Special Event Radio Station honours Swift patrol boats

The Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) and amateur radio operators of the Malta Amateur Radio League are operating a Special Event Radio Station "9H9SWT", in conjunction with the US Swift Boat Sailors Association (SBSA).

They are celebrating the first commissioning of Swift class patrol boats in South East Asia and the 30-plus years of service by boats of this type by the AFM.

The AFM operates the last examples of Swift boats still on active duty anywhere in the world.

The Special Radio Event Station is transmitting from the home base of the Malta Swifts in Hay Wharf at the same time as the SBSA Special Event Station "N4S" operates from the Sheraton Waterside Hotel, location of the SBSA reunion in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

The aim of both stations is to provide an opportunity for interested radio amateurs to "visit on the air" and "participate in amateur radio" with members of both the AFM and the SBSA, as they share their interesting personal experiences on board these very first special warfare craft to be deployed by the US Navy and the AFM.

A reunion for members of the former Malta Land Force (MLF) and ex-AFM servicemen was held yesterday as part of the event.

The activities have been locally sponsored by Camline Internet Services Ltd., Datastream, Fabian Enterprises Ltd, and Compleet IS Ltd, who provided Internet connectivity, computer and radio hardware for this station.