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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 13, 2017 11:23:27 GMT 12
On a recent post which I can't find there was a comment that the communications centre Irirangi near Waiouru had closed. A xmas visit showed it to be quite active with all of the radio array in place    And the Waiouru comms centre very securely fenced.  |
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Post by rone on Feb 13, 2017 14:00:07 GMT 12
Peter, the post you refer to was " Were there Kiwi Code Breakers in WW11, Dave Homewood posted the comment that HMNZS Irirangi closed in 1990, posted 31January 2017
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Post by rone on Feb 13, 2017 14:01:44 GMT 12
Posted on the General Board
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 13, 2017 14:33:25 GMT 12
I didn't say it closed in 1990. I said it was still active in the 1990's, but - according to Wikipedia - "Irirangi was decommissioned on 20 May 1993. The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is now responsible for signals intelligence, with a radio communications intercept station at Tangimoana and a satellite communications intercept station at Waihopai. The previous functions of Irirangi are now carried out by a small contingent of Naval maintenance staff."
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 14, 2017 8:53:53 GMT 12
That's why I found it surprising that it still looked operational.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 14, 2017 9:11:24 GMT 12
Probably no longer Navy, now run by the spooks
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Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 14, 2017 15:22:52 GMT 12
I think with some research you would find that Irirangi transmitters and receivers are still an active Defence Communications facility, it's just that in this modern age they are remote accessed, and
don't need permanent staff there, apart from a couple of techs. An interesting part of the facilities history was that in 1982, the signal to the submarine HMS Conquerer to sink the Argentinian Cruiser Belgrano was routed via Irirangi and transmitted on an HF frequency that could be intercepted by the submarine.
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Post by thomarse on Feb 19, 2017 11:54:22 GMT 12
Oh, so that's what Waihopai is? For years we were told it was a VLF Omega Nav Aid!  |
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Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 19, 2017 12:54:44 GMT 12
The VLF programme was known as "Project Longbank" and was based out of the buildings on the eastern side of Woodbourne. Ceased operations in the late 1960s. The signal to Conquerer was via HF. the submarine can either pick up the signal when surfaced, or via a floatable antenna that is launched and retrieved when submerged, being put up at known comms scheduled times to receive and transmit signals.
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Post by 30sqnatc on Feb 19, 2017 15:23:41 GMT 12
Deleted
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