From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#1 Fcc: Sent Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 05:15:47 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Aug.27/99 Message-ID: <19990827.051456.4335.3.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Aug.27/99 Index: ARMY VERSUS NAVY; Part I, Some Reasoning, by Dennis Starks MEMBERS WRITE; Tactical Satcom Info Wanted, TAPS; HUMOR; *********************************************** ARMY VERSUS NAVY; Part I, Some Reasoning, by Dennis Starks We do not know much about the development of Naval radio equipment in the 1930's, but we do know several things. They had realized the necessity of radio long before the Signal Corps. They had the money to spend on their global requirements. They were not hampered by the maze of developmental, & procurement red tape that the Army was. Nor the interdepartmental bickering. They did not have the luxury of messenger or wire line traffic handling. On the other hand, Signal Corps development of radio has been well documented. We know that the 1930's U.S. Army was a very small one, limited to a continental force with limited funds. While the Signal Corps had realized the potential of radio, they still depended largely on the luxury of wire line, and ground messenger systems. Constant cutbacks in funds to allow for domestic programs during the depression had left the Army woefully lacking in both men and equipment. Even after a specific need could be addressed, the development of an item of equipment was grossly hampered by the inability on the various Army departments to agree on a design, or concept. Even once this design/concept had been agreed on, exhaustive testing over a protracted period of time often left an item of equipment obsolete by the time of it's final adoption. This problem was so acute that often times a "Stop Gap" had to be adopted for use while development of the desired system was continued. This "Stop Gap" might then overshadow that system it was only intended to stand in for, resulting in the abandonment of the original. This indeed happened several times. The legendary Hallicrafters HT-4 transmitter(BC-610) for instance was originally adopted only as a "Stop Gap"! Most interesting is the fact that the radio set that the HT-4 was adopted to temporarily stand in for, was also under development by Hallicrafters under Signal Corps supervision! Perhaps the Army should have just left them alone, or followed the Navy's example and taken what was offered in the first place! Perhaps this bureaucratic foot dragging, and red tape was the result of those limited funds available, and with that, the desire to do the job right the first time. This because whatever decisions were made, right, or wrong, they would be stuck with for a long time. But then, the same attitudes, and practices would still exist 20 years later with a large Army having seemingly unlimited funds. The Navy was not hampered by a multitude of separate departments all haggling over how to fill a specific requirement. The Navy Department Bureau of Ships was able to address a need, then either develop a solution, or purchase one ready made off the shelf with a minimum of testing or field trials. As a result, their equipment was the nerest to "state of the art" because it's arrival in the field had not been delayed by years of development and field trials. Indeed, history will show that the most successful radio systems used were simply purchased ready made with only the simplest of refinements made after testing. And not just in the 30's, but event to this day! The Navy apparently realized how extremely competitive the electronic industry was, and that a particular company could only hope to sell them equipment of the most advance design. They could try what was offered, compare it with others, like it and buy it, or go for the competitions offering. They knew that whatever was offered them, they could suggest modifications that would allow the equipment to better suite their needs. These suggestions would in turn entice industry to further refine systems on their own. To the Signal Corps however, nothing seemed ever good enough. They preferred instead to dictate to industry what they would make, and how they would make it regardless of whether or not the state of technology was at a level to allow. As a result, they often missed the boat entirely. But they did do some good! We have them to thank for FM. But then, is it to them, or the efforts of civilian industry that we owe thanks? I think the latter! The above has been presented in an attempt to show some of the differences between Navy & Army procurement practices & problems, and with that, why one was sometimes more successful than the other. The Army tended to dictate to industry some unrealistic goals for an item of equipment, often times, long before technology had advanced far enough to allow such a device to exist within their design requirements. Then spend years trying to make it happen, and more years testing it or trying to make it work. The Navy on the other hand was content to look at what industry had to offer, suggest some refinements, then buy it! As a result, the Navy usually had state of the art equipment in hand, rather than trying to dictate what that state of the art was. Surely enough, the Army would find itself following the Navy's lead on more than just a few occasions, and adopt what the Navy had already fielded and proven a viable system. This was especially true in the early years as it applies to avionics, and would extend to ground equipment in years to come. Now with all that out of the way, the next part of this series well begin a late 1930'so with a "Tit for Tat" comparison of the radio equipment used by the Signal Corps, and it's closest Naval counterpart. Ground equipment first, then aircraft. As my expertise are minimal in the area aircraft communications equipment, I've enlisted the help of a couple of our more knowledgeable members, which in turn touched off a heated debate now going on. I was advised to tone down the introduction to this series so as not to aggravate members more slanted towards the Signal Corps. My response was, "I present the truth as best I know it, based on official documents and personal observations, if this touches off a war, good! We might then learn even more!" We invite your comments at all times. Dennis Starks; Collector/Historian Midwest Military Communications Museum email: military-radio-guy@juno.com *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; Tactical Satcom Info Wanted, I would like to learn more about this aspect of military communications. Does anybody know where I might find more on this subject than would be published in Janes? Thank you. Alan ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis, I received the headphones in excellent condition. It was worth the price just to crack open the pristine packaging and get a whiff of 48 year old air... smelled like church.. maybe it was a religious experience! Thanks, Wes *********************************************** TAPS; It all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The captain lit a lantern. Suddenly he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy has been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals. "TAPS" Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lakes, From the hills From the sky All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. *********************************************** HUMOR; COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM FOR STUDENT ATHLETES Time Limit: 3 WEEKS 1. What language is spoken in France? 2. Give a dissertation on the ancient Babylonian Empire with particular reference to architecture, literature, law and social conditions -OR- Give the first name of Pierre Trudeau. 3. Would you ask William Shakespeare to ____ (a) build a bridge ____ (b) sail the ocean ____ (c) lead an army or ____ (d) WRITE A PLAY 4. What religion is the Pope? (check only one) ____ (a) Jewish ____ (b) Catholic ____ (c) Hindu ____ (d) Polish ____ (e) Agnostic 5. Metric conversion. How many feet is 0.0 meters? 6. What time is it when the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 5? 7. How many commandments was Moses given? (approximately) 8. What are people in America's far north called? ____ (a) Westerners ____ (b) Southerners ____ (c) Northerners 9. Spell -- Bush, Carter and Clinton Bush: __________________________ Carter: __________________________ Clinton: __________________________ 10. Six kings of England have been called George, the last one being George the Sixth. Name the previous five. 11. Where does rain come from? ____ (a) Macy's ____ (b) Kmart ____ (c) Canada ____ (d) the sky 12. Can you explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity? ____ (a) yes ____ (b) no 13. What are coat hangers used for? 14. The Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem for what country? 15. Explain Le Chateliers Principle of Dynamic Equilibrium -OR- spell your name in BLOCK LETTERS. 16. Where is the basement in a three story building located? 17. Which part of America produces the most oranges? ____ (a) New York ____ (b) Florida ____ (c) Canada ____ (d) Wisconsin 18. Advanced math. If you have three apples, how many apples do you have? 19. What does NBC (National Broadcasting Corp.) stand for? 20. The Cornell University tradition for efficiency began when (approximately)? ____ (a) B.C ____ (b) A.D. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Complete Idiots More Evidence That This World Is Full Of Complete Idiots The Chico, California, City Council enacted a ban on nuclear weapons, setting a $500 fine for anyone detonating one within city limits. Police in Wichita, Kansas, arrested a 22-year-old man at an airport hotel after he tried to pass two (counterfeit) $16 bills. A company trying to continue its five-year perfect safety record showed its workers a film aimed at encouraging the use of safety goggles on the job. According to Industrial Machinery News, the film's depiction of gory industrial accidents was so graphic that twenty-five workers suffered minor injuries in their rush to leave the screening room. Thirteen others fainted, and one man required seven stitches after he cut his head falling off a chair while watching the film. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Everybody on earth dies and goes to heaven. God comes and says, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men that dominated their women on earth and the other line for the men that were dominated by their women. Also, I want all the women to go with St. Peter." With that said and done, the next time God looked, the women are gone and there are two lines. The line of the men that were dominated by their women was 100 miles long, and in the line of men that dominated their women, there was only one man. God got mad and said,"You men should be ashamed of yourselves. I created you in my image and you were all whipped by your mates. Look at the only one of my sons that stood up and made me proud. Learn from him! Tell them my son, how did you manage to be the only one in this line?" And the man replied, "I don't know, my wife told me to stand here." ----------------------------------------------------------------- A teacher noticed that a little boy at the back of the class was squirming around, scratching his crotch and not paying attention. She went back to find out what was going on. He was quite embarrassed and whispered that he had just recently been circumcised and he was quite itchy. The teacher told him go down to the principal's office, phone his mother, and ask her what he should do about it. He did it and he returned to the classroom, where he sat down in his seat. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the back of the room. She went back to investigate only to find him sitting at his desk with his penis hanging out. "I thought I told you to call your mom," she screamed. "I did," he said, "and she told me that if I could stick it out till noon, she'd come and pick me up from school." ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Ages of Woman: 1. Between the ages of 13 and 18, she is like Africa, virgin and unexplored. 2. Between the ages of 19 and 35, she is like Asia, hot and exotic. 3. Between the ages of 36 and 45, she is like America, fully explored,breathtakingly beautiful, and free with her resources. 4. Between the ages of 46 and 56 she is like Europe, exhausted but still has points of interest. 5. After 56 she is like Australia; everybody knows it's down there but who gives a damn? The Ages of Man: 1. Between 16 and 26: Tri-weekly 2. Between 27 and 46: Try weekly 3. Over 47: Try weakly *********************************************** 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 concerning this group or membership contact Dennis Starks at, . A list of selected articles of interest to members can be seen at: http://www.softcom.net/users/buzz/backmail.html ***********************************************