Stupid fleet boat question

[RCSubGuy]

Okay, I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know the answer to this, but what was the purpose behind the long cables that stretched along the hulls of WW1 and WW2 boats? I assume they were communication antennas, but I couldn't find a definitive answer online with a bit of searching.

Can anyone edumacate me?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Early boats combined the function of jumper and antenna into the forward cable that ran from bow to atop the fairwater. Some of the V-class boats had purpose designed retractable masts to hoist communications antenna cables.

The wires that ran from the sides of the GATO-BALAO-TENCH fairwaters back to a 'T' looking support near the stern? Yes, communications antennas. Note the insulators at each end.

David

[trout]

As a side note, I found that when the deck gun was at the stern the antenna ran to the front and if the deck gun is at the bow the antenna ran to the stern. This "rule" I found was complicated by gunships or Fleetboats that had two deck guns.

[trout]

Just to make sure we are talking the same thing it is this cable highlighted in red.

[RCSubGuy]

That would be one of them, certainly. I was thinking specifically of a Type VII. It has the single long cable running forward from the tower and twin cables running aft.

[trout]

Ahh, got it. Yes, same thing.

[MFR1964]

Tom is right, in the first place antenna's, all three are insulated from the hull, and secondly if needed as a security line on the rough sea.

Manfred.

[RCSubGuy]

Thanks for your help, everyone! I find myself edumacated!