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TALK BETWEEN SHIP (TBS) & SHACKLE CODE

Talk Between Ships (TBS)

"Talk Between Ships" was the established radio network the American warships used to communicate with each other. All TBS log entries in the CTU 77.4.3/COMCARDIV 25 Action Report have been included in the time-line list of events in chapters six through twelve. After the reader studies this page for a few minutes, most TBS log entries will become self-explanatory.

TBS transmissions were made using a standard encoded terminology for certain words. A few of the less obvious variants used in the log entries are shown here:

Example: TBS - Great Danes v Taffy 3, "LOAD AVAILABLE FISH WITH TORPEDOES AND MAKE ATTACK ON THE ENEMY, OUT."

Meaning: CTU 77.4.3 directs the CVEs to load TBM torpedo bombers with torpedoes....

 

A "shackle code" was an alpha-numeric message system passed by voice over TBS. Since TBS transmissions were passed in the clear, encodement was crucial to keep the enemy unaware of task unit intentions. Shackle codes were often used to relay course changes or any other message which called for the use of numbers, such as when to execute a timed event, etc. In all entries, the crucial data contained within the shackle code is contained in between the words "SHACKLE" and "UNSHACKLE."

The following shackle code was used by all warships of Task Group 77.4 on the day of the battle:

Example: TBS - Mercury 3 v Taffy 3, "SIGNAL EXECUTE UPON RECEIPT SHACKLE NAN GEORGE EASY UNSHACKLE TURN. FIDO ACKNOWLEDGE." .... v FIDO, "WILCO OUT."

Meaning: CTU 77.4.3 directs the task unit to turn to course 220° T.

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