Radio Caroline

Radio Caroline is a European radio station that originally commenced transmissions as an offshore radio station broadcasting from a ship anchored off the coast of South East England in international waters. Unlicensed by any government for the majority of its life, it was labelled as a pirate radio station.

1983-1988

Radio Caroline's return from the Ross Revenge

In 1983 Radio Caroline returned to the air for a third time: this time from its biggest and most robust ship yet, the MV Ross Revenge, a sturdy ex-North Sea factory fishing trawler. The name Revenge was not entirely appropriate for a station devoted to Loving Awareness (the ship was originally built during the Anglo-Icelandic cod wars, hence the name), and it was originally intended to rename the ship Imagine after the John Lennon song. However, for legal or financial reasons, this was never done. The station's antenna was 300ft (90m)high and was the tallest mast on any ship in the world, and 100ft higher than the mast of the Mi Amigo. Officially Caroline was now run from offices in North America with most of the advertising coming from the US and Canada. In practice, day-to-day servicing of the station was carried out clandestinely from France and the UK.

Related Topics:
1983 - MV Ross Revenge - North Sea - Fishing trawler - Anglo - Icelandic - Cod wars - John Lennon - North America - Canada - France

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O'Rahilly wanted an oldies station. This met with opposition from some DJs and crew who had previously served on the Mi Amigo. Caroline returned to the air with the former Album format as on the old ship.

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The MV Ross Revenge was more than twice the size of the old vessel and was fitted with more elaborate transmitting equipment than the Mi Amigo had seen. This enabled her to transmit not only Radio Caroline, now with a format that settled down to a mix of pop and rock oldies and the latest top 40, but also a number of other services. As in the 1970s Caroline tried out several frequencies, among them 963, 558, and 819 kHz. In the evenings throughout 1986 and 1987, in addition to the main Radio Caroline service, a separate programme of progressive rock was broadcast called Caroline Overdrive, and Jamming 963 presented by DJs such as Tom Anderson.

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Radio Monique

Once again, Caroline had a Dutch operation. The Ross Revenge broadcast the taped & live programmes of a Dutch music radio production company by day under the name Radio Monique and later Radio 558. These programmes featured mainly Pop & Euro Pop style music, aimed at the mainstream Dutch radio listening audience, which gave Radio Monique wide appeal throughout the Benelux.

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In addition, Caroline transmitted paid-for programmes of various Dutch and American religious evangelist broadcasters such as Johann Maasbach and Roy Masters. Some of these were broadcast on short-wave as well as AM under the name "Viewpoint 963.

Related Topics:
Evangelist - Johann Maasbach - Roy Masters

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In 1985, the British government launched a surveillance action lasting several months, anchoring a vessel on board which were officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The DJs nicknamed the action Eurosiege 85. Vessels and persons attempting to supply the two stations from land were subject to harassment and prosecution.

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In November 1985, the competitor offshore station, Laser, dragged its anchor in a storm. Laser broadcast a Mayday call, which the DTI answered and escorted the Communicator into harbour, where they impounded the ship. With Laser off the air, Caroline moved to Laser's 558 Khz frequency, now broadcasting a Top 40 music format similar to Laser's under the name Caroline 558.

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The mast collapses

In 1987 a massive storm hit southern England, causing loss of life and severe damage to buildings and trees. The storm also caused the Ross Revenge's antenna to collapse. After a pause, Caroline returned but with an inferior signal and much reduced audience, conditions from which it never recovered.

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