List of radios for WWII MVs.

[Mark Tombleson]

I started a list, a draft if you will, of radios for WWII military vehicles.

It is here in the articles secton of G503.

http://www.g503.com/articles/mark-t.htm

I would appreciate you guys who know your radios to review it and comment on this thread. I'm as dumb as a stump on some issues and would like some additional background on use. I would also like to expand the list to any other radio used in a vehicle during this time period, so blaze away here guys!

I was thinking we could also make a list up of post war radios, but I'm not so good on tracking those, we will see.

[BADIN]

I MARK
congratulation for your article of radios véhicles WWII!
I've got a question :
on my 1944 MB, i've a AN/GRC-9 because i've never found a BC 1306!
GRC9 has been used in the UNATED STATES OF AMERICA? if yes, when? and on jeep? Because in FRANCE, the GRC9 is very easy to found because it was used a long time on the french army jeep!
For AN/PRC-8&9&10 sames question!

friendly
françois

[Dallas]

I have GRC9 set with 1945 contract date.Pre 1951 units used PE 237 power supply from SCR 694, 1951 the DY 88 came out..I beleive production of PRC 8.9,and 10 started 1951.
Dallas

[BADIN]

HELLO DALLAS
thank you for all this détails.
Last question : are their U.S véhicles mounting for AN/PRC-8 9 10 ?

[John Stiles]

Mark,
Great article!

Now may ask for your expertise?

Am trying to come up with a 12v radio that the AAF's might have used on their Jeeps for A to G or G to A(as your SCR 608 MZ-2 RT-19/ARC-4 (MAH)).

I know that in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations many missions were joint service (AAF/USMC/USN). Think that they MUST have been able to talk to ground/sea and each other.

So...In your opinion, what radio do you think would be closest to actual used in theater? Where would I find one? How much should I expect to pay for complete set inc. antenna, mount, etc.?

[jeff.]

I've been able to find a BC-1306 for my jeep project but need a power supply. Where's a good source in the U.S. for a PE-237? Thanks!

[Dallas]

The only vehicle mount for these is the MT 759/PRC for the AM 598,which the PRC 8,9,10 radio plugs into.
Dallas

[Mark Tombleson]

John, that is another tough question. If you look at the Mil radios lists there are hundreds if not thousands of radios and radio systems used for land, sea and air. No one group had a single type they used. Take the MAH system that operated on 140-144 MC AM, this is what was used in some cases. However, on some of the Mil radio reflectors there is current talk of the Navy and MAG Dauntless using the BC-375. Now that used tuning units, like the TU-5 1.5-3.0 MC AM and could talk to say a TCS. I believe this BC-375 was used in the B-24. I have asked on these radio boards if there is any book, manual or publication the has any list or flowchart as to how communications were done between the various groups of forces with no result. Maybe Dallas or Robert know?

I do have photos of both the TCS and the SCR-608 in use in the PTO (USMC and Navy MZ), even a SCR-300 sitting on the hood of a MZ radio jeep on Guam in 1944 (Two MZs with TCS and the SCR-300).

The bloody flag ships, a lot of ships for that matter, had all kinds of radios with most of the spectrum covered. I could see a ship relaying a message from shore to air in a pinch.

There was some friction if I remember correctly between the Army Air Corps and the Signal Corps, over the SCR-284 and its maintenance? Sorry I can't be more help right now but I will keep getting in new information.

By the way John, I thought you emailed me or posted on the board about your jeep being a Navy jeep? Or am I screwed up here as usual?

[Dallas]

I beleive,Fair Radio has the book by Sam Hevener listing most of the WWII Army Air Corps,infantry and veh.sets.I don't know of any complete list of WWII Navy sets.
Dallas

[NavRad]

Hi Mark,

Here's a few more radio sets for your list that were used during WWII in vehicles.
Signal Corps:
1. SCR-209, BC-176 trans 2.2 - 2.6 MC 8.5 W CW & 7.5 W AM. &
BC-312 rec.
2. SCR-210, BC-189 receiver. Later sets were replaced by the
BC-312 receiver.
3. SCR-245, BC-223 trans. 2.0 - 5.2 MC 10 W & BC-312 receiver.
4. SCR-293, BC-500 trans. 20.0 - 27.9 MC FM 25 W & BC-499 receiver.
For use in early tanks.
5. SCR-294, BC-499 receiver only.
6. SCR-298 25-UFM trans. & 11-UF receiver 30 - 40 MC 25 W FM.
7. SCR-511, BC-745 (Pogo Stick) transceiver when used with PE-157
vibrator power supply. 3.0 - 6.0 MC 0.75 W AM
8. SCR-619, BC-1335 transceiver 27 - 38.0 MC 2 W FM 6/12/24 VDC
9. AN/VRC-1 BC-191 trans., BC-312 rec. & SCR-542 BC-624/625 100 - 156 MC 6 W PE-98 dynamotor 12VDC installed in jeep.
This set was also adopted by the Navy/Marine Corps & known as
MRC-19.
10. AN/VRC-3, BC-1000 transceiver with PP-114 vibrator power supply.
For use in tanks.

US Navy/Marine Corps:
1. DAX Radio Direction Finder. Installed in MZ type jeep. 1.5 - 22 MC
12 VDC.
2. DAY Radio Direction Finder Installed in MZ type jeep. 20 - 100 MC.
12 VDC.
3. DAZ, Radio Direction Finder Installed in MZ type jeep 100 - 156 MC
4. AN/MRD-8, DAZ DF set along with MAX Radio set, 100 - 156 MC 8 W
Installed in jeep NT-10466 & trailer V-25/MRD-8
5. AN/MRN-3, Marker Beacon Set. SCR-610-A (BC-659) with
RC-115-A Marker Beacon Trans. Equip. & ID-101/MRN-3 Indicator.
PE-88 power unit installed in jeep. 27.0 - 38.9 MC 6/12 VDC.
6. MAH, RT-19/ARC-4 transceiver, 140 - 144 MC 6 W AM 12/24 VDC
7. MAK, Transceiver, 2 - 4 MC 25 W AM 6/12 VDC
8. MAR, Transceiver, 225 - 390 MC 8 W 12/24 & other various input
voltages from various power supplies.
9. MAX, RT-18/ARC-1 Transceiver, 100 - 156 MC 8 W
10.MN, Transceiver, 30 - 42 MC 2 W Various input voltages from 12 VDC
115 v. depending on model.
11.MO-1, Transceiver, 3 - 8 MC 25 W AM 6/12 VDC
12.MRC-19, BC-191 trans., BC-312 rec., & SCR-542 VHF set. This is the
same as Signal Corps AN/VRC-1 listed above. In jeep
13.TCH, Transceiver, 2 - 16MC 6 W AM. Looks similar to TCS but in one
cabinet & smaller.

Regards,
NavRad
Steve Finelli

[John Stiles]

Thanks Guys,
Have been interviewing some WWII AAF vets on radio gear used at the time, but apparently the type used was not important to them as long as it worked. Guess I need to find a WWII Tech. Understand, as you do Mark, that there was some friction on inter-service use of certain models and some on cross-talk, too.

No Mark, my buddy's '45 MB is NAVY gray and has no evidence of OD under it. Spent 45 minutes today sanding in search of USN on hood. No luck yet but not giving up.

Will continue to ask Vet's and let you know if any recall radio details.

Cheers,

John

MVPA 25017
'43 GPW
'43 MB
'43 BT-3
'48 CJ-2A
'50 CJ-3A
'42 GPW Script (in the works)

[Mark Tombleson]

Excellent additions, Steve.
I forgot about all the direction finders!

There any way to tell when these radio systems were brought into operation? For example the TCS ran TCS-5 thru 15 but I'm informed the TCS-9 was the first used in the MZ Radio Jeeps. From what I see of those first few radios they would be appropriate for an early jeep, Slat Grill?

Now if the AN/VRC-1 was called an MRC-19 was that during WWII? Robert emailed me the following on the MRC-13.
...According to my database (probably derived from other source info here), it should be AN/MRC-13A if in a V-35/U. Consists of the 225-390 MC MAR and 12V Aux Generator. The set would have been used for aircraft ground control of aircraft equipped with the newer UHF radios. The MAR itself is late WW-II vintage judging by the date (1944) on the manual...
So, I can see why the AN/VRC-1 was renamed as it was not Navy/USMC, but why the MAR? Or, was this the change in nomenclature with naming all the existing sets used MRC, i.e. MRC-5 a SCR-608, MRC-6 a TCS, MRC-7 a SCR-506 and MRC-8 a SCR-528? I thought all this was post war?

One final item, are there examples of these radios still out there? Like the TCH, I've heard of it, but never seen any photos or know of anyone having such a radio. Maybe I just need to look harder!

Oh, John, try looking above and below the grab handles on both sides. Never can tell, if it came from the factory as Navy it may have the registration numbers there.

[Mark Tombleson]

Dallas, do you mean this gentleman?
Sam Hevener, W8KBF (Military Surplus)
3583 Everett Rd.
Richfield Ohio 44286
(330) 659-3244 (call before 18:00 hours EST)

[Dallas]

He's the one.He has several books out on WWII Signal Corps radio equipment.
Dallas

[John Stiles]

Thanks Mark,
Will check. Should be there tomorrow.