The SAAF Forum

Project Ebbehout was the code name for command and control communications of all the defence units (Military, Air Force, Navy and Medics).

Tropo communication is a long distance communication link which makes use of the troposphere (the lower part of the earth's atmosphere) to send microwave signals. Louwsburg Tropo base had two links - one to Mariepskop base and one to Umhlanga base. Each base transmitted four signals, one vertical and one horisontal per transmitter and dish, with two dishes in each direction. On the receiving end, the equipment switches between the strongest signals of the four received on two dishes, to ensure quality communications. The power output of the transmitters on this site were 10Kw using a klystron linear-beam vacuum tube to amplify the signal.

Almost all of the sites has been closed down but this was once a top secret project of the SADF.

The site spanned across the country from Durban all the way to Bloemfontein.

Has anyone got anymore information about this??

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"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious."

This sounds interesting.

This is a subject which deeply interests me. I was involved with the initial DHQ Ebbehout installation replacing the old A301 army telex relay towards the end of my national service in 1979, serving under Squadron 21, 2 Signals Regiment.

I later spent what turned out to be my last (2 month) camp guarding the (huge) (Ebbehout) microwave dishes on the ridge above Umhlanga early 1989, serving under Natal Command after finally being transferred from 82 Signals. I haven't been able to locate them since and that's why I'm here. I'd love to find out what became of them after the end of apartheid- surely the need for them has never quite gone away?

Yes.

The book you need for this topic is entitled "Army Signals in South Africa - The story of the South African Corps of Signals and its antecendents" by Walter Volker. ISBN 978-0-620-45344-8. It's the first book in a series of three and is the authority on the history of the SACS. Unfortunately it's not in print anymore so might be tough to find. This specific topic is covered in Part VIII section 50 on page 267.

I'll see if I can scan some pages.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Apologies, book doesn't fit in scanner nicely but hopefully these are good enough.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Thanks H1017412 - quite fascinating. I was completely unaware of the capability for voice, as I was only involved with telex traffic.