The GP-7 has an HF range compatible with the RU-19. Knowing about military supply systems, while the GF7 may be listed ( on some lists) as the HF Transmitter for the SBD-5, and the supply of the GP-7 ( a PRE-WAR radio transmitter ) may have been plentiful, the issuing of equipment IN LUE OF was and is a common practice. The Western Electric GF-12 transmitter was a very common radio installed on USN Carrier borne aircraft, as was the ARC-5 latter in WW2. The only real way to know now is to get pictures or ( decreasingly ) 1st hand accounts by aviators as to what they ha in their aircraft. Also, by later in WW2, as aircraft came to be overhauled, more modern equipment typically replaced what was originally installed. Hence the VHF sets and other more modern gear in later versions of common USN combat aircraft. 

You’re not going to go wrong installing radios that were listed as commonly issued to any aircraft type. But just be aware there may be variances. 

As far as VHF sets in the SBD-6, two come to mind. There was a transmitter/receiver combination that Aircraft Radio Corporation produced as part of their ARC-5 series. There was also the Collins produced ARC-1 VHF transceiver, commonly used as the pilots radio in the TBF/TBM Avenger series aircraft. The ARC-5 series radios would have been easier to fit in the SBD, and would also include common mounts and other hardware with the R-4/ ARR-2 navigation/homing receiver that came into service in 1943 ( that replaced the ZB series homing devices in use earlier in WW2 ) 

Mark D. 

“In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson 

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On Oct 19, 2026, at 12:34 PM, Mark K3MSB <[email protected]> wrote:


Thanks for that file Mark.

I know I have it somewhere but couldn’t find it.   It’s a good reference.

73 Mark K3MSB

On Mon, Oct 19, 2026 at 7:19 AM MARK DORNEY via ARC5 <[email protected]> wrote:
Hope this helps. Ancient Download 


Mark D. 
WW2RDO
“In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson 

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On Oct 18, 2026, at 6:35 AM, Craig Cantwell via ARC5 <[email protected]> wrote:



Anyone know this?

SBD-5  had only 2 channel MHF radio

SBD-6 added 4 channel VHF radio

 

This fact from 2 pages i had saved years ago, from ? a now extinct militaria magazine ?

Very unfortunately, i did not title the pages with the source.

 

My question is, what was the 2 channel HF radio ?

-Hue Miller

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