Themes

New technology between the Falklands and the Gulf War

Communications

The Falklands War allowed the Royal Navy to evaluate its capabilities in contemporary warfare. The great advances in modern civilian communications technology since the War has greatly enhanced the capabilities of the modern fleet. Commander Peter Wheen who served as Fleet Communications Officer during extended operations in the Gulf describes their effects.

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Peter Wheen on the Royal Navy learning the lessons of the Falklands and how the boom in information technology helped. (RNM)

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Wheen suggests the developments taking place have greatly added to the Royal Navy’s ability to operate within and fight a more technologically advanced war.

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Peter Wheen on communications technology since the 1960s and new technology. (RNM)

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One of the largest problems recognised from the Royal Navy’s experiences in the Falklands War was the need for more advanced and secure satellite communications for the fleet. By the beginning of the Falklands War, the Royal Navy had begun to fit some ships with SCOT (Satellite Communications Terminal) technology, which provided secure lines of communications between the ships at sea and the command facilities on land. Commander Wheen describes the Royal Navy’s enhanced satellite communications capabilities by the time of the Gulf War.

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Peter Wheen on providing satellite communications systems for every ship. (RNM)

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One of the biggest advances in communications after the Falklands was the development of the Op Con message handling system. Commander Wheen describes the advantages of Op Con below.

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Peter Wheen on the Op Con message handling system. (RNM)

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Wheen explains the effectiveness of Op Con in warfare situations following the experiences of the overload in communications during the Falklands War.

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Peter Wheen on how the Op Con has helped the communications within the Royal Navy to be more efficient, especially in times of war. (RNM)

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