From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#3 Fcc: Sent Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 06:48:44 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, July 29/99 Message-ID: <19990729.064730.12359.2.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, July 29/99 Index: ELECTRONIC COUNTER MEASURES IN W.W.II; The RCM Program by Pete. D. Williams VK3IZ MEMBERS WRITE; Marine Corps PRC-68B? HT-4 Goes to War? NEW MEMBER; Bruce Gentry HUMOR; *********************************************** ELECTRONIC COUNTER MEASURES IN W.W.II; The RCM Program by Pete. D. Williams VK3IZ The development of R.C.M(Radio Counter Measures). WW 2 had its beginnings when the practice of "seeing" with radio energy i.e. radar was being developed, refined and implemented on both sides of the Channel. The mid 1930's set the scene for defence (R.A.F.) to look for a means of improving home defences - a deteriorating international situation stimulated the action. Direction finding was one suggestion - radar came of age in 1936 when a bomber was detected during the first trial at a distance of 8 miles. One year later, the system was detecting aircraft at 100 miles using, in both cases, a short wave transmitter. Naturallly, the benefits of this development were translated into a form usable by Fighter Command, with consideration given to the way in which an enemy could interfere with such a system. On the other side of Europe, the German Navy signal research dept. had a fully developed Freya system operational and installed at the end of 1936, with a range of 50 miles, used by both Navy and Airforce. At the outbreak of war, Britain was essentially on the defensive and use of counter-measures was in this vein. The story of "the beams" - German blind-bombing devices (X-Gerat and Knickerbein) has been well documented in story and film, as has the tale of British modified diathermy machines to transmit a mush of noise over the Knickebein frequencies to minimise the enemy's system. Before developing "jammers", the Research Establishment had to know what it was to jam. The Freya system used by the Navy was confirmed as a radar when the "Graf Spee" was examined, partly sunk in the River Plate. Operating frequency was not definitely known until a reconnaissance Spitfire photographed the antenna array which defined the frequency of about 120mc. Twenty- seven locations were subsequently identified along the western seaboard of Europe. A second radar proved to be more difficult - the Wurzburg set at Bruneval on the coast had been identified but lacked important information on frequency. A daring parachutist raid on Bruneval produced one operator, the radar receiver, modulator, transmitter and antenna dipole. Frequency of this one was found to be 520 mc. Although the enemy's capabilities were partially revealed, inertia by the authorities gave the Germans a tremendous advantage, highlighted by the sailing back to German waters of the cruisers "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau", under the nose of the British, assisted in no small part by the jamming of the British radar. Faced with this embarrassment, the authorities were forced to develop the RCM program. In the air, means had to be found to counter the enemy's electronic aids, as the rising losses were directly related to German radio and radar aids which had been incorporated into their defensive system. Conservative Bomber Command until now, had maintained that radio silence must be kept to operate successfully, but the introduction of navigation aids to overcome problems experienced by bomber crews meant that the radio silence had to be broken by transmissions both to and from aircraft. These truths eventually resulted in acceptance by Bomber Command of RCM, although Fighter Command had already enthusiastically endorsed it. Early RCM - Early counter measures and the first offensive jammer, "Moonshine", came directly from the technology developed during the Battle of the Beams(Knickebein). Spurious returns on the enemy's Freya Radar were worked by re-transmitting the apparent echo. The resulting blip had the appearance of an extremely large target or of a compact formation of several aircraft-one A/C carrying "Moonshine" could appear as several and a group, the appearance of a sizeable aid! Early in 1940 another development was beacon masking or MEACON, which picked up the enemy signals and re-transmitted them exactly in phase - aircrews' faith in their navigation beam, thus distorted, would be considerably reduced. Additional confusion was created by adding an extra crew member- who could speak German and was trained in verbal jamming - to the standard Lancaster bombers. Issuing contradictory instructions, purporting to come from a German fighter controller, assisted the electronic jamming procedures. This technique was limited for fear that the true target might be inadvertently revealed. The reticence of Bomber Command to embrace the benefits of RCM was finally overcome in December 1943 when "over-riding priority in labour and materials over all conflicting claims," should be given to the necessary electronic equipment. Subsequently a variety of aircraft was employed with specific functions/equipment to minimise enemy perception, once frequencies and operating details were known. Devices - Jamming: Some produced electronic noise and others audio to disrupt R/T traffic. Listed alphabetically and used with varying success are some of the following with their code names. Airborne Cigar - disrupted R/T channels on spot frequencies 38-42, 30-33 or 48-52mc. Used 3x50 watt transmitter 1260B, three antennas, 3 power units and a whip antenna for the receiver. The jamming signal was a musical, warbling note. American Mandrel - used to jam the enemy EW radar 85-135 mc band (Freya etal). It had a modulator, tx, power pack in a single unit and a dipole antenna. The transmitter was pretuned to a 10 mc band within the operating range. 2 watts output, only used for a short time. Service designation was RC 183A/T1661. It was also modified to cover 63-203mc. Carpet 11 - used for jamming Wurzberg radars 300-600mc. It used a TR1621 tx/rx. Type 210 indicator and Type 315 1/4 wave antenna. Noise modulated jamming was transmitted for 8 minutes after a search sweep identified a radar. RAF designation was ARI 5549. Carpet 111 (US designation AN/APQ-9 and AN/APR-4) Designed to spot radar in 475-585mc band. Three of the tx were used with an AN/APR-4 rx. The operator swept 300-1000 mc band - semi automatic, and if radar were found, one of the transmitters was tuned to the frequency and the signal was jammed. ed) note, originally, the APR-4 was supplied with a set of tuning units, each covering only a small portion of the 30-1000mc range, and most require it's operator to manually sweep across it's frequency range. Towards the later part of the war some tuning units were supplied with motor drive. The last innovation was the CV-253/ALR which covered the entire 30-1000mc range with a single 4 band tuning unit.This tuning unit was motor drive, and would automatically search the entire spectrum and stop on an active frequency. Hence, this might be considered the worlds first "scanner", as they are termed by the layman today. Corona - was a 2.5-6mc jamming procedure using ground tx to disrupt night fighter R/T control links. RX used were captured FuG10 receivers. Initial jamming was misleading instructions from German speaking personnel. Later transmission of 3 or 4 superimposed German voices was used. Ground Cigar - used to disrupt night fighter control channels 38-42mc. Fifteen transmitters were used, each being spot tuned to a part of the band. Types used were USP2, TU4, SWB4 and AN/GRQ1, an American 50 KW TV transmitter. Ground Grocer - jammed radar in 480-500mc band. The radar's range reduced to 1500 feet when the carrier aircraft was at 12,000 ft., 140 miles from the transmitter. Ground Mandrel - was a 65-160mc jammer for radar using 24 noise modulated transmitteers in groups of 6 at 4 sites. Jostle 1V (RAF designation) - ARI 5289 was a high power FM.CW jammer in 3-6, 6-12. 12-18, 26-35, 35-34 and 45-54 mc bands. The transmitter was a T1524 and with its power unit was housed in a pressurized casing, cooled with a heat exchanger/air scoop. It weighed 600 pounds and was carried vertically in the bomb bay of a B17 or B24. Antennas were a trailing or mast antenna. Mandrel 1 - a jammer for 68-78, 128-148mc bands. It used a T1408 transmitter, Type 68 modulator, a type 300 power unit (1.2 kw at 80 volts). Mandrel 111 - was a spot jammer for radars 148-196mc. A TR1657 transmitter/receiver was used. Pipe Rack - was American designed to jam radars 95-210mc. An aircraft installation used two to six AN/APT-1 transmitters. Wing mounted whips were used. Tinsel - was a system to disrupt R/T control in the 3-6mc band. It appears rather crude but it used a microphone attached to the engine nacelle, thence to a Marconi T1153 transmitter. A found signal had the transmitter tuned to it, turned on and flooding the signal with engine noise. Not surprisingly, the vibration broke up the carbon mics and eventually the electro magnetic mic was used and the microphone brought inside the air frame. Window - was a metallic foil strip produced in various sizes and dropped from aircraft to "spoof" enemy radar operators. Window covered the 70-600mc in various sizes but 12"x1/8" was the average size. Jackal - The famous SCR522 was added to the repertoire of jamming signals against the enemy net. Sixty SCR522 transmitters were installed in B24 aircraft and in sorties over the enemy front line orbited for up to four hours transmitting jamming signals. An Hallicrafters S-27(BC-787) search receiver was used by one aircraft to monitor the effectiveness of the jamming. Silver - was a device to jam GCI and GL radars in the 53 cm band. It was essentially a R3003AMk22 IFF set modified to produce a squittering signal over the 24-26mc band. Homing/Warning Devices were used to give a bearing on a transmitter and warn crews of the presence of other aircraft. British devices were mostly intended to counter the interceptors, while German devices were designed to bring the interceptor into contact with the bomber. German engineers pursued infra-red detection methods long after developments in this field had been abandoned. Boozer - gave bomber crews notice when other aircraft were being "painted" by Wurzberg radar. Equipment included Type 164 receivers, Type 65 and later receivers to cover 490, and 530-650mc. Type 177 or 181 indicator were typical at UHF. Monica - was an active tail-warning device used against interceptors. It was produced in many sub-variants, using ASV11 receivers and ASU MK11 indicator. Perfectos - was designed to trigger the enemy's IFF set and then provide a bearing on the transmission. AIRBORNE INTERCEPTION RADAR. The Mk X was an SCR-720 and was used first by the RAF in 1943, after being developed in the U.S. by M.I.T. The transmitting antenna was mounted in a frame facing a parabolic reflector rotating at 350 rpm. Range, azimuth or azimuth and elevation could be displayed. The A.I.R. Mk XV (U.S. AN/APS-4ASH) had a frequency in the range of 10gc. The range was 4 miles maximum and 250 ft minimum and weighed 180 pounds. It could see 75 degrees right and left of centre and in elevation 30 degrees above and below it. References: "Confound and Destroy:(1978) by Martin Streetly is recommended reading. Over 100 other references are included in his bibliography. American documents include APO 557 (Mission record of 803rd/36 Bombardment squadron and CO-AN 08-20-4 (AN/APS-4). Most of the equipment mentioned is preserved in the Science Museum, London. Compiled by Pete. D. Williams VK3IZ *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; Marine Corps PRC-68B? I have been going around and around with the Marine Corps Systems Command in an effort to pry information about the PRC-68B out of them under a Freedom of Information Act request. Based on what I had read, I understood that the Marine Corps had been a user of the PRC-68Bs. This morning my contact at the Marines called and claimed that the Marines had nothing to do with the PRC-68Bs that those were Army units. She has promised to give me a point of contact at the Army for my continuing efforts to dig up info. Does this make any sense to you? Can you point me to any "official" info that shows that Marines were users of the 68B? I'll pass along to the group any info I am finally able to dig up, assuming that someone ever comes through with information! Robert Rice ed) The PRC-68B was Announced in 1984,a production order of 9 million dollars was placed by the US Marine Corps.Original US Airforce cost $3084.50. The above quote is from "Military Radio Data, PRC Designated Radio Equipment, Vol.I" by Me. The original source for the first part was Janes Military Communications 1988, it goes on to state that this Feb. 84 order was an initial Marine Corps contract. It further states that "the PRC-68A is now also manufactured by Oklahoma Aerotronics and is expected to be in use with the (Marines) into the early 1990's". This same data was repeated in later Jane's issues. Their original source for the material was undoubtedly Magnavox themselves. The Airforce price quote came from Fedlog 95 (Federal Logistics Data on Compac Disc.1995). They also noted Marine Corps sales, but did not include the price quote. I should note that Fed Log is a commercially produced, simi-official document available only to government entities, and their contractors. Non-dated Magnavox promotional material shows productions figures of:(this would not include equipment built by other contractors) PRC-68 22,000,1978-84(Marine Corps order was placed in 1976 for $13.37m) PRC-68A 5,400 1984-87 PRC-68B 2,000 1985-87 PRC-126 13,187 1986> PRC-128 5,000 1987> Simple math indicates that the 2000 radios produced by Magnavox as of approx 1988, times the Airforce cost($3,084.50) is $6,169,00. This is way short of the reported $9m Marine Corps contract, and tends to indicate that far more than 2000 units had been produced in total. In fact, if $9m is divided by $3k, this would account for another 2900 radios(supposing the Marine Corps Cost was approx the same as the Airforce, and that the bulk of this order was not eaten up in support or ancillary equipment). Magnavox was awarded a $10.7m contract in 1986 for 4,600 PRC-126 radios by the U.S.Army. That computes to $2,173 per radio which is very close to the Fed Log reported price of $2,283 in 1995(but the PRC-126 is basically a cheepened up PRC-68B). Another $7.6m order was placed in 1987, and in 1989 $4.4m worth were ordered. Sorrily my disc drive is still down(it has been ever sense I upgraded to win 3.11) so I cannot consult Fed Log for further evidence to Marine Corps purchases. One thing is for sure, your source that claims that the PRC-68B was exclusively an Army radio, IS DEAD WRONG! In fact, there is not yet any evidence to show that the Army ever ordered any "B's". Perhaps if our members that own PRC-68B's would supply the contract numbers, & dates, you might then use the FOIA to extrapolate the purchasing organization. Dennis ----------------------------------------------------------------- HT-4 Goes to War? I am looking for the book "The HT-4 Goes to War" in any condition as long as it is all there. I am trying to find the history of the BC-610. Thanks and 73's Mike N6WIG ed) Some of the best info on the HT-4's transformation into the BC-610 can be found in the three part Series "The Signal Corps". I have mentioned this series many, many, times, and it may still be available from the GPO. Also seek out the November 1979 issue of Ham Radio, "The Hallicrafters Story". It is most interesting to note that originally, the HT-4 was only adopted as an expedient "Stop Gap", because the preferred radio set was not yet available in sufficient quantities. It went on to surpass the performance of that radio it was only intended to "stand-in" for, then went on to serve another 30 years. *********************************************** NEW MEMBER; Bruce Gentry Thanks for your response and elaboration on your purpose and goals.First off, I agree to the terms of your group.I wish more organizations dedicated to a particular interest would require these standards.It is interesting that your group is truly documenting information and experiences with surplus equipment.There are too many times that I have found persons selling or swapping equipment that do not care at all about what it is or it's history.They just want my money and then to get me out of their way.A request or comment about anything else gets an "Oh Please!!" response.I guess I cause a few strange looks at a hamfest when I sell something and remind the buyer, as they are carrying it away, to ENJOY! Since most people listed on your site give their full names,mine is Bruce Gentry,I live in Syracuse, NewYork.I'm 48 years old,and have been collecting and working on surplus radio gear for probably 35 of those years.I was always interested in how things work,and was tearing anything I could get my hands on to pieces.Early on, electrical and electronic things caught my fancy and it's been that way ever since.It is not my only interest by any means.I love music and old movies,older architecture typical of our cities 50-75 years ago.My sense of humor is richly demented,I listen to the good doctor Demento almost every Sunday night,and have a fair number of records and tapes of novelty music.I have always been interested in good audio equipment,not the esoteric units but good rollicking theatre and broadcast gear that was built to last and goes to show that the latest designs are not always required to give a very credable presentation.I was involved with the early restoration of our local movie palace,and was a projectionist there.My father owned and operated a garage for 31 years, so I was able to get my hands plenty dirty when I wanted to, and sometimes when I didn't.When I was in high school, I learned to fly, and my father and I owned a small plane.I spent 4 years in the Air Force during the war and had a chance to work on a lot of equipment I had never even heard of,that I now have and restore.Most notable of these is a hut that goes in a pickup truck and is loaded with Collins URG series equipment.I am at something of a standstill because I need to find the prints for the power amp.I worked on Collins KWT-6's,GRC-27's,all the Collins "S" line and KWM series,with a few dozen R390 and R388's thrown in for good measure.In the control tower we were still using BC-640's and BC-639 receivers.That stuff wasn't even in the Fair or G&G catalouge in 1970! We were also using BC-610's with external exciters at the MARS station for RTTY.Once I got out of the Air Force and was on my own,surplus was not the interest it had been, but I never lost touch with it.Because of some nasty examples,my interest in ametuer radio was nearly destroyed around that time.I was working as a broadcast engineer and also at a 2-way radio shop.A fellow came to work there, and he was a very active ham.He invited me over to his place for a few QSO's, and I left feeling quite differently.I thought it was rediculous that the FCC would trust me with a 50 kw. am station or a megawatt UHF television transmitter, but not with a few watts on 6 or 2 meters.Later I got my license,I'm an old technician,and expect that the FCC is going to grandfather me to general with their rule changes.In 1978, I was drawn into a job with an elevator company,a trade I still work at today.I still had a bit of surplus around, mostly Korean war and early cold war vintage.By the early 90's, I reawakened my interest in surplus when I saw what had become available.It's been a steadily growing thing ever since.I am mostly interested in the newer portable gear that will cover ham bands.Surplus has always impressed me with it's quality of materials and construction,and with the general decline of American industry and quality,it remains an example of what this country can do if it chooses to.In the past I had no interest in imported surplus, but I have seen some that is of interest.My latest project is building a GRC-193 from whatever parts and modules I can find.I strongly prefer to find and resurrect the dead basket cases rather than buying operational units.I would define my interest as more of a technician and user rather than a collector.I am much more interested in taking some surplus goodie I just bebuilt from a pile of parts out on field day or to a picnic or a freind's camp than shining it up and putting on a shelf.I mean no offense to collectors,the rigs they would not find interesting are exactly the ones I want.My sets might be scratched up and paint faded,but I try to do my best on the inside where it counts,and to use original or exact replacement parts,installed as originally built. I could ramble on more,but it is getting late.I hope that I measure up to join in your group.I would also like a sample personal profile as you offered,so I can tell others about myself without being too shy or too open. Sincerily, Bruce Gentry. KA2IVY *********************************************** HUMOR; A priest and nun are on their way back home from a convention when their car breaks down. They are unable to get repairs completed and it appears that they will have to spend the night in a motel. The only motel in this town has only one room available so they have a minor problem. PRIEST: Sister, I don't think the Lord would have a problem, under the circumstances, if we spent the night together in this one room. I'll sleep on the couch and you take the bed. SISTER: I think that would be okay. They prepare for bed and each one takes their agreed place in the room. Ten minutes later... SISTER: Father, I'm terribly cold. PRIEST: Okay, I'll get up and get you a blanket from the closet. Ten minutes later... SISTER: Father, I'm still terribly cold. PRIEST: Okay Sister, I'll get up and get you another blanket. Ten minutes later... SISTER: Father, I'm still terribly cold. I don't think the Lord would mind if we acted as man and wife just for this one night. PRIEST: You're probably right... Get up and get your own damn blanket. ----------------------------------------------------------------- In a long line of people waiting for a bank teller, one guy suddenly started massaging the back of the person in front of him. Surprised, the man in front turned and snarled, "Just what the hell you are doing?" "Well," said the guy, "you see, I'm a chiropractor and I could see that you were tense, so I had to massage your back. Sometimes I just can't help practicing my art!" "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" the guy replied. "I work for the IRS. Do you see me screwing the guy in front of me?" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Edna and Bill were two residents of a nursing home who had been carrying on a love affair. They were both 96 years old, and wheelchair bound. Every night, they would meet in the TV room. Edna would passively hold Bill's penis and they would watch TV for an hour or so. It wasn't much, but it was all they had. One night Bill didn't show up. He didn't show up for the next two nights either. Edna assumed he was dead, but then she saw him happily wheeling about the grounds. She confronted him and said "Where were you these past couple of nights?" He replied "If you must know, I was with another woman". "Bastard!" she cried. "What were you doing?". "We do the exact same thing that you and I do," he answered. "Is she prettier or younger than I am?" she asked. "Nope; she looks the same, and she is 98 years old," Bill replied. "Well then, what does she have that I don't?" Edna asked. Bill smiled slyly and said " Parkinson's disease". ----------------------------------------------------------------- It must be true, It's in the Bible A preacher was telling his congregation that anything they could think of, old or new, was discussed somewhere in the Bible and that the entirety of the human experience could be found there. After the service, he was approached by a woman who said, "Preacher, I don't believe the Bible mentions PMS." The preacher replied that he was sure it must be in there somewhere, and that he would look for it. The following week after service, the preacher called the woman aside and showed her a passage which read, "And Mary rode Joseph's ass all the way to Bethlehem." ----------------------------------------------------------------- One fine day in Ireland, a guy is out golfing and gets up to the 16th hole. He tees up and cranks one. Unfortunately, it goes into the woods on the side of the fairway. He goes looking for his ball and comes across this little guy with this huge knot on his head and the golfball lying right beside him. "Goodness," says the golfer then proceeds to revive the poor little guy. Upon awakening, the little guy says, "Well, you caught me fair and square. I am a leprechaun. I will grant you three wishes." The man says "I can't take anything from you, I'm just glad I didn't hurt you too badly," and walks away. Watching the golfer depart, the leprechaun says "Well, he was a nice enough guy, and he did catch me, so I have to do something for him. I'll give him the three things that I would want. I'll give him unlimited money, a great golf game, and a great sex life." Well, a year goes past (as they often do in jokes like this) and the same golfer is out golfing on the same course at the 16th hole. He gets up and hits one into the same woods and goes off looking for his ball. When he finds the ball he sees the same little guy and asks how he is doing. The leprechaun says, "I'm fine, and might I ask how your golf game is?" The golfer says, "It's great! I hit under par every time." "I did that for you," responds the leprechaun, "And might I ask how your money is holding out?" "Well, now that you mention it, every time I put my hand in my pocket, I pull out a hundred dollar bill" he replied. The leprechaun smiles and says, "I did that for you. And might I ask how your sex life is?" Now the golfer looks at him a little shyly and says, "Well, maybe once or twice a week." Floored the leprechaun stammers, "Once or twice a week?" The golfer looks at him sheepishly and says, "Well, that's not too bad for a Catholic priest in a small parish." ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Bill Clinton version: "My Favorite Things" (From "The Sound of Music") Blow jobs and land deals in backwater places, Big Macs and french fries and girls with big faces, Lots of nice cleavage that makes willie spring, These are a few of my favorite things Susan McDougal and Gennifer Flowers, Horny young interns who while 'way the hours, Profits from futures that Hillary brings, These are a few of my favorite things Beating the draft board and getting elected, Naming to judgeships some hacks I've selected, Conspiracy theories that blame the right wing, These are a few of my favorite things Golfing with Vernon and suborning perjury, Falling down drunk that required knee surgery Stars in the White House who come here to sing, These are a few of my favorite things Meeting with Boris and Helmut and Tony, States of the Union with lots of baloney, Winning debates and the joy of my flings, These are a few of my favorite things When that Jones bites, When Ken Starr stings, When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad *********************************************** 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 ***********************************************