TNAG-0758-FCO40-962-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 35

COMMUNICATIONS STUDY

1.

Introduction

CO. CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX O TO

SUPPORT NG PAPA

NSR 7015

This Annex provides a synopsis of the Communications Study undertaken in

response to NST 7015. The Study took 3 months to complete and cost 25 MOD (N) man dnys.

Background

2.

3.

The Naval Staff Target (NST 7015) for the Hong Kong Patrol Craft

called for a study to establish the operational requirements for commun-

ication links between the craft and other units and authorities to meet

the operational concept.

b.

Representatives from the (Communications) User Requirements and

Trials Section of HMS MERCURY, who undertook the study, visited

Hong Kong early in 1978 to gain first-hand experience of the existing

and required communications installations.

The Study (Summary of Report by HMS MERCURY)

The Study considered that the communications required

for the Hong Kong Craft could be divided into three broad areas:

(1) Communications to exercise command and control of the ships.

(2) Communications to permit interoperability with local agencies

and hence facilitate the conduct of joint operations.

(3) The provision of communications direction finding equipment

to assist in localisation during SAR operations.

The required communications package therefore comprised the basic

equipments necessary to meet these needs together with the ancilliaries

necessary to produce a communications system.

b. The requirements for command and control communications fell logically

into two categories:

(1) Within the local Hong Kong waters

(2) Outside the local waters, but within the Hong Kong

SAR area of responsibility.

D-1

CONFIDENTI AL

COMEDENTIAL