Minimal washover, inline high frequency buoyant antenna

A buoyant antenna system for electromagnetic signal communication with a submarine submerged beneath a water surface, the system comprising:

• an elongated outer casing in the shape of an open cylinder having a longitudinal axis;
• at least one sensor disposed within the casing in spaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical casing, the at least one sensor transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic signal communication;
• a weighted mass disposed within the outer casing in a diametrically opposite spaced apart relation to the sensor, the weighted mass being negatively buoyant;
• a positively buoyant body core disposed within the casing, the core surrounding the sensor and abutting the weighted mass, the body core having a buoyancy sufficient to provide the casing, sensor, weighted mass and body core combination with a positive buoyancy, the buoyancy sufficient to raise the sensor above the water surface, the weighted mass being below the water surface, the weighted mass providing a righting force tending to maintain the sensor and the weighted mass in vertical alignment;
• a communications cable for electromagnetically connecting the sensor to the submarine.

A method for reducing a wake formed in deploying from a vessel submerged below a water surface a buoyant antenna system comprising an elongated outer casing in the shape of an open cylinder having a longitudinal axis, at least one sensor disposed within the casing in spaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical casing, a negatively buoyant weighted mass disposed within the outer casing in a diametrically opposite spaced apart relation to the sensor, a positively buoyant body core disposed within the casing, the core surrounding the sensor and abutting the weighted mass, the body core having a buoyancy sufficient to provide the casing, sensor, weighted mass and body core combination with a positive buoyancy, the buoyancy sufficient to raise the sensor above the water surface when the outer casing is floating on the water surface, the weighted mass being below the water surface, the weighted mass providing a righting force tending to maintain the sensor and the weighted mass in vertical alignment when the outer casing is floating on the water surface, the at least one sensor transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signal communication with the submerged vessel through a positively buoyant communications cable electromagnetically connected between the sensor and the submerged vessel, the cable being stored in a reeled configuration aboard the submerged vessel prior to deployment, the antenna system being attached to the submerged vessel prior to deployment, the method comprising the steps of:

• releasing the antenna system from the submerged vessel, the antenna system tending to rise to the water surface;
• unreeling a sufficient length of the cable from the submerged vessel to allow the antenna system to reach the water surface;
• and
• continuing to unreel the cable when the antenna system has reached the water surface, the cable being unreeled at a rate sufficient to prevent a movement of the submerged vessel from causing a corresponding movement of the antenna system over the water surface, the lack of corresponding antenna system movement reducing the wake formed by the antenna system as it floats on the water surface.