lakes (NAJ) -closed 1958- early photo of towers
  • LA - New Orleans (NAT) -closed 1959
    • LA - Belle Chase receiver site
  • MA - Boston Navy Yard (NAD) - closed 1958
    • MA - Squantum transmitter & receiver site
    • ME - Otter Cliffs & Winter Harbor (NBD) receiver site
    • ME - Bass Harbor transmitter site
  • ME - Winter Harbor & Corea NSGA (NQC)
  • ME - Cutler VLF transmitter site (NAA) - Info and Photo Page
  • ND - LaMoure VLF transmitter site (NML4) - info
  • NJ - Trenton 82B1 teletype automatic switching system - opened 1958
  • NJ - Cape May
  • NY - Brooklyn Navy Yard (NAH) - closed 1958 - photos here
    • NY - Bellmore, Long Island receiver site
  • PA - Philadelphia (NAI) - closed 1958
  • RI - Newport - info
    • RI - Sachuest Point (Middletown) receiver site - Info Page
    • RI - Beavertail Point (Jamestown) transmitter site - Info Page
    • MA - NAVRADSTA Cape Cod (Otis AFB) - tropo link for CC ships - est 1968
  • SC - Charleston (NAO) - closed 1959
  • VA - Norfolk (NAM) - photo of building Z-86
    • VA - NAVRADSTA(R) Northwest receiver site - Receiver building floorplan
    • VA - NAVRADSTA(T) Driver (Monogram) transmitter site - info
    • NC - NAVRADSTA Lola (Cedar Island) - tropo link for CC ships (with Lewes & Cape Cod) - est 10/68
  • WA - Puget Sound (NHB) patch
    • WA - Bremerton / Oak Harbor (NPC) - patch
    • WA - Battle Point transmitter site, Bainbridge Island - closed 1959 - photos
    • WA - Jim Creek (Arlington) VLF transmitter site (NLK) - photo
                - patch, infovideo, more info/photos, 1950 magazine article on construction
    • WA - Marietta receiver site (NAVSECGRU only?)
  • WI - Clam Lake ELF transmitter site - info, 1987 magazine article on site and ELF operations
    • MI - Republic ELF transmitter site - photos
  • Puerto Rico - (NAU)  Info and Photo Page
    • Puerto Rico - San Juan comm station
    • Puerto Rico - Fort Allen comm station
    • Puerto Rico - Roosevelt Roads comm station
    • Puerto Rico - Martin Pena transmitter site - 1950's photos
    • Puerto Rico - Isabela transmitter site
    • Puerto Rico - Carolina receiver site
    • Puerto Rico - Salinas receiver site
    • Puerto Rico - Aguada VLF transmitter site (NAU)
    • Puerto Rico - Sabana Seca receiver site (NAVSECGRU only?)
  • Cuba - Guantanamo Bay (NEN)
  • Panama - Ft. Amador, Balboa (NBA) - web site
    • Panama - Summit transmitter site 
    • Panama - Gatun VLF transmitter site
    • Panama - Farfan receiver site
    • "The U.S. Naval Communications Station, Balboa (NAVCOMMSTA BALBOA), established in 1908, is the oldest Naval Activity on the Isthmus. It's headquarters is located adjacent to the Fifteenth Naval District headquarters at Fort Amador and houses a facilities control center, a message center, a cryptographic center and a fleet broadcast center. It's receiver unit is located on the opposite side of the Canal at Farfan while the transmitter station, Summit, is situated on the Trans-Isthmian Highway on the continental divide. Providing communications support for the fleet is a primary consideration of NAVCOMMSTA BALBOA. Additionally, as a tributary of the Naval Communications System, the station meets the communications needs of all the commands in the area."
  • Bermuda
  • British West Indies - Trinidad
  • Canada - Argentia, Newfoundland - estab. 1963
  • Mariana Islands - Guam (NPN)
    • Mariana Islands - Finegayan, Guam control and receiver site (NPN) 
       - info, more info and photos
    • Mariana Islands - Barrigada, Guam transmitter site 
       - photos, more photos, terminal building photo
  • Midway - Eastern Island (NQR) - estab. 1963
  • Marshall Island - Kwajalein
  • Japan - Yokosuka (NDT)
    • Japan - Totsuka (Totuka) VLF transmitter site - info, patch
    • Japan -Yosomai (Yosami) transmitter site 
    • Japan - Kamiseya (Kami Seya) receiver site
  • Japan - Okinawa - Futenma Marine Base - moved to Naha City in 1972, then Kadena - info
    • Japan - Okinawa - Awase transmitter site (transferred from Army/Air Force in 1966) - info, photos
    • Japan - Okinawa - NSGA Hanza receiver site
  • Korea - Chinhae - patch
  • Korea - Yongsan ATCU-100A - photos
  • Philippines (NPO) - 
  • Hong Kong
  • Vietnam - NAVCOMMSTA Saigon - 1963 Info
  • Vietnam - NAVCOMMSTA Cam Ranh Bay "Bow Line" 
                  - photos, history & many photos (alternative link)
  • Vietnam- NAVCOMMFAC Da Nang "Sea Anchor" 
    • Vietnam - Danang East "Triangle Building" comm center
    • Vietnam - Marble Mountain transmitter site
    • Vietnam - Monkey Mountain receiver site - sign
  • Thailand - U-Tapao ATCU-100
  • Australia - North West Cape 9/67 (renamed Harold E. Holt 9/68), Exmouth (NWC) - patch, info, photos
  • Iceland - Keflavik - info, patch
    • Iceland - Little Rock receiver site - info
    • Iceland - Rockville receiver site - info
    • Iceland - Grindavik transmittter site - info
  • Germany - Bremerhaven NAVCOMMU - Northeast Atlantic ship-shore traffic in 1950's
  • Great Britain - London England
  • Greece - Nea Makri control and receiver site (NGR) - closed 1990 
                  - patchweb site, cool web site with 3D models
    • Greece - Kato Souli transmitter site
  • Italy - Naples (NNI) - estab. 1962
    • 1963 - NAVCOMMUNIT Naples established at Bagnoli
    • 1968 - renamed NAVCOMMSTA Italy
    • Apr 76 - renamed NAVCAMS MED
    • Oct 91 - renamed NCTAMS MED
    • Oct 05 - renamed NAVCOMTELSTA NAPLES
  • Italy - Sicily
    • Sigonella Sicily - info, more info, patch
      • Aug 58 - COMM center established as part of NAF Sigonella..
      • Jul 72 - NAVCOMMDET Sigonella formed.
      • Apr 76 - renamed NAVCAMS MED DET Sigonella.
      • Oct 87 - renamed NAVCOMMSTA Sicily as its own command.
      • Oct 91 - renamed NAVCOMTELSTA Sicily.
    • Niscemi Sicily transmitter site
      • Oct 91 - NRTF Niscemi established on a large plateau in the south-central part of Sicily. with 41 HF transmitters and one 827 foot LF transmitter - info
  • Spain - Rota control and receiver site - estab. 1962 patch
    • 1993 became NCTAMS MED DET Rota
    • Spain - Moron transmitter site - estab. 1962
    • Spain - Guardamar Del Segura LF transmitter site - estab. 1962 - map & photo of 370m tower
  • Ethiopia (Eritrea) - Asmara/Kagnew (NKA)  1948-1977 - web site
  • Morocco - Port Lyautey  - (NHY) - estab. 1947 - web site
  • Libya - Tripoli NAVCOMMU - Mediterranean ship-shore traffic in 1950's
  • Saudi Arabia - Dhahrain NAVCOMMU - Arabian Sea ship-shore traffic in 1950's
  • Indian Ocean - Diego Garcia, BIOT (NKW), patch
  • Antarctica - McMurdo Station (NGD) - photos from 1956-57

Miscellaneous Commsta photos page - includes several very early shots

 

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