From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#2 Fcc: Sent Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 03:30:40 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Oct.20/98 Message-ID: <19981020.032945.11079.3.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Oct.20/98 Index: RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES IN SERVICE WITH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE; MEMBERS WRITE; More Web Site Input, Chuck Got His GRC-9, HUMOR; *********************************************** RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES IN SERVICE WITH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE; Dennis, I found this on the Web at: http://www.milparade.ru/28/098.htm The web version has pictures. Tom Ivan Petrov Major General (Ret.) Ivan Ya. Petrov, retired Major General, was born in 1915. In 1936, he graduated from the Leningrad Military Communications School and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In the same year, he was commissioned to continue service in Moscow with the Intelligence Department of the People's Defense Committee. He took part in combat operations at the Khalkhin-Gol river. During World War II and afterward, he was chief of the radio node of the Leningrad front intelligence, then he was appointed chief of separate radio nodes in Ufa and Chita. In 1949, he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy (intelligence department) and then occupied various positions at the Main Intelligence Department (GRU), including the position of the chief of the radio communications service of military intelligence. In 1962, he was promoted to major general. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War, Grades I and II, two Orders of the Red Star and many medals. Presently, he is a member of the Council of Veterans of Military Intelligence. This information about military intelligence communication facilities is made public for the first time. Earlier, such materials were categorized "Top secret." The editorial staff extends gratitude to the author of this article. During a war, military intelligence relies entirely on the timely reception of information from secret agents and organizations working abroad or behind enemy lines. Data mining and routing to the appropriate level of command make up the intelligence gathering process. The techniques used presently to pass intelligence are as follows. A "source" of intelligence information can meet personally with an undercover agent or send information via a third person (go-between), information can be cached or transmitted by means of various technical facilities. The most reliable and fastest method, however, is to communicate by radio. When employed to gather intelligence, radio communication can be two-way (the operator is equipped with a transceiver) or one-way (the operator is equipped with either a receiver or a transmitter). In all instances, while organizing radio communications links, one must appraise all the details of the situation in which a secret service agent is to work abroad or in enemy territory and his undercover status in a certain place. A radio set for communication with the intelligence center should be small, lightweight, easy to operate, reliable and suitable for transportation, storage and operation in a city and outside. In the early years of military intelligence, radio sets for contact with intelligence centers were often assembled by secret agents themselves from radio components bought at local markets. Although the performance characteristics of such radio sets were low, roughly on the level of radio amateurs' sets, they were successfully used by radio operators such as Max Clauzen (Richard Sorge's station), Ursula Hamburger (Sonya's station) and Ginyu Stoinov and Svoboda Ancheva (Geno's station). In the countries where intelligence was gathered, radio transmitters were mainly set up, while radio receivers were bought at local markets and adapted to receive the Morse code in the CW on-off keying mode. The radio transmitters were rated at 10 to 12 W and weighed 5 to 7 kg. Using such a transmitter, Richard Sorge sent to the intelligence center the information regarding the time Germany was planning to attack the Soviet Union and about Japan's preparations for war against the Soviet Union. A great number of radio messages were received in the prewar period from European countries. For example, in December 1940, Dora informed the Soviet command of the deployment of 230 German divisions, including 150 divisions in full combat readiness close to the Soviet Union's border, and the approximate time of the invasion. The PP-16, Belka and Omega were the first radio sets used by military intelligence in the prewar period and at the beginning of the war. A limited number of these radio sets were manufactured by a military intelligence research institute. Omega was the best. It weighed about 3 kg and had a power output of 1.3 W. The radio set was a little larger in size than a standard telephone set and its operating range was up to 300 km. At the outbreak of World War II, military intelligence and guerrillas raised their activities. In the territory occupied by German troops, a great number of intelligence, saboteur and guerrilla units (groups, detachments, operational centers and large formations) started their activities. Naturally, the need arose to sharply increase the output of more reliable radio sets. In mid-1941, designer B. Mikhalin completed development of a radio set, dubbed Sever, on the basis of Omega. Its production was launched at the Kozitsky plant in besieged Leningrad. In December 1941, only 300 radio sets were produced, but during 1942 the number reached 2000 sets a month. Powered by the BAS-80 or BAS-60 dry batteries, this small portable 1.2 W radio set weighing 3 kg became popular with intelligence agents and guerrillas. It provided a communication range of up to 400 km and even more under favorable conditions. Upon the commissioning of the radio set, it became possible for the Soviet command not only to receive intelligence in good time from agents stationed behind enemy lines but also to determine the areas of activities of intelligence and guerrillas, assign missions to them, coordinate their actions with the army units, provide them with the required supplies and evacuate the wounded and the sick. The Sever radio set was also used for other purposes. For example, all negotiations concerned with the arrival in Moscow of officials of the Polish Provisional Government from Nazi territory were conducted over this radio set. In all, more than 7,000 Sever radio sets were supplied to agents and guerrillas who operated in the territory occupied by the Germans. During the war, for communication at ranges of up to 2,500 km, military intelligence used the Tenzor radio set and the Dzhek transmitter. Tenzor was a small-size portable three-unit radio set that drew power from AC mains. It weighed 7 kg and had a 45 W transmitter. The 50 W Dzhek transmitter was composed of two units with a total weight of about 10 kg. It also was supplied with power from AC mains. Before and during the war, all of the radio sets were operated in the audio search mode. Use was made of a telegraph key and Morse code. Radio link-ups were fairly long, permitting the enemy to intercept the transmitted information and even pinpoint the location of the transmitter. This generated a need for more advanced principles of radio communication and better performance characteristics of transmitters. After making a thorough analysis of the experience gained by the end of the war, a decision was made to reject transmission of information by Morse code in favor of fast-acting telegraphy using various types of signal modulation (amplitude, frequency and phase) and replace audible reception of Morse code by automatic reception and recording. As a consequence, these measures presented a severe problem to an enemy's radio countermeasures elements and made radio communication more reliable. One of the first radio sets designed to meet the above requirements was Atom. Although the search method of establishing contact with the other party was still used on this radio set, the data transmission rate grew to 150 five-digit groups per minute. The transmitted information wasaccumulated on a storage device whose working element was photographic film. Digital groups (message) were punched on it in response to the transmitted Morse code. To send out the text, the film was passed through a sensing device rotated manually by a handle. This small-size radio set was equipped with a 35 W transmitter and operated from the AC mains. The weight of the set was 8 kg and its operating range was about 3,000 km. The postwar generation of radio sets were noted for the higher performance characteristics. They featured high telegraphy speed and searchless method of tuning to the desired radio center, which required no trimming and which made it possible to reduce by an order of magnitude the duration of contact and thus make communication less vulnerable to countermeasures. A typical model of such radio sets was called Elektron. It could operate both from the AC mains and storage batteries and had a transmitter delivering the output power of 50 W. The weight of the set that used the AC mains as a power source was 8 kg and the weight of the set powered by storage batteries was 10 kg. The set could transmit 250 to 500 groups per minute over a range of up to 3,000 km. This radio set was successfully used for radio communication from Japan. In addition, such radio sets as R-350 (Orel), R-353 (Proton), R-354 (Shmel) were developed and adopted for service. At first, the Orel radio set was used most extensively. The performance characteristics of this radio set permitted its use in establishing communication with frontal reconnaissance communications nodes that were outfitted with the appropriate equipment. The equipment of the communications nodes could automatically retune transmitters and receivers to 10 preset frequencies. This considerably reduced the time of radio sessions and accelerated information transmission. The information was stored on a standard 35 mm film. The message was transmitted at a rate of 150 groups per minute. The information received at the communications node was recorded on a disc-type tape recorder. The radio set was equipped with a 3.5 W transmitter and weighed 13 kg. It could operate both from the AC mains and from storage batteries, including those of vehicles. Another radio set, called Zemlya, was regarded as a more advanced model. In the training of personnel, there was no need for a trainee to learn Morse code and possess skills in searching for signals transmitted by a communications node, as he could read on a display the frequency to which his transmitter was to be tuned and, moreover, he could see on that same display the various commands transmitted by the intelligence center. Information was stored on a magnetic tape and transmitted to the communications node at a high rate (a message consisting of 300 groups of five-digit text could be transmitted within a few seconds). The transmitter power was 75 W and the weight of the entire set was 14 kg. To provide communication over a distance of 10,000 to 12,000 km, the Irkut radio set was adopted for service. Much like Zemlya, this radio set worked in a searchless mode and the incoming commands could be read on a display. Information was stored on a magnetic tape and transmitted to the center at a rate of several hundred groups per minute. The transmitter was rated at 180 to 250 W and the entire radio set weighed 15 kg. The Irkut radio set was employed in the rear of American troops in Vietnam. With advances made in science, technology and electronics, radio communications equipment used by military intelligence improved. These radio sets are just a small fraction of the equipment that was used by military intelligence in the past. Simultaneously with the development of new radio sets, the equipment mounted at intelligence centers was upgraded. Powerful transmitters, highly sensitive receivers and highly effective directional antenna systems were installed. For each type of new radio set, the specific equipment was installed at an intelligence center. This equipment was designed for automatic reception and analysis of the incoming information. Depending on the season and time of the day, prior to transmitting or receiving the information, the ionosphere was probed by the sounding equipment installed at radio nodes to determine optimal operating frequencies. Fast-acting facilities and computers used by military intelligence have considerably improved reliability, effectiveness and invulnerability of radio communication, thus contributing materially to the efficiency of military intelligence as a whole. Copyright Military Parade JSC, 1998. *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; More Web Site Input, Hi Dennis, There is a nice military radio collectors website (for the non-webimpaired in the Group). It is in Japanese but the pictures come through fine. http://www.angel.ne.jp/~sgk1sig/index.html They even have a little information on the SEM-52. http://www.angel.ne.jp/~sgk1sig/sem.html Tom Bryan tbryan@nova.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chuck Got His GRC-9, Dennis, Just a quick note to update progress on the Angry 9. Mine is a Crosley and fortunately the serial numbers of transmitter/receiver match the one on the case. The case was pretty badly dented but some careful "peening" has it back to reasonable shape and ready for some new paint on the outside. I tackled the receiver first since the power supply for the GRC-109 provides correct voltages thru cord CD-1119. First order of business was to replace the bias cell which had corroded pretty badly. I was able to open the old battery plastic case and after cleanup, I wired button cells in series to obtain correct voltage and re-used it. Makes the set look authentic. The power connector is broken, but a replacement from a parts set is on the way and will be installed. Meanwhile, I used the old connector and got power to the set. Tested all tubes and used De-Ox-It to clean switch contacts and tube socket pins. A caution here to all who are restoring these. Verify that the band- change switches are free and well-lubricated before twisting them. You could break a wafer switch if sudden torque is applied to a frozen switch wafer. I made resistance checks next and found that most resistors were within their tolerance specs and only a few are marginal. I'll replace them at some future date or when alignment process proves its needed. After a good cleaning all over, especially the front panel, the receiver looks almost new. An added treat is that the cleaned panels glow in the dark. You can clearly see everything needed to operate the set in total darkness. Applied power------no smoke or sizzle---------and the thing came to life. Receives well on all 3 bands with sufficient volume to drive a loudspeaker. I don't believe in re-alignment just for the sake of doing it unless someone else has twisted and turned the adjustables until it won't play. Tweaking is good enuf, and then only when a major component has been replaced. I will tweak this beast when the whole set is completed. The fact that it played with only minor work is a tribute to its original builders and to those who serviced it over the years. I have been able to collect several items for the Angry9 in order to replicate the picture on page 31 of TM-11-263. Some GRC-9 items are still available from FAIR. I need only the Guy wire (GY-12) and the leg key to complete the setup. The goal is to put the beast on the air and display it at Field Day next year. Next step is the transmitter. More on this at a later date. Chuck Milton, KF4LYF cemilton@aol.com ed)Steve Haney was selling us brand new in rap leg iron CW keys for $25. He may have some left. I'd get a couple, their good stuff! The GRC-9 is a very fine radio, and as you say, if nobodies been in there dickin around, they work! Most often the only thing that need been done is aline rec MO tracking. *********************************************** HUMOR; This story is a credit to all human kind. Read it, soak it in, and bask in the warm feeling that it leaves you with. "A Heartwarming Story" It was forwarded by someone who teaches at a junior high school in Memphis, Tennessee; the letter was sent to the principal's office after the school had sponsored a luncheon for the elderly. Dear Reyer School: God bless you for the beautiful radio I won at your recent senior citizen's luncheon. I am 84 years old and live at the county home for the aged. All my people are gone. It's nice to know that someone thinks of me. God bless you for your kindness to an old forgotten lady. My roommate is 95 and always had her own radio, but would never let me listen to it. The other day her radio fell and broke into a lot of pieces. It was awful. She asked if she could listen to mine, and I said fuck you. Sincerely, Edna Johnston ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Clinton is out jogging around in some of the seedier areas of Washington D.C. He notices a good looking prostitute. She sees this and calls out "Fifty dollars!" He's tempted, but the price is a little high so he calls back "Five!" She's disgusted and turns away and Bill continues his jog. A few days later, he finds himself jogging in the same area and as luck would have it, the prostitute is still there. But she won't come down on her price. "Fifty!" she shouts. Bill answers her "Five!" No sale. About a week later, Hillary has decided that she wants to get into shape so she demands to go jogging with Bill. They get to the seedy part of town and the same prostitute is still there. She eyes Bill and Hillary together and yells "See what you get for five dollars!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A couple went on vacation to a fishing resort up north. The husband liked to fish at the crack of dawn; the wife preferred to read. One morning the husband returned after several hours of fishing and decided to take a short nap. The wife decided to take the boat out. She was not familiar with the lake so she rowed out, anchored the boat, and started reading her book. Along comes the sheriff in his boat, pulls up alongside and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?" "Reading my book," she replies as she thinks to herself, 'Is this guy blind, or what?' "You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her. "But, Officer, I'm not fishing. Can't you see that?" "But you have all this equipment, Ma'am. I'll have to take you in and write you up." "If you do that I will charge you with rape," snaps the irate woman. "I didn't even touch you," grouses the sheriff. "Yes, that's true....but you have all the equipment..." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleven Reasons E-Mail is Like a Penis 11. Those who have it would be devastated if it was ever cut off. 10. Those who have it think that those who don't are somehow inferior. 9. Those who don't have it may agree that it's neat, but think it's not worth the fuss that those who have it make about it. 8. Many of those who don't have it would like to try it, a phenomenon psychologists call *E-Mail Envy.* 7. It's more fun when it's up, but this makes it hard to get any real work done. 6. In the distant past, its only purpose was to transmit information vital to the survival of the species. Some people still think that's the only thing it should be used for, but most folks today use it mostly for fun. 5. If you don't take proper precautions, it can spread viruses. 4. If you use it too much, you'll find it becomes more and more difficult to think coherently. 3. We attach an importance to it that is far greater than its actual size and influence warrant. 2. If you're not careful what you do with it, it can get you into a lot of trouble. And the number one reason Why E-Mail is Like a Male Reproductive Organ: 1. If you play with it too much, you go blind.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A man and his wife are spending the day at the zoo. She's wearing a cute, loose-fitting, pink spring dress, sleeveless with straps. As they walk through the ape exhibit, they pass in front of a very large hairy gorilla. Noticing the girl, the gorilla goes ape. (No pun intended, really!) He jumps up on the bars, and holding on with one hand and both feet, grunts and pounds his chest with his free hand, obviously excited at the pretty lady in the wavy dress. The husband, noticing the excitement, thinks this is funny. He suggests his wife tease the poor fellow some more. The husband suggests she pucker her lips, wiggle her bottom at him, and play along. She does, and the gorilla gets even more excited, making noises that would wake the dead. Then t he husband suggests that she let one of her straps fall to show a little more skin. She does and, again, the gorilla is about to tear the bars down. "Now try lifting your dress up your thighs and sort of fan it at him," he says. This drives the gorilla absolutely crazy. Then the husband nabs his wife by the hair, rips open the door to the cage, slings her in with the gorilla and slams the cage door shut. "Now, tell him you have a headache." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMAN Compliment her cuddle her kiss her caress her love her stroke her tease her comfort her protect her hug her hold her spend money on her dine her buy things for her listen to her care for her stand by her support her go to the ends of the earth for her HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN: Show up naked Bring Beer *********************************************** (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) ***********************************************