Vampire

Vampire
Date	2014/09/19
Time
Location	TI
Type	Lecture
Contact	Julf

More history: Repeat of OHM2013 talk The VAMPIRE Returns - Cold War Tactical Electronic Warfare Resurrected

The Cold War Electronic Warfare Group has restored and recommissioned some of the vehicles and systems used by the 14 Signal Regiment of the British Army, stationed in Celle, Germany, close to the Iron Curtain, in the 1980′s and 1990′s. The presentation covers the history, background and function of the systems, as well as the challenges in the restoration/recommissioning work.

In the early 1980's, the Cold War that had, by then, already lasted for over 30 years, entered a new, intense phase, with active conflict in Afghanistan, but serious unrest in Europe as well.

In addition to strategic intelligence initiatives, there was also a critical need for tactical electronic intelligence, placed close to the Iron Curtain, and able to track the movements of Warsaw Pact forces both during the build-up and actual deployment in case the cold war got "hot".

One of the main groups fulfilling this function was the 14 Signal Regiment of the British Army - a group of "hackers in uniforms", with a combination of skills in conventional warfare, electronics, radio, linguistics and code breaking.

Our volunteer group, the Cold War Electronic Warfare Group, has spent a number of years restoring and recommissioning the vehicles and equipment, such as the VAMPIRE (VHF Army Mobile Position Indicating Radio Equipment) used by the 14 Signal Regiment in the 1980's and early 90's.

In this presentation we will discuss the methods and equipment used during the Cold War, as well as the work done by our group to, on one hand, restore and recommission the vehicles and systems, and on the other hand try to patch together the history and facts despite the intense secrecy surrounding the electronic warfare units and operations in the Cold War.

20:00-21:00 (approximately)