C.S.O. Saltcoats

For those researching family in the three towns area.
User avatar
Danny Boy

C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Danny Boy »

Hello from Canada! I am researching a ship of the Royal Navy and would like to know what a 1945 reference to "C.S.O. Saltcoats" means. Greatly appreciate if anyone has knowledge of this name and perhaps a story about it. Cheers,
User avatar
Richard

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Richard »

:hi:
Danny Boy:
I'm sure someone on this site will be able to help you but failing that, you could always try the following site:
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It's an excellent site for all topics Maritime AND very helpful.
Good Luck.
User avatar
Guest

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Guest »

OK thanks for that tip. Cheers,
gwennypenny
Settling In
Settling In
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:11 pm

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by gwennypenny »

Hello from Canada. We are from Scotland. That looks familiar I wonder if my dad would know . I will ask
Jim McCreadie
Heid Poster
Heid Poster
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:01 am
Location: Fremantle, WA

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Jim McCreadie »

Hi DannyBoy
What you are researching is NOT a ship but a signals intercept station. CSO means "Composite Signals Organisation" stations were the top-secret "Y-Service" of the British "Government Communications Head Quarters" [GCHQ] at Bletchley Park where the Nazi Enigma cyphers were broken. It would appear there was an intercept station located at Saltcoats, Ayrshire which would have been ideally situated to intercept U-boat signals from the North Atlantic. :hi:

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j ... W4GqvXKmuA

http://ticktalk.shawwebspace.ca/pages/v ... ronometer/

Jim McCreadie
Fremantle (formerly Saltcoats)
Western Australia
User avatar
John Donnelly
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2955
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by John Donnelly »

Now this is interesting.

How would some-one go about finding out where this station was located?

JD.
User avatar
Hughie
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11138
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:42 am
Location: Australia Formerly Ardrossan
Contact:

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Hughie »

Jim McCreadie wrote:It would appear there was an intercept station located at Saltcoats, Ayrshire which would have been ideally situated to intercept U-boat signals from the North Atlantic.
Jim there was mention some time ago that there was such an intercept station located at the Saltcoats. From what I recall it was at the Saltcoats Pavilion.
Jim McCreadie
Heid Poster
Heid Poster
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:01 am
Location: Fremantle, WA

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Jim McCreadie »

Hi guys
Hughie, I never knew such a station existed in our area although it certainly makes sense.

John, as CSO was so secret ("Top Secret" was NOT used by Britain which preferred "Most Secret"), I believe you would be hard pressed to locate much data; Official Secrets Act and the 100-year old rule!

Here's a link to another CSO Site:
http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/26 ... no+2+site/

Jim
Jim McCreadie
Heid Poster
Heid Poster
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:01 am
Location: Fremantle, WA

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by Jim McCreadie »

Re my reply dated Sat, 14 July 2012. Here is another piece of information I located to confirm an intercept station at Saltcoats. However, I dispute the assertion of it’s use for monitoring North Sea (radio) traffic.

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/75-ye ... 67689.html

High-frequency (3-30Mhz), depending on various factors (power output, Ionispheric layer/time of day), can be transmitted over thousands of miles. However, if German vessels were operating in the North Sea, they would most likely transmit on low power, rendering it unlikely, although not impossible, the transmission would reach Saltcoats. The Atlantic was a more likely target for CSO Saltcoats.
Q98
32.04'.04"S 115.48'30"E

"What language are you talking in now? It appears to be Bo**ocks."
User avatar
jimmy mccreadie

Re: C.S.O. Saltcoats

Post by jimmy mccreadie »

Found following in on-line A&SH website. Article titled “When Ardrossan became HMS Fortitude”.
The Admiralty bought No. 1 South Crescent as a Sailor’s Rest and it was later used as accommodation for the watchkeepers of the Wireless Intelligence Offices.
Believe Wireless Intellugence Offices were CSO Saltcoats staff.
Post Reply