The secret is the combination of QTH and antenna polarization.

A vertical antenna with salt water extending a few wavelengths in the
direction of communication has a tremendous advantage. It produces a
high strength signal at very low elevation angles. You won't get this
with a horizontal antenna unless it's very high, or a vertical
surrounded by dirt, regardless of how good your ground system is (unless
it extends several wavelengths from the antenna), unless there's a
lengthy downward slope to the ground in the direction of communication.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

Merlin-7 KI4ILB wrote:
On the USS YOURKTOWN in the Charleston, SC harbor a local radio club that I
am a member of, has a radio room using a butternut antenna..
It is mounted on an old aircraft carrier sitting in salt water. that is the
best QTH for a vertical but my question is......

What is the biggest difference between a vertical and a horizontal antenna
other than the obvious? When I use the rig in the Yourktown it seems that I
can contact stations a lot further away with less noise than my home QTH.

Is it just its QTH or am I missing something else?
Joe