Naval Technology

To date GABLER has produced more than 230 communication mast systems with a wide range of configurations, keyed to meet both the navies’ requirements and the latest developments in new technologies. These systems are classed with the very best products in the market all over the world.

Hoistable masts for antennas and snorkel masts belong to the class of masts that are frequently designed as column-guided systems. A characteristic feature of the GABLER systems is the flexible placing of the guide columns to allow optimal use to be made of all available space in the submarine’s bridge fin. In particular in this respect, GABLER is way ahead of all competitors and clearly in the lead in design and construction.

The principal requirement to be met when developing hoistable masts for antennas is the need to provide interference-free highly effective transmission and reception with minimum vibration of the electronic components located in the mast, even at high speeds. Transmission and reception while snorkelling or in heavy weather make great demands on the functioning of the antennas and the electronic components.

In close cooperation with the manufacturers of antenna systems GABLER has developed the most reliable solution for hoistable masts, which has been tested at sea under extreme operating conditions. To achieve a high degree of efficiency in connection with modern transmission and reception systems, the antenna adapter for the HF system and the electronic components of the UHF-VHF-IFF-GPS combination are located inside the mast.

The GABLER hoistable masts for HF antennas can be delivered as two-stage hull-penetrating masts or as two-stage non-penetrating masts with a trunk system or column-guided system. The first stage enables the UHF-VHF-IFF-GPS part to be hoisted, while the HF part is hoisted with the second stage. The third generation now under design is a three-stage system where the first stage hoists the mast, the second the HF whip antenna and the third the combination UHF-VHF-IFF-GPS antenna.