MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Sept.16/98 Index: RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOS PART V; By LTC William L. Howard MEMBERS WRITE; RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOS? MRCG BANDPLAN, Use WD-40? Phil G. Goulding, Dead at 77; NEW MEMBER; Perry Ballinger, W8AU HUMOR; *********************************************** RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOS PART V; By LTC William L. Howard POST WW II RADIOS,THE COLD WAR ERA 1950 TO 1973(cont.) SPECIAL PURPOSE OR MISSION RADIOS: R 350/OOAB This radio was designed to be used by Special Mission(SPETZNAZ) Troops who would be parachuted behind enemy lines and then direct bomber and air strikes in the enemy rear area. This is a very rare set and there are only 3 known to be in the USA. The Signal corps Museum has one, the Technical Intelligence Battalion has one and I have one. The set is completly self contained in a stamped aluminum case with a hinged lid. It is 34.2 x 31.5 x 15.2 Cm and has a weight of 11.35 Kg. The top cover unfolds to reveal the antenna rods, the ten plug in tramsmitter coil units, the key, the headphones, a swing out lamp and a maintenance kit. The set consists of the rechargeable accumulator, providing 4.8 VDC, the power converter, and the transmitter/receiver unit.The accumulator has a heating coil around it for use in sub zero weather conditions. The set is capable of CW transmission and can receive AM/CW/MCW. It operates in the frequency range of 1.8 to 12 MHz. for transmitting and 1.8 to 7 MHz in receive. It has continuous tuning and the RF Power output is 10 watts. In the search mode the RF power is 2.5 watts. It is now obsolete, having been replaced by the R 350M and later versions. R350M/OOAB An updated version of the R 350/OOAB set. R-671 R-673 (PRV, Melnik-after BC-779, Navy version) R-675 Onix(Navy synthesized SW) R-251 after E-52 SW R-252 after E-51 LW-MW R-310 after E-52 SW R-309 (Yachmen) after E-52 SW Amur(LW-MW synthesized, 1950's) Kalina(SW synthesized, 60's) The sets listed below seem to have been based on U.S. Lend Lease sets. Krot (KGB after E-52C) The E 52 was a German late war radio. KV ( After BC-779) KV-M ( After BC-779)1.5-12 MHz. Nickname Dahl KV-YA(Directon Finder) RAT radiotruck basic component Purga (After BC-779) Purga-45 (After BC-779) ARMORED VEHICLE RADIOS In the mid 1950’s the Russians fielded the T 54 tank and later the T 55 tank. These tanks had the R 113 FM set for vehicle to vehicle communication and some tanks had the R 311 , an AM set for monitoring higher level units transmissions. The next major tank to enter Russian service was the T 62 tank which had the R 123 FM radio transceiver. As T 62s began to fill the Soviet inventory, the T 54 and T 55 tanks were transferred to their allies. The T 72 began to replace the T 62.s and by the time of the 1973 mid-east wars, the T 62 was in Arab hands along with the R 113 radios and the R 311 AM sets. By the time Iraq and Iran went to war with each other, the T 72 tanks were being made in an export version. These tanks had the R 123 transceiver. The examples of these sets that I have were made in Russia , had Russian markings on the case and had English language labels pasted over the Russian lettering. R113 with R 120 Amplifier The R 113, or as the inscription in Russian cyrillic reads “P 113” set was a frequency modulated, detent tuned, transceiver with a frequency range of 20-22.375 MC. The R 113 requires a separate power source and there are two versions, The BP -2 A which operates from a 26 volt DC Source and the BP -2 B which operates from a 13 volt DC source. The operating voltage of the vehicle in which it is installed will determnne the unit which is used.as the power supply. There is a matrix behind the front panel which must be wired to match the voltage of the power supply. A complete station consist of the transceiver, the power suply and the antenna matching unit. The set has a transmitting range of 20 km (12.4 miles) with a power output of 16 watts. It has three modes of operation; listen only, transmit/receive and voice operated transmission . The radio has a modular design and can be repaired easily by replacing the defective module. Because of it’s limited frequency range, the R 113 can not net with some of the radios in the Soviet Army such as the R 105 and the R 108 back pack radios which were also supplied to the Iraquis.. This was the reason that it was replaced by the R 123. This set was normally used in conjunction with the R 120 vehicle intercom system which consisted of a tube amplifier, associated cabling and crew station junction boxes. The standard Soviet tankers helmet has a four pin connector which connects to a cable with a push to talk switch.. This cable is connected to the junction box. It is a quick disconnect system, similar to that found on most of the worlds tanks. The R 123 and R 123 M Transceivers.and R 124 Amplifier This is one of the newest FM sets to be issued to the Soviet forces. It is a compact transceiver that has a frequency range of 20 to 51.5 MC and can be continusoly tuned over the entire frequency range, and there is also a switch which allows the operator to select any one of four preset frquencies. There are two antennas for use with tis set, a four meter one for when the vehicle is in motion and a ten meter telescopic antenna for when the vehicle is used as a stationary command post. The R 123M has no internal speaker, therefor a headset/mike or CVC helmet must be used. Normally this is also done through an intercom system. The various voltages that are required to operate this set are supplied by a transistorized power supply. The set is capable of transmitting over a range of 16 to 55 Km (10 to 35 miles) depending on the type of antenna used. The set has excellent frequency stability and because of its modular design, repairs are easily accomplished by replacement of the defective module. Te set however has a problem in that the antenna loading indicators will give several different indications during the antenna loading procedure. It is therefore possile for an unskilled operator to load the antennas improperly and the set will transmit far below it’s maximum power out put. This set can be netted with several US set to include the AN/VRC 12 series of radios, the AN/PRC 77, the AN/PRR 9 and the AN/PRT 4 A. The R 123 has a voice operated mode(VOX) and the R 123M set does not have a VOX capability. This set had become the standard set of the Soviet and Warsaw pact armies before their collapse. It is also included in all armored vehicles that the Soviets exported. The sample in my collection was brought back from Desert Storm and had English language metal tags glued on over the Russian cyrillic writing. The glue did not hold up well in the desert heat and many were falling off. One is also forced to wonder what good are English language tags to an Iraqui tank crewman. This set is normally used with the R 124 intercom system, a fully transistorized replacement for the R 120. This is similar to the R 120 intercom system in that it consists of an amplifier, crew station juncton boxes, connecting cords and CVC helmets. The conncecting cords came in little leather pouches and I have samples of the push to talk switches both in Cyrillic and in English. AGENT RADIOS: NKVD Sets ( NKVD was replaced by the KGB) Nabala, This set, and the Beta sets consisted of a small transmitter, receiver and power supply. The power supply operated from a variety of power sources. The receivers were three tube radios and the transmitters were one tube radios. See the article in ELECTRIC RADIO. (They resemble our RS 6 Radio in size) Beta Set-See above Suitcase Radios (developed in the 1950-1960 time frame.) They were only made in 1957. As Serge explained it.” I' d say the suitcase radio is definitely not a serial military radio, due to it's hideous nature. It would have khaki color, strong metal case, etc. Instead, the set is looking like a civic thing. I dare say, it looks like an experimental spy radio. Basing on two units I have here, their quantity did not exceed 100. It was very small order, as you can judge yourself. Several people have been asked for it, and answers were, that a secret agent could use this radio for bombers control on VHF phone. An agent shall sit in a home with AC power line 90 to 240 VAC, and use a small VHF antenna, hung inside the room. I' d suggest it was 1957, a mad nuclear euphoria and horror amidst both our countries population. I think an agent of a sort of kamikaze would be planned to sit in New York or another huge town and call pilots of approaching waves of nuclear bombers. So the station's destination was planned as a single use and only switch-on once... Then we can understand why this station has unmasked open speech channels- just no need to cipher the message 5 minutes prior to nuclear explosions. Same reason why it doesn't have CW- speech is much faster and informative in such a critical situation! And we can also understand it's heaviness- 20 Kg, whereas spy radio shall be easily movable. Just this radio shall peacefully lay in a closet, looking like a suitcase, till a nuclear alarm is announced. Frequencies and mode types confirm that such a radio shall be used for military airborne contacts: 86,9 and 87,4 MHz AM/FM. Usage of this radio as a military thing inside of Russia doesn't exist. Maybe the KGB hoped to enhance the reliability of killing US President in a nuclear attack on Wash. DC, by placing some radio agents close to White House or another certain place. That time as you may remember, there was a challenge to USA by communist USSR just getting nuclear and H-bomb and nearly creating reliable strategic missile R7, developed from the Nazi V-2 . I think the suitcase radios lost their importance and actuality after strategic missiles had proven their accuracy and usefulness in early 60' s. Nabla and Beta Radios, if judging on the components, are of WWII or 1945...1949 age at least. Judging on octal tube sockets they may even be pre-WWII. THE WILLIAM L. HOWARD ORDNANCE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MUSEUM e-mail wlhoward@gte.net Telephone AC 727- 585-7756 *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOS? Hi Dennis, There are two excellent reference books on Russian equipment. I would say they are a must for anyone that is serious about these sets. They are: Nachrichtentechnik der Nationalen Volksarmee Teil 1 and 2 by Guenther Fietsch, DL9WSM. These books are not cheap and they are in German but they are very good. They also cover East German as well as Russian sets. I have a few comments and some questions about this very interesting article. >Patrol Radios: R 116 > The R 116 was one of the first Russian radios in the post war >period that resembled the WW II German “Dorette” and I suspect that it’s >design was heavily influenced by captured Dorettes. This radio is a vey >small, compact set, powered by batteries. It has the batteries and the >R/T unit in the same case. It is believed that this set was replaced by the Bill does not mention something very important about the R-116. It is an AM set, not FM. There is also a "Company/Battalion Radios" called the R-106 that is also AM. It is clear that these sets were replaced with the R-105 series radios. Does anyone have any idea why they were using AM? I have one of these sets* and a Dorette and they are nothing alike. * I am looking for a headset and antenna for the R-116. >R 126 > The R 126 which was first manufactured in 1962 is a ruggedly >constructed, light weight battery operated radio designed for short range >communication. It has a power output of 0.5 watts and a transmission >range of 2 to 4 Km (1 -2.5 miles) > The R 126 has a frequency range of 48.5 to 51.0 MHz and comes in >two versions, crystal controlled and continuous tune. The crystal controlled >version has three pre set frequencies. >From the manual on the R-126: 48.5-51.5 MHz, 31 channels, 100kHz spacing Range 1.5 km on the Kulikov whip and 4-5 km on a longwire antenna. Power output .36W This little package has 2 transistors and 11 tubes in it. The crystal controlled version has the model number R-352. It covers 44-50 MHz and puts out .8W. According to Fietsch's book the R-352 was used by parachute troops. >Company/Battalion Radios: >R105, R105D, R105M, R-108M, R-109M, R-114 > R-108M, R-109M, R-114 Does the R-114 have a D or M designation? >Receivers >R-250, R-250M, R-250M2, R-250, R-250M, R-250M2 Were the most prominent What is the difference between the R-250M and M2? I have found very little information on the M2 version. Tom Bryan tbryan@nova.org ed) I saw many areas in Bill's article that were lacking some of them were brought to his attention without receiving a response. Rather than re-writing his material, I opted to just edit it enough to make it marginally coherent hoping instead that some discussion might result. Thanks Tom for your input, and feel free to comment on any/all future material. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MRCG BANDPLAN, MUSCLING A PIECE OF THE ACTION (MRCG BANDPLAN) GETTING OURSELVES A SLICE OF THE WAVELENGTH PIE Hi Dennis and the group, I've been thinking about about when you said that we need to choose frequencies for our radios. How about a radical approach for the frequencies below 21.450: 160 Meters 1995 Kilocycles CW,AM 80 Meters through 10 Meters, use upper side band for our voice frequency. (how hard could it be for civilian radios to switch over?) I don't know what to say about frequencys, but I like the idea of having ONE MRCG calling frequency per band, used for any mode, thus occupying the extreme lower band edge of the voice portion of each band. Except 40, which is much too difficult for the likes of me to figure out which freq to use... Sean T. Kelly, sean_k@hotmail.com ed) I agree that whatever freqs we might delegate for our use they should be all mode, and that USB be the preferred side band. We must remember that these freqs must be arrived at only after very careful consideration. This because a preponderance of the radios that will be used on them will be xtal control, and our purpose in selecting specific freqs for our use should be based on this limited frequency agility. I/E we don't want to pick freqs only to have to move at a later date. It is also perfectly acceptable to operate AM radios at the same time as SSB, I've done it many times and it adds a certain element of fun. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use WD-40? Hey Dennis: I read an article in a current radio mag about fixing boatanchors. It said to use WD-40 (holy water) on the pots and tube shields. Is it O.K. to use the stuff on the outside too? I used some to take off some tape residue from my GRC-9 with good results, but some of it got on the window. Will it be O.K., ja think? Also, I could be coaxed into drafting replacement calibration charts for everyone's GRC-9, but they gotta chip in for the Leroy and pens. Maybe some of the engineers in the group know where some disused ones are, hmm? Sean T. Kelly, sean_k@hotmail.com ed) there is absolutely nothing wrong with using WD-40 anywhere in our radios except around sensitive frequency determining components(I/E a minimal residue will de-tune circuits). It's piss-poor at lubricating, or penetrating, but works well at cleaning, especially on controls. You don't wont to hose down the inside, or outside of your radio with it as any advantage is only temporary, and it's very faint residue will serve as a magnificent dust magnet. Also good for removing tape thickum and other gue is naptha(lighter fluid). *********************************************** Phil G. Goulding, Dead at 77; Viet Era Pentagon Spokesman Dies The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Phil G. Goulding, a one-time journalist who served as Pentagon spokesman during the Vietnam War era, died from cancer Tuesday at his home in Potomac, Md. He was 77. Goulding was selected by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to become deputy assistant secretary for public affairs in 1965. He moved to the post of chief spokesman two years later, also serving under Secretary Clark Clifford. In a book he wrote years later, Goulding acknowledged some of the misinformation that he had been given -- and had relayed -- as Defense Department spokesman during the war. ``I misled and misinformed the American people a good many times in a good many ways, through my own lack of foresight, through carelessness, through relaying incomplete information which the originators considered complete, through transmitting reports which had been falsified, deliberately, at lower levels,'' he wrote. After leaving the Pentagon in 1969, Goulding was a scholar for the Aspen Institute of Humanistic studies and vice president of a New York consulting firm. He also headed the Washington public affairs office of Burson- Marsteller, was a consultant to Exxon Corp. and was a vice president of the American Petroleum Institute. Goulding came to Washington as a reporter for Cleveland's The Plain Dealer, covering politics and specializing in national security coverage after serving in the Navy during World War II. Survivors include his wife and five children from his first marriage. His first marriage ended in divorce. *********************************************** NEW MEMBER; Perry Ballinger, W8AU Dennis: I am in agreement with your stated principles governing the group. I am not a dealer...and my MIL radio interests are in specific areas now, not everything in general....(not enough space). A very brief "profile." Licensed 1955 at age 14. (W8VYU) W8AU since 1976. Former USN/USNR ETCS. Collected Signal Corps/Army Air Corps radios until 5 years ago, mostly "cleaned out" by W8KBF and yellow sheet sales. Still have small stuff: BC611s, GRR-5, BC348, RT70, BC-1306, GRC-9, etc. Latest project: Replicate a WW2 Destroyer "Radio Central" (Fletcher Class) with TBK/TBM, TCS, RBA/RBB/RBC (RBM/RBS?) LM TCK? Standard Opr Desk w/xmtr Start/Stop/Key panel, Grey Underwood Mill, etc. Have 75% of necessary gear. Still looking..... Can append this at later date, but this is probably all anyone wants to know anyway! Looking forward to your next mailing. 73, Perry Ballinger, W8AU *********************************************** HUMOR; Airbone! A young man joined the Army and signed up with the paratroopers. He went through the standard Airborne training, completed the practice jumps from higher and higher structures, and finally went to take his first jump from an airplane. The next day he called home to his father to tell him the news. "So, did you jump?" his father asked excitedly. "Well, let me tell you what happened. We got up in the plane, and the sergeant opened up the door and asked for volunteers. About a dozen men got up and just walked out of the plane!" "Is that when you jumped?" asked the father. "Um, not yet. Then the sergeant started to grab the other men one at a time and throw them out the door." "Did you jump then?" asked the father. "I'm getting to that Everyone else had jumped, and I was the last man left on the plane. I told the sergeant that I was too scared to jump. He told me to get off the plane or he'd kick my ass." "So, did you jump?" "Not then. He tried to push me out of the plane, but I grabbed onto the door and refused to let go. Finally he called over to the Jump Master. The Jump Master is this great big guy, about six-foot five, and 250 pounds. He said to me, 'Boy, are you gonna jump or not?' "I said, 'No, sir. I'm too scared.'" "So the Jump Master pulled down his zipper and took his penis out. I swear, it was about twelve inches long and as big around as a baseball bat! "He said, 'Boy, either you jump out that door, or I'm sticking this baby up your ass.'" "So, did you jump?" asked the father. "Well, a little, at first..." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE QUESTIONS One day, a teacher, a garbage collector, and a lawyer all die and go to Heaven. St Peter's there and was having a bad day since heaven was getting crowded. When they get to the gate, St. Peter informed them that there will be a test to get in to Heaven. They each will have to answer a single question. To the teacher, he says, "What was the name of the ship that crashed into the iceberg and sunk with all its passengers?" The teacher thinks for a sec, and then replies: "That would have been the Titanic, right?" St. Peter lets him through the gate. St. Peter turns to the Garbage man, and figuring that Heaven doesn't REALLY need all the stink that this guy would bring into heaven, decides to make the question a little harder: "How many people died on the ship?" The garbage man guesses: "1228" St. Peter says: "That happens to be right, go ahead." St. Peter turns to the Lawyer: "Name them." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A mother was walking down the hall when she heard a humming sound coming from her daughters bedroom. When she opened the door she found her daughter naked on the bed with a vibrator. "What are you doing?" she exclaimed. The daughter replied, "I'm 35 and still living at home with my parents and this is the closest I'll ever get to a husband." Later that week the father was in the kitchen and heard a humming sound coming from the basement. When he went downstairs, he found his daughter naked on a sofa with her vibrator. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed. The daughter replied, "I'm 35 and still living at home with my parents and this is the closest I'll ever get to a husband." A couple of days later the mother heard the humming sound again, this time in the living room. Upon entering the room, she found her husband watching television with the vibrator buzzing away beside him. "What are you doing?" she asked. He replied, "Watching the game with my son-in-law." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACTUAL ADS FROM THE NEWSPAPER AMANA WASHER $100. OWNED BY CLEAN BACHELOR WHO SELDOM WASHED. SNOW BLOWER FOR SALE...ONLY USED ON SNOWY DAYS. FREE PUPPIES...PART GERMAN SHEPHERD PART DOG WIRE MESH BUTCHERING GLOVES, 1 5-finger, 1 3-finger, PAIR: $15 BLACK FACE COWS, CALVES... ALSO 1 GAY BULL FOR SALE. DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOUR VALENTINE - HAVE YOUR SEPTIC TANK PUMPED. FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 COCKER SPANIEL - 1/2 SNEAKY NEIGHBOR DOG FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER. 8 YEARS OLD. UNPLEASANT LITTLE DOG. GERMAN SHEPHERD. 85 lbs. NEUTERED. SPEAKS GERMAN. FREE. FULL SIZED MATTRESS. 20 YR WARRANTY. LIKE NEW. SLIGHT URINE SMELL. FOR SALE: LEE MAJORS (6 MILLION DOLLAR MAN) - $50 NORDIC TRACK $300 - HARDLY USED - CALL CHUBBIE at: BILL'S SEPTIC CLEANING - "WE HAUL AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS" SHAKESPEARE'S PIZZA - FREE CHOPSTICKS FOUND: DIRTY WHITE DOG...LOOKS LIKE A RAT...BEEN OUT AWHILE... BETTER BE A REWARD. GET A LITTLE JOHN - THE TRAVELING URINAL - HOLDS 2 1/2 BOTTLES OF BEER. HARRISBURG POSTAL EMPLOYEES GUN CLUB GEORGIA PEACHES - CALIFORNIA GROWN - 89 cents lb. CUTE KITTEN FOR SALE, 2 CENTS OR BEST OFFER NICE PARACHUTE - NEVER OPENED - USED ONCE - SLIGHTLY STAINED NOTICE: TO PERSON OR PERSONS WHO TOOK THE LARGE PUMPKIN ON HIGHWAY 87 NEAR SOUTHRIDGE STORAGE. PLEASE RETURN THE PUMPKIN AND BE CHECKED. PUMPKIN MAY BE RADIOACTIVE. ALL OTHER PLANTS IN VICINITY ARE DEAD. THE MOST ROMANTIC LOVE SONGS OF THE 60's, : INCLUDING "16 TONS" BY TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD EXERCISE EQUIPMENT QUEEN SIZE MATTRESS & BOX SPRING - $175. JOINING NUDIST COLONY, MUST SELL WASHER & DRYER - $300. OPEN HOUSE - BODY SHAPERS TONING SALON - FREE COFFEE & DONUTS FATHERS DAY SALE: TAMPAX TAMPONS $5.99 1 MAN, 7 WOMAN HOT TUB -- $850/offer TICKLE ME ELMO, STILL IN BOX, COMES WITH IT'S OWN 1988 MUSTANG, 5L, AUTO, EXCELLENT CONDITION $6800 TICKLE ME ELMO. NEW IN BOX. HARDLY TICKLED. $700 SOFT & GENITAL BATH TISSUES OR FACIAL TISSUE - 89 cents PRESIDENT'S CHOICE - COW MANURE - 2 33lb bags - $5 TIRED OF WORKING FOR ONLY $9.75 PER HOUR? WE OFFER PROFIT SHARING AND FLEXIBLE HOURS. STARTING PAY:$7 - $9 PER HOUR. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- During a recent publicity outing, Hillary sneaked off to visit a fortune teller of some local repute. In a dark and hazy room, peering into a crystal ball, the mystic delivered grave news. "There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just be blunt: Prepare yourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year." Visibly shaken, Hillary stared at the woman's lined face, then at the single flickering candle, then down at her hands. She took a few deep breaths to compose herself. She simply had to know. She met the fortune teller's gaze, steadied her voice, and asked her question. "Will I be acquitted?" *********************************************** (The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher or this group are included. For more information conserning this group contact Dennis Starks at, military-radio-guy@juno.com) ***********************************************