[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Question: What is a BC-688-A?

[Ray Chase]

APN-1 was a common radar altimeter in WWII but it was low altitude only, 
4000 ft max altitude.  Operated CW on the FM principle.  SCR- 518 was an 
early attempt at a high altitude pulse radar altimeter made by RCA at 
the urging of Hap Arnold for high altitude (40,000 ft) bombing of 
Germany.  However it was overdesigned, heavy and took up a lot of space, 
(half a dozen units I believe).  Was soon replaced I think with the SCR 
718 that was much smaller and only a couple of units.  There are a few 
complete sets around, mine included so drill away, no historic loss 
since it has already been stripped.
Ray Chase

jcoward5452 at aol.com wrote:

>Thanks Robert,
>  Would this be pre AN/APN-1?It's in a standard ATR package so that was 
>already in practice.AN/APN-1 was not in this form factor I believe, but 
>wasn't it the radio altimiter most common in WWII?
> Jay.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: WA5CAB at cs.com
>To: Jcoward5452 at aol.com; arc5 at mailman.qth.net; 
>milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>Sent: Mon, Aug 31, 2009 4:54 pm
>Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question: What is a BC-688-A?
>
>
>
>Database says receiver of Radio Altimeter SCR-518.  I had one 15 years 
>ago
>but think it went to August.
>
>In a message dated 8/31/2009 6:39:06 PM Central Daylight Time,
>jcoward5452 at aol.com writes:
>  
>
>>Thanks everyone,in advance.
>>  I just have the housing with tags and connectors and the contract 
>>    
>>
>date
>  
>
>>indicates 1942.Just would like to know what it was.BTW this will 
>>    
>>
>become
>  
>
>>a power supply as it is just an aluminum shell,not even a tube socket
>>left in it.So I hope you all don't drag me over the coals if I make
>>something useful out of it.I will retain the outward appearance as 
>>    
>>
>best
>  
>
>>I can but may have to change the connectors to something more to my
>>specs.I won't drill if I can help it!
>>
>>    
>>
>
>Robert Downs - Houston
>wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>MVPA 9480
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