[MilCom] MIL: 11175.0/899.0 USB - SKYMASTER activity 14 Jan26 - PRODUCER; SALLY GEE; FURLOUGH; and FARMBOY

[Jeff Haverlah]

0157z  20 UTC 26

UTC 14 Jan 26

The following is not comprehensive.
The USN activity below is just a small sample of the continuous activity
during the event.
The Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific all had E6B activity.
VLF (re)broadcasts over all 3 bodies of water were practically continuous
over the course of the event.
The LANT mission experienced an apparent "handoff" during the event.
The PAC mission appeared to remain "dark" (Due Regard) during the event.
There was heavy USN trigraph participation on USN discrete frequencies that
possibly began as the "SKYMASTER" activity began. There were no reported
plaintext ship IDs used during this particular event.

Quiet.

0201z: MAINSAIL with test count.

0205z: SIGONELLA with test count.

[First message traffic of the UTC day. First original message traffic since
the 2148z NCS original broadcast of 7LCK5U; and the following 2200z NCS
restoral session.]
========
0547z: PRODUCER (NCS); ZX4M25; 142 characters; P3.
ZX4M25OJH6ONQXSALPIZ5ZA5HAJVVMRGL4I6XVQFB24NE4MW7HT2JUTCJILLLI3XXXXBL2ROSYMYC6WHKJ773KKKKQXZUAW63WAXWHRRPDHRRRR2TNKXD44INDP4VVJ4NPPPPJLF23UKVJ

Reformatted for apparent structure. Note that the first 22 character block
lacks an ending quad.

𝚉𝚇𝟺𝙼𝟸𝟻  [𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎; 𝟼]
𝙾𝙹𝙷𝟼𝙾𝙽𝚀𝚇𝚂𝙰𝙻𝙿𝙸𝚉𝟻𝚉𝙰  [𝟷𝟽]
𝟻𝙷𝙰𝙹𝚅𝚅𝙼𝚁𝙶𝙻𝟺𝙸𝟼𝚇𝚅𝚀𝙵𝙱𝟸𝟺𝙽𝙴  [𝟸𝟸; 𝚗𝚘 𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚍]
𝟺𝙼𝚆𝟽𝙷𝚃𝟸𝙹𝚄𝚃𝙲𝙹𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙻𝙸𝟹𝚇𝚇𝚇𝚇  [𝟸𝟸]
𝙱𝙻𝟸𝚁𝙾𝚂𝚈𝙼𝚈𝙲𝟼𝚆𝙷𝙺𝙹𝟽𝟽𝟹𝙺𝙺𝙺𝙺  [𝟸𝟸]
𝚀𝚇𝚉𝚄𝙰𝚆𝟼𝟹𝚆𝙰𝚇𝚆𝙷𝚁𝚁𝙿𝙳𝙷𝚁𝚁𝚁𝚁  [𝟸𝟸]
𝟸𝚃𝙽𝙺𝚇𝙳𝟺𝟺𝙸𝙽𝙳𝙿𝟺𝚅𝚅𝙹𝟺𝙽𝙿𝙿𝙿𝙿  [𝟸𝟸]
𝙹𝙻𝙵𝟸𝟹𝚄𝙺𝚅𝙹  [𝟿]

Quiet.

0600z: SIGONELLA with test count.

----------
1455z: DOOM 72 called MAINSAIL for a radio check.
1456z: DOOM 72 called MUDBUG.

1501z: DOOM 71 called MUDBUG.

1525z: RADIO MAINTENANCE apparently seeking a signal check.

1555z: Very weak station (mostly unheard on SDR) raised PRODUCER.

1556z: "MISSILE" 32 (sounds like "missile" but was probably something
else); had strong (audio and waterfall) tune-up growl; raised PRODUCER.

1620z: Unidentified station "Loud and clear on HF2 11175."

1709z: AIRCRAFT 13 called MUDBUG; male operator.

1740z: AIRCRAFT 13 called MUDBUG; female operator.
1741z: ACTIVE 41 (sounds like; maybe) called ANY RADIO.

1803z: ANDREWS with test count.
1804z: HICKAM with test count.

1804z: ADLI 21 and 22 (sounds like "Adli") exchange radio checks.

1826z: AIRCRAFT 16 "has you loud and clear" to unheard station on SDR in
use.

1850z: AIR GUARD RADIO MAINTENANCE called JAKE CONTROL.
1851z: AIR GUARD RADIO MAINTENANCE called JAKE CONTROL.

[Reappearance of E6Bs as if in a surge.]
********
1854z: SALLY GEE (sounds like SALLY G; does not sound at all like SALLY
JEAN); not seen on ADSB mapping sites; TACAMO LANT) CALLED and raised
PRODUCER probably to enter the net (nothing heard after initial comms).

[1857z+/-: AFDCD3 E6B launched from OFFUTT southbound to the Gulf; Gulf
E6B; potential primary ABNCP?).

1900z: FURLOUGH (presumed AFDCD3) worked PRODUCER to enter the net.
1902z: FURLOUGH entered the net.

1905z: LAJES with test count.

[1907z+/-: AF788D E6B launched from PAX RIVER southbound eventually to the
Atlantic off the coast of GEORGIA (KINGS BAY)/CAROLINAs; TACAMO LANT.]

1909z: FARMBOY (presumed AF788D) called and raised PRODUCER to enter the
net. PRODUCER responded immediately to his call.
1912z: FARMBOY entered the net.

["SKYMASTER" activity begins.]
2012z: SAIL (or SALE; sounds like) called SKYMASTER and raised FARMBOY
while FARMBOY was in his orbit area west of the CAROLINAs; she passed E4PT.

[2024z+/-: AFD4AD6 E6B launched from PAX RIVER and eventually flew to the
Atlantic off the coast of GEORGIA/CAROLINAs for a handoff of the TACAMO
LANT mission.]

2032z: OSCAR 22 (sounds like) called SKYMASTER and passed 4ATT.

2035z: GOREY/GORY 12 called SKYMASTER.
2038z: FANBOY requested a repeat.
2038z: GOREY 12 called SKYMASTER.
2041z: FURLOUGH called GOREY 12 while he was in his Gulf orbit area.

2043z: FARMBOY (LANT) called SKYMASTER.
2044z: FURLOUGH (Gulf) responds to FARMBOY
[Gulf/Atlantic connection on 11175.0).]

2045z: GOREY 12 called SKYMASTER and raised FURLOUGH.

2050z: SAIL 23 (good levels on SDR in use) called SKYMASTER. An
unidentified voice (good level) said a friendly "That didn't sound very
good." It sounded like the voice was part of the event.

2051z: WHIP 01 called SKYMASTER.

2052z: SAIL 13 called SKYMASTER.
2055z: SAIL 13 passed 6DNT to FARMBOY.

2055z: WHIP 01 worked SKYMASTER/FARMBOY and passed MNUE.

2057z: SAIL 13 called and raised FURLOUGH and passed 6DNT.

2058z: GOREY 12 called SKYMASTER. The good level "voice" responded "Welp
(sounds like); that was nice!"

2059z: GOREY 12 called SKYMASTER and raised FURLOUGH to pass ESRT.

2101z: FARMBOY called FURLOUGH.

2109z: SALLY GEE (TACAMO PAC/SKYMASTER) called and raised ADWAY 31 (did not
sound like ADLI) in response to ADWAY 31's SKYMASTER call. ADWAY 31 called
SALLY GEE "PEDIGREE."
2109z: ADWAY passed 2MWT.

2112z: ADLI 33 to SALLY GEE: Q4ZD.
2113z: ADLI 35 to SALLY GEE: AU75.
2114z: ADLI 34 to SALLY GEE: L1D0 (LIMA ONE DELTA ZERO).

2113z: FARMBOY active but nothing further heard.

[Message traffic begins and is used in immediate restoral broadcasts on
HFGCS and USN discrete frequencies.]
========
2117z: PRODUCER (NCS); 7LWLER; P1.
7LWLERWHCFDO4LNF5KJXDM5HTNJP35
[Fed to E6Bs and USN trigraphs]

2120z: FURLOUGH (Gulf); 7LWLER; either an attempted rebroadcast; or
restoral (wrong time for Gulf). Dualled with NCS rebroadcast (echo?) but
stopped in mid string; Disregard.

2120z: PRODUCER; 7LWLER; possible echo rebroadcast; dualled with TACAMO PAC
restoral.

2121z: SALLY GEE; 7LWLER; h+20/h+50 restoral rebroadcast window.

2125z: ORCAS 21 (sounds like; or ??) called SKYMASTER.

2126z: PRODUCER; U3RO2V; P3.
U3RO2VMR7MHRZD5LSB2FERKX72VPUA
[Fed to E6Bs and USN trigraphs.]

2128z: PRODUCER; 7LWLER; another rebroadcast.

2134z: FURLOUGH (Gulf); 7LWLER; Gulf restoral.

2134z: Very weak station passing 8Q6(X maybe).

2135z: PRODUCER; U3RO2V; restoral

[2135z+/-: 17.8 KHz (LANT) VLF FSK MSK broadcast.]

2138z: PRODUCER; 7LWLER; another rebroadcast (restoral?).

2140z: GOREY 11 called SKYMASTER.
2141z: GOREY 11 called SKYMASTER.
2142z: GOREY 11 called SKYMASTER.

2143z: SALLY GEE maybe working SKYMASTER traffic (weak).

2145z: SAIL 12 called SKYMASTER.

2147z: ORCAS 21 passed 1T7R (ONE TANGO SEVEN ROMEO).

2150z: GOREY 11 worked SKYMASTER/FURLOUGH to pass PHHJ.

2159z: SALLY GEE; 7LWLER; restoral.

2152z: PRODUCER; 7LHQ4P; P1; dualling with FURLOUGH activity.
7LHQ4PATUL3ADN2D2VPDEK726ZIQ3E
[Fed to E6Bs and USN trigraphs]

2153z: 1T7R passed buried in the NCS broadcast.

2154z: SAIL 12 called SKYMASTER.

2155z: WHIP 22 calling SKYMASTER on 8992.0.

2157z: SAIL 12 called SKYMASTER on 8992.0.

2159z: SAIL 12 called SKYMASTER and passed CAYI.

2200z: PRODUCER; 7LHQ4P.

2203z: SAIL 12 passing CAYI.

2204z: SALE 12 passing CAYI.

2218z: LAJES with test count.

2159z: SALE 12 called SKYMASTER and passed CAYI.

2200z: PRODUCER; 7LHQ4P; presumed NCS restoral.

2203z: SAIL 12 again passing CAYI.

2216z: DOOM 01 called ANY RADIO.

2217z: SAIL 13 responded to DOOM 01 with a radio check. "Have a good
sortie."

[2225z: 27.2 KHz (Gulf) VLF FSK broadcast.]
[2319z: 27.2 KHz VLF FSK broadcast.]

Continues into the post 0000z new day. No NCS traffic activity heard/logged
in spite of having one SDR parked on primary while chasing USN trigraphs
after 0000z. The trigraph activity has been reported active since
approximate the 2005z start of the SKYMASTER calls. The following is a tiny
subset of activity and of frequencies in use.

0001z: ANIMOSITY (good levels) called BIG BURLEY.
0007z: ANIMOSITY called BIG BURLEY.

0019z: BIG BURLEY and ANIMOSITY moved to the CHARLIE ECHO. Did not follow.

0110z: 4514.0; 8SG (EIGHT SIERRA GOLF; USN trigaph); 7LV7TAR; P1; h+10/h+40
restoral.
7LV7TARYOIKNGIPATR26GIKDWI4QB6;
[Not heard from NCS.]
7LHQ4P

0140z: 4848.0; 1KS (ONE KILO SIERRA; USN trigraph); 7LV7TA; 7LHQ4P; U3RO2V;
h+00/h+40 restoral.

0220z: 6778.0; H7M (HOTEL SEVEM MIKE; USN trigraph); 7LWLER; h+20/h+50
restoral.

0302z: 12082.0; F8X (FOXTROT EIGHT XRAY; USN trigraph); 7LK2IY; 7LUTTN; P1.
7LK2IYRIAO7PID7EYSRM3KZLILX4NQ
[Not heard from NCS.]
0305z: 7LUTTN3UUGB65LTXB7BZSLCG6SZ3WC
[Not heard from NCS.]

0450z: 7703.0; W2K (WHISKEY TWO KILO; USN trigraph); 7L4WPC; P1; h+20/h+50.
7L4WPCSUSI7TYBLLIYIBJW6YJVZ2I6
[Not heard from NCS.]
He's weak and hard to follow.
0520z: W2K; 7L4WPC
...
0540z; 7703.0; W2K; part of ongoing session; weak but mostly understandable:
NCS string for comparison purposes:
U3RO2VMR7MHRZD5LSB2FERKX72VPUA
Typical USN trigraph activity with such strings over the decades:
𝟼𝟹𝚁𝙾𝟸𝚅𝙼𝚁𝟽𝙼𝙷𝚁𝙹𝙳𝟻𝙻𝚂𝙱𝟸𝙵𝙴𝚁𝙺𝚇𝟽𝟸𝟼𝙿𝚅𝙰  𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘
𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠
𝚄𝚃𝚁𝙾𝟸𝟼𝙼𝚁𝟽𝙼𝙷𝚁𝚉𝙳𝟻𝟸𝚂𝙱𝟸𝙵𝙴𝚁𝙷𝚇𝟽𝚉𝟼𝙿𝚄𝙰  𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘
𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠
𝚅𝟹𝚁𝙾𝟸𝚅𝙼𝚁𝚅𝚈𝚀𝚁𝙹𝙳𝙼𝙻𝚂𝙱𝟸𝙵𝙴𝚁𝙺𝚇𝙸𝟸𝚅𝙿𝚅𝙰  𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘
𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 (𝚊 𝟽𝙻 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐)
......

I believe the event was over by 0600z, which would conform to past such
events "at midnight" Central time.

Jeff
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Haverlah               Coastal Texas
     Airspy HF+ Discovery   W6LVP loop  Various web SDRs
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