AOR/Annapolis/IRE/Iroquois/Mackenzie/St.

Laurent
Classes -Radio Antenna Fittings

 INSTANT IDENTIFICATION SECTION

When seen in their native habitat, antennas can be challenging to recognize due to the
amount of objects in their immediate vicinity. The intent of this section is to
deconstruct that complexity by showing the antennas in isolation.
ANTENNA TYPES - Click to enlarge
AS-5104/SRC VHF/UHF antenna and atop is the
AS-5014 antenna used with the AN/SRD501 DF set.
Using RF couplers, up to 9 VHF/UHF signals could
be broadcast simultaneously using the AS-5014. The
only requirement was a 1% minimum separation ( ie
3 MHz)  between signals. Imagine the proliferation
of whip antennas on the foremast if all the
transmitters used a dedicated antenna! (Canadian
Navy diagram) 

March 2007: This is an actual AS-5104 example as

found on the destroyer FRASER. Click to enlarge.
(Photo by Sandy McClearn).
SRA-505. Used on DDE/DDH class ships to permit
simultaneous transmission and reception of signals
in the combined VHF/UHF range.

Operating Frequency: 156 MHz to 173 MHz and 225

MHz to 400 MHz.
Power Handling Capability, UHF - 2 kW average
(l00% Modulation).
Power Handling Capability, VHF - 100W average
(100% Modulation).
VSWR UHF: 2.0: 1 maximum.
VSWR VHF (156 MHz to 170 MHz) - 2.0: 1
maximum.
VSWR VHF (170 MHz to 173 MHz) -Lower sub-
assembly 2.0:1 maximum
                                                             Upper sub-
assembly 3.0:1 maximum
Isolation between Sub-assemblies - (UHF) 30 dB,
(VHF) 20 dB minimum.
Weight: 1,500 pounds.

The two antenna sub-assemblies AS-5058/SRA-505

and AS-5059/SRA-505 use similar dipole arrays,
each consisting of two 8-inch-diameter aluminum or
brass tubes. A 3-1/2inch-diameter conduit passes
through the centre of a fiberglas aluminum Radome
mast, forming the primary support for the antenna.
Both the upper and lower antenna sub-assemblies are
vertically polarized and omnidirectional in the
horizontal plane. Their gain varies with frequency
from 4 dB in the VHF band to 6.5 dB at 400 MHz
relative to an isotropic source. The Antenna Patching
Panel SB-5l04/SRA-505 provides emergency RF
patching facilities in the event of failure of the
Antenna Assembly or Antenna Couplers.
Transmitters and/or receivers are then connected to
alternative antennas by changing co-axial U -link
connections at the front of the panel. The power jack
connects transceiver interlock circuitry with two
indicator lamps on the patching Panel which provide
visual indication of the operational status of the VHF
/UHF transceivers.  The Antenna Coupler CU
-5065/SRA-505 employs a series of tuned resonator
bandpass filters which separate the UHF and VHF
incoming signals received from one antenna
subassembly, or pass an out -going UHF and/or VHF
signal to a suitable antenna sub-assembly for
transmission  (Canadian Navy drawing)
 This pictorial illustrates the placement of the
transmitting (2 to 6 MHz) and receiving (2 to 32
MHz) wire fan antennas on a Restigouche class ship.
Note that the wire "planes" are at right angles to each
other in order to reduce any RF coupling/overload
into the receiving antenna. Through the use of RF
couplers, several HF transmitters 
could feed one Tx fan antenna. (Sketch courtesy
Canadian Navy)

This is an example of a wire receive fan antenna as

seen aboard FRASER in July 1998. (Photo by Jerry
Proc)

AS-2283/SRN12. Used with the AN/SRN-12 Omega

navigation receiver.  A break, mid-way up, indicates
that the antenna is longer than shown. Antenna
length is not known at this time. The Omega
navigation system has been shut down since 1997.
(Canadian Navy graphic) 

LF probe for use with AN/SRA-17 system. This

pictorial shows the antenna tuner assembly with
cover plate removed. In addition, the sketch has been
oriented horizontally, much in the same way as it
would be found in a ship. (Canadian Navy drawing)
AN/BRA-34 antenna group for Oberon Class
submarines.  (Graphic courtesy Tpub.com) 

 
 
AS2815/SSR- AS
1 satellite 3018/WSC1
broadcast satellite
antenna. Four communicatio
units needed. ns antenna.
(Canadian Two units
Navy image) used with
WSC-x radio
system. 
(Canadian
Navy photo)

AS- AS3240/OE2
1747/URN 73 antenna
TACAN used with
antenna atop AN/URN-25
a lattice mast. TACAN. Sits
Used with atop the
AN/URN-20 foremast.
TACAN. It (Image
could also be courtesy
mounted on a ComNav
pole mast Electronics)
(Photo by
Jerry Proc)
 AS-5042 AS_5041
URC/AT- URC/AT-
150/SRC. 390/SRC.
UHF antenna UHF antenna
200-400 200-400
MHz. (USN MHz. (USN
photo) photo)

WLR-1C COUNTERMEASURE  RECEIVER ANTENNAS

Click to enlarge

This diagram shows the placement of the WLR-1C

countermeasure receiver antennas on the foremast of
a 205 Class ship, Note the differences between the 
Band 1-3 antennas on the port and starboard sides.
Both are omnidirectional but the starboard antenna is
vertically polarized while the port antenna is
horizontally polarized. Click to enlarge. (Sketch
courtesy Canadian Navy)
Four of the WLR-1C antennas can be seen from
FRASER's port side. (Photo by Ian MacCorquodale
- Mac's Naval Photography)

AS-5048 antenna for WLR-1C receiver. Bands 1-3,

(50 to 320 MHz). Starboard side. As found on
FRASER, March 2007. (Photo by Sandy McClearn)
 AS-5049 antenna for WLR-1C receiver. Bands 1-3
(50 to 320 MHz). Starboard side. As found on
FRASER, March 2007. (Photo by Sandy McClearn)

AS-5043 antenna for WLR-1C receiver. Bands 4 to 5

(300 to 1100 MHz). Starboard side, pedestal mount.
As found on FRASER, March 2007. (Photo by
Sandy McClearn)

AS-5050 antenna for WLR-1C receiver. Bands 4 to 8

( 300 to 7375 MHz) . Starboard side. As found on
FRASER, March 2007. (Photo by Sandy McClearn)

AS-899 antenna for WLR-1C receiver. Bands 6 to 9

(1010 to 10750 MHz). Port side, pedestal mount. As
found on FRASER, March 2007. (Photo by Sandy
McClearn)

To assist in intercept, Canada also used an extra Band 9 tuner called the AN/SLR-503.
This was fitted to IRE and 280 Class vessels.
AS-5034  antenna for WLR-1C
receiver.  Found on a 257-class training
aid drawing. This may have been the
predecessor to the AS-5043. (Canadian
Navy drawing)
 AS-5045 antenna for WLR-1C receiver. 
Found on  a 257-class training aid
drawing.  This may have been the
predecessor to the AS-5050 antenna. In
at least the 257 class, the AS-5045 and
AS-5050 antennas were fitted
simultaneously.  (Canadian Navy
drawing) 

 
 

Jezebel antenna (port and starboard

sides) for the reception of sonobuoy
transmissions in the range of 162.250
to 173.50 MHz.  Line of site range up
to approximately 15 nm on a "good
day".  These antennas were connected
to a pair of  AN/ARR-52 FM
sonobuoy receivers. The Canadian
Navy was the first navy to try this on
a ship platform in addition to air
(Argus/Aurora aircraft).  It was fitted
on all steamers, 280s, and CPFs,
although the latter has more capability
now. (Photo by Sandy McClearn) 
 This might be an antenna for a met
rig. Can anyone confirm? Contact:
jerry.proc@sympatico.ca  (Photo by
Sandy McClearn) 

 
MISCELLANEOUS ANTENNA TYPES - Listings Only. No photos
avaliable. 
FREQ.
NAME USE REMARKS
RANGE

Vertical Wire 530- 1605 Entertainment  Differs on various ships. 

kHz Entertainment 
87 to 108
MHz
OFM-1 87 to 108
Entertainment   
MHz 
TV Antenna VHF-UHF Entertainment Atop foremast on IRE class.
Tx Monocone 2 to 6 MHz General Common broadband wire
Purpose Tx antenna. Several transmitters
could feed one antenna.
28 foot metallic 2 to 30 General On most ships, it was replaced
whip MHz Purpose Rx by the Rx fan.
35 foot 2 to 30 General When used with AN/URC
 fibreglass whip MHz Purpose Tx 505, frequency
range is 1.6 to 30 MHz and on
the IRE class, the receiver is
also fed from this antenna.
AS 1829  30 to 75.95 Tx/Rx Used with VRC 49
MHz
225 to 400 Common antenna. Replaced
AS 1018  Tx/Rx
MHz by AS 5104
132-151
AS 1086/SRC22 Tx/Rx  
MHz
30 to 75.95 Tx/Rx Found on 280 class
AS 1729/VRC
MHz 
AS- 156-173 Tx/Tx Used on DDE/DDH class
5058/SRA505  MHz ships
225-400
MHz

 
EQUIPMENT HOLDINGS PER SHIP (1985) 

List 5 List 6 List 7

LEGEND:
ISL= Improved St. ANS= Annapolis Class
Laurent Class TRIBAL = 280 Class
IRE= Improved AOR = Supply ships
Restigouche Class SUB= Submarine
MACK= Mackenzie Class

 
 
SHIPS ANTENNA FITTINGS 
Click on thumbnail to enlarge. All photos courtesy Canadian Navy. The
quality of the original source material doesn't lend itself to scanning however
every effort has been made to optimize the images for best quality. In many
cases the antenna is too small to be seen so its placement must be imagined
wherever the arrows are pointing to. The pendant in parenthesis is the actual
ship of the class indicated. The document from which these images are
derived is dated 1985.
ANNAPOLIS
Annapolis class (DDH266) looking aft.

Annapolis Class (DDH266) starboard view. Some of the

fan antennas or wire antennas in the succeeding photos are
not visible since wire is difficult to photograph at a
distance.

Annapolis class (DDH266) looking forward.

IRE
Improved Restigouche class (DDE258) looking aft.

Improved Restigouche class (DDE258) starboard view.

Improved Restigouche class (DDE258) looking forward. 

IROQUOIS 
Iroquois class (DDH280) looking aft. The two spheres are
part of the ships Fire Control and not the radio system.
Inside the spheres is the radar antenna portion of the
WM22 fire control system from HSA (Hollandse
Signaalapparaten) in Hengelo, Netherlands.  They worked
in conjunction with the Sea Sparrow missiles and the
127mm gun.  For the missiles, they provided both tracking
and CW illumination. One nice feature is that the
starboard system could control a missile from the port
launcher and vice versa, This gave very good 
flexibility in missile usage.
Iroquois class (DDH280) port view.

Iroquois class (DDH280) looking forward.

Iroquois class (DDH280) 03 deck.

MACKENZIE
Mackenzie class (DD263) looking aft.
Mackenzie class (DD263) starboard view aft.

Mackenzie class (DD263) looking forward.

AOR Class
HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) port view 1.

HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) port view 2.

HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) starboard view.

HMCS Provider (AOR 508) starboard view.

 HMCS Provider (AOR 508) port view.

HMCS Provider (AOR 508) view of mast..

ST. LAURENT
St. Laurent class (DDH 207) looking aft.

St. Laurent class (DDH 207) starboard view.

St. Laurent class (DDH 207) looking forward.

 
This photo captures the WSC-1
antennas aboard HMCS Iroquois and
at least one of wire fan antennas on
 the starboard side. (Photo by Len
Carriere) 

Contributors and Credits:

1) RCN's AOR/TRBL/ISL/265/IRE/MACK Class Equipment Handout. September 1985.

2) Tom Brent <tgb(at)telus.net>
3) RCN's N.E. Tech TQ6B Common Equipment Manual
4) Pat Barnhouse  <pat.barnhouse(at)sympatico.ca>
5) Alexander "Sandy" McClearn  <smcclearn(at)ns.sympatico.ca>
6) Mac's Naval Photography   http://macsnavylinks.ca
7) Mike Aris (CPO1 Sonarman, ret 1989) <beejm2(at)yahoo.ca>

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Jan 01/09