In 1984 I was introduced to ASMA and its ability to pass PPRuNe-type messages between two people or using a paging system send longer messages in near real time like this internet forum. It was revolutionary and much sought after by the RN. It was actually RAF funded and the RN only leased a few sets that had to be swapped between ships. Naturally secret squirrels got first look .
In 1982 communications were much slower. The main method was by message teletype on capacity limited circuits - Flash traffic taking up to one hour and immediate 5 hours. Routine traffic would never have got through.
You were at least two years behind then PN. I used the Air Staff Management Aid (ASMA) extensively during Corporate. There were no terminals afloat at that time, but they did start to appear no too long afterwards. As for going to the secret squirrels first, that wasn't the case they were installed in ship's ops rooms.
YS