St. Patrick's Day 2007

I didn't have much of a chance to monitor the St. Patrick's Day festivities this year, but i did manage some mobile monitoring and a few minutes here and there at monitoring post.

157.050 - Marine VHF Ch. 21

• GUARDIAN 1 and GUARDIAN 2 (unknown USCG vessels) wkg Coast Guard Sector Charleston, gave position as Savannah Riverfront

Chatham-Effingham TRS Talkgroups

• 33456 - PD Common, Law Enforcement Net and Parade
• 6352 - CEMA 5, Medical Net
• 50320 - Citywide Common
• 50352 - Countywide Common
• 32816 - SCMPD A2, PCT 2 Primary
• 32280 - SCMPD A4, PCT 3 Car-to-Car
• 33168 - SCMPD A13, PCT 1 Car-to-Car
• 33200 - SCMPD A14, PCT 1 Primary
• 51248 - City of Savannah Parking Services
• 3248 - Southside Fire/EMS Admin - medical support at Rugby Tournament

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Savannah Morning News: 3rd Aviation Brigade to Deploy to Iraq Early

According to an article in the Savannah Morning News, the 3rd Aviation Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division will be deploying to Iraq early. See the article at:

http://savannahnow.com/node/244752

If the 3rd Aviation Brigade follows what they have done during the last two deployments, they will fly the aircraft from Hunter AAF to Georgia Ports where they will be "shrink wrapped" and loaded onto sealift ships. As I did during the previous two deployments, I will not post logs of real world deployments, but will post a recap of them after they are complete.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Blog Inactivity - Will Be Back on 19 March 2007

Due to my work schedule, there probably won't be any new posts until Monday, 19 March 2007.
At that time, I hope to have some posts on St. Patrick's Day activity and a weekly MilCom recap from 12 March to 18 March 2007.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Savannah Port Security Exercise

Thursday morning, the United States Coast Guard and Georgia National Guard conducted a port security exercise in Savannah. Marine VHF Channel 21 (157.050) and USCG Air Station Savannah Ops (345.000) were both active with exercise related traffic from the USCG Elm and helicopters 6542 and 6553. Below is the text of the Coast Guard news release on the exercise:

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Coast Guard, the Army National Guard and the Air
National Guard are conducted a joint homeland security exercise at the mouth of
the Savannah River Today at 7:30 a.m.
The Coast Guard and a joint Air National Guard and Army National Guard team tested their ability to respond to radioactive material detected aboard a commercial ship attempting to access the port of Savannah.
A Coast Guard boarding team from Marine Safety Unit Savannah was lowered from a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah to the deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Elm from Atlantic Beach, N.C., which played the role of the commercial ship. The Coast Guard boarding officers simulated detecting radiation aboard the vessel using radiation detection equipment.
The Coast Guard called upon the services of the Georgia National Guard's 4th
Civil Support Team (WMD) stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga.
The Coast Guard helicopters picked up members of the 4th CST from Air Station
Savannah and transported them to the Cutter Elm. While aboard the Cutter Elm, the 4th CST simulated identifying any suspect agents, substances or isotopes. Then advised the Coast Guard on response measures and assisted in assessing current and projected consequences.

Additionally, photos and video can be found on the USCG D7 Public Affairs Website at: https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/586/150772/

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Bonus Day at KF4LMT's Monitoring Post: An-124 Arrives at Hunter

VDA 4505, an An-124 of Volga-Denpr Aviation, arrived at Hunter AAF a few minutes ago. Approach was on 120.400 (Savannah Approach/Departure) with landing on 133.550 (Hunter Tower). Once again, I was able to get a photo:

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

C-5M in the Savannah Area

LOCKHEED 099 Heavy, one of the USAF's new C-5Ms, is doing pattern work at Hunter AAF in Savannah, GA. They have been using 133.550 (Hunter AAF Tower) and 120.400 (Savannah Approach/Departure). I managed to get a photo as it was on approach to Hunter:



Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

123.100 in Chatham County

Early this afternoon I heard one of the Coast Guard HH-65Cs from Air Station Savannah calling MOSQUITO CONTROL on 123.100. They didn't receive an answer, but I don't think that one of the Mosquito Control helicopters was airborne at the time.

123.100 was used during December's Hurricane Exercise as an air-to-air frequency. Judging by the Coast Guard helicopter's use of the frequency, it could be a frequency that will be used for air-to-air by such assets on a regular basis in Chatham County. This proves it to definitely be a frequency to program in for Chatham County scanning enthusiasts.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net