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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:05 pm
by Steve
Yep, it'll be the HF antenna.

These S-76s are operated by CHC Helicopters on a contract basis for the RAAF, attached to RAAF bases around Australia for search and rescue. 'Chopper' is the callsign they're allocated, though I don't know if '6' is specific to the WA one (in the past it's been 'Chopper One').

The one at Pearce 'shadows' training flights by the PC-9s and Hawks so if there's a crash, SAR isn't far away and doesn't need to come all the way from Pearce. If a training exercise calls for the PC-9s or Hawks to fly from Pearce to Albany and return, for example, the S-76 will sit on the ground at Albany for the duration of the exercise. An S-76 also accompanies the Roulettes.

For mine, the S-76 is the best looking helicopter there is. Kerry Packer agreed - he had one for his personal transport.

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:07 pm
by Always RX
Correct mate...the wire is an antenna. Im not sure about the callsign though. Did you hear it on the marine radio?...If so I guess it was just a nominated callsign for the use on that band during the winching exercise as the helicopter usually communicates with air traffic control as Lima Hotel Zulu.

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:09 pm
by Always RX
lol.....yeah...what steve said too...beat me to it ;-)

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:17 pm
by Steve
It used 'Chopper One' when communicating with ATC - as if it were a military aircraft. That was several years ago though so the ATC protocols may well have changed since then.

I've also heard the the TV helicopters are no longer using 'TV Ten' and 'TV Seven' as they were for a while and have reverted back to their conventional callsigns.

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:33 pm
by Always RX
I guess it could be mission specific Steve. For example when "Rescue 65" (VH-EWA) is not on an operational sortie it will use the callsign "Echo Whiskey Alpha"....also the AMSA Dornier 328-100 search aircraft (VH-PPF) will use a callsign of "RESCUE ####" when on a mission and reverts to "Papa Papa Foxtrot" for training and ferry flights . I havent ever heard a "chopper" callsign but that doesnt mean it doesnt happen.

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:16 am
by celestial_insight
Yeah it was on marine radio. It was what it asked TW160 to call them. Also, the TV choppers do call themselves their correct name (TVG etc).

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:51 pm
by Steve
Heard 'Chopper Six' using 'Chopper Six' as its callsign on the Pearce CTAF over the weekend.

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 10:43 pm
by nachoman
Anti Submarine warfare exercises off the coast, Collins class submarine seen in Fremantle this morning

http://www.navy.gov.au/C17_to_deliver_8 ... e_training

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:07 pm
by Steve
Some interesting activity on the UHF airband today.

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:16 pm
by allycat
USS Carl Vinson is transmiting on 156.450 marine ch 9.Its only transfers and departures.Also lots of water police today.Carl vinson is war ship 70 and Bunker hill is war ship 52.

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:30 pm
by Mug
Any other frequencies active for the American ships?

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:35 pm
by nachoman
HMAS Arunta and HMNZS Te Kaha open today for inspection as part of Fremantle Ports Maritime Day.

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 8:24 pm
by nachoman
From Fremantle Ports:
The French Navy frigate Guepratte has arrived in Fremantle for a seven-day visit during which three WWII veterans will be bestowed with the Legion of Honour, France’s highest military award.

Guepratte is a Lafeyette-class frigate of the French Marine Nationale and is named after the French Admiral Emile Guepratte. She is the only frigate of the Lafeyette class whose complement includes women and is commanded by the first female Commander of a frigate in the Marine Nationale.

Sailors from the Guepratte, and from the amphibious assault ship Tonnere, which has berthed at Garden Island, will take part in a rugby game at Rockingham, welcome players from Perth’s Super 18 Rugby team the Western Force, and will be guests at a Force game on Saturday

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:33 am
by nachoman
Italian Naval frigate Carabiniere open to the public for a few hours today at Fremantle Port

Re: Naval activity

Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 6:49 pm
by nachoman
HMNZS Te Kaha, HMAS Adelaide, HMNZS Endeavour, HMAS Darwin and HMAS Melbourne in Fremantle Port today. HMAS Anzac anchored in Gage Roads. Spanish ship ESPS Cristobal Colon and Italian frigate ITS Caribiniere also here recently for Exercise Ocean Explorer and apparently some RAAF FA-18s at RAAF Pearce.