Goliath transmitter
Encyclopedia
Goliath transmitter was a VLF transmitter
of the German Navy
near Kalbe an der Milde
in Saxony-Anhalt
, Germany
, which was in service from 1943 to 1945. It had a maximum transmission power of 1800 kW
and was the most powerful transmitter of its time.
, Goliath was the main radio transmitter for submarine radio communications, and worked on frequencies between 15 and 60 kHz, the main working frequency being 16.55 kHz. Using up to 1800 kW of power, the Goliath transmissions could be received by German submarine
s operating in a wide sea area, although they could not be received when the submarines were positioned in deep Norwegian
fjords. Goliath's transmissions could be received worldwide including submerged submarines in the Caribbean.
s, which were arranged radially around three 210 metre tall guyed steel tube masts and were insulated against ground
. At their edges these antennas were mounted on grounded 170 metre tall guyed lattice steel masts. Three of these masts carried two umbrella antennas to comprise 15 lattice steel masts.
s. In 1946 Soviet authorities dismantled the facility and later rebuilt it in Russia
. Soon afterwards the original Goliath transmitter buildings and antennas in Germany were destroyed. Today, there is only one base of a former 170 metre mast left on the site.
According to the interview given in 2007 by the commander of the present-day Goliath facility, Captain 1st Rank
Yuri Gorev, to the Nizhny Novgorod edition of Argumenty i Fakty
, Goliath was rebuilt between 1949 and 1952 in the Kudma River
valley, in the southern suburbs of Nizhny Novgorod
(Kstovsky District
; 56°10′19"N 43°55′54"E). Since then, the station has been transmitting commands and time signals RJH99
for the Russian Navy. Since the 1960s, it has also participated in tracking spacecraft. The nearby settlement for the staff of the facility is known under the name Druzhniy.
The antenna system of Vileyka VLF transmitter
greatly resembles that of Goliath, but all its masts are nearly exactly 100 metres taller.
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
of the German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
near Kalbe an der Milde
Kalbe
Kalbe is a town in the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel , in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 15 km north of Gardelegen, on the river Milde. To avoid confusion with Calbe, it is also called Kalbe an der Milde....
in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which was in service from 1943 to 1945. It had a maximum transmission power of 1800 kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
and was the most powerful transmitter of its time.
History
From 1943 to the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Goliath was the main radio transmitter for submarine radio communications, and worked on frequencies between 15 and 60 kHz, the main working frequency being 16.55 kHz. Using up to 1800 kW of power, the Goliath transmissions could be received by German submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s operating in a wide sea area, although they could not be received when the submarines were positioned in deep Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
fjords. Goliath's transmissions could be received worldwide including submerged submarines in the Caribbean.
Technical characteristics
Goliath used three umbrella antennaUmbrella antenna
An umbrella antenna is a top-loaded electrically lengthened monopole antenna, consisting in most cases of a mast fed against ground, to which six or more wires are connected at the top, sloping downwards...
s, which were arranged radially around three 210 metre tall guyed steel tube masts and were insulated against ground
Ground (electricity)
In electrical engineering, ground or earth may be the reference point in an electrical circuit from which other voltages are measured, or a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth....
. At their edges these antennas were mounted on grounded 170 metre tall guyed lattice steel masts. Three of these masts carried two umbrella antennas to comprise 15 lattice steel masts.
Legacy of Goliath (after 1945)
The design of Goliath transmitter was a model for many other VLF-transmitters throughout the world. After World War II, the fenced area of the transmitter was used as camp for imprisoned soldierSoldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s. In 1946 Soviet authorities dismantled the facility and later rebuilt it in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Soon afterwards the original Goliath transmitter buildings and antennas in Germany were destroyed. Today, there is only one base of a former 170 metre mast left on the site.
According to the interview given in 2007 by the commander of the present-day Goliath facility, Captain 1st Rank
Naval ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation
The Navy of the Russian Federation inherited the ranks of the Soviet Navy, although the insignia and uniform were slightly altered.The Russian armed forces have two styles of ranks:*Troop ranks and*Deck ranks ....
Yuri Gorev, to the Nizhny Novgorod edition of Argumenty i Fakty
Argumenty i fakty
Argumenty i Fakty is a weekly newspaper based in Moscow and a publishing house in Russia and worldwide. As of 2008, it is owned by Promsvyazbank and the newspaper is edited by Nikolay Zyatkov.- History :...
, Goliath was rebuilt between 1949 and 1952 in the Kudma River
Kudma River
Kudma is a river in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of Russia, a right tributary of the Volga.The river is 144 km long, and drains 2200 square kilometers in thesouthern suburbs of Nizhny Novgorod....
valley, in the southern suburbs of Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
(Kstovsky District
Kstovsky District
Kstovsky District is an administrative and municipal district in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Itsadministrative center is the town of Kstovo. Population: -Geography:...
; 56°10′19"N 43°55′54"E). Since then, the station has been transmitting commands and time signals RJH99
Beta (time signal)
Beta is a time signal service in the VLF range in Russia, operated by the Russian navy. There are 6 transmitter stations, which take turns transmitting time signals and other communications....
for the Russian Navy. Since the 1960s, it has also participated in tracking spacecraft. The nearby settlement for the staff of the facility is known under the name Druzhniy.
The antenna system of Vileyka VLF transmitter
Vileyka VLF transmitter
The "Vileyka" VLF transmitter is the site of the 43rd Communications Center of the Russian Navy , situated west of the town of Vileyka in Belarus . The "Vileyka" VLF transmitter is an important facility for transmitting orders to submarines in the very low frequency range...
greatly resembles that of Goliath, but all its masts are nearly exactly 100 metres taller.
External links
- http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b60795
- http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b60797
- Kalbe at Google Maps
- Druzhny at Google Maps