Theory, design and testing of the broadband naval structural antenna

This paper introduces the concept of multipurpose structural antenna system for shipborne installations. By combining properly shaped and loaded wire radiators together with an existing naval superstructure, such as the funnel or a big mast, it is possible to achieve a compact and broadband HF radiating system with unconventional features. In particular, it permits to increase the system efficiency with respect to the traditional broadband antenna systems, equipped with lossy combining networks, and to handle both sea-wave and near vertical incidence sky-wave communications with some degree of control over the radiation pattern. (6 pages)