[Milsurplus] TBS question

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] TBS question


> Jack,
> 
> I have nothing to support this but I've always assumed that the TBS 
> nomenclature was assigned like any other and the fact that it matched the acroynm was 
> coincidental.  Or perhaps that the nomenclature led to the acronym.
>> 73
> Robert Downs - Houston

> scr287@sbcglobal.net writes: 
> > I was just wondering if the acronym TBS (talk between ships) is related to 
> > the actual
> > radio set designated TBS.  Or did the acronym refer to any radio set being 
> > used for
> > close range intership communication?

-Yes, the "Talk Between Ships" clearly intended the TBS reference,
because this term was not applied to TCS, MQ, TBY, and other 
HF and VHF equipment used in the ship-to-ship voice role.  AFAIK.

In this case, i am sure the name arose from the acronym, in the same
way "Angry Nine" arose from AN/GRC-9 and "Antrac" from AN/TRC-1.

I was doing to say there might have been a factor of choice involved
in assigning nomenclature, but on thinking of RAT or RAX or DAG,
i'd say, it doesn't seem so. It seems they just didn't  get around to using
CRAP or DOG.
There is only one other Navy example somewhat similar to the TBS, 
that i know of, and that's in GE's "Men and Volts at War" ( 1946 ? ).
It mentions that GE built the TDE, which was mainly intended for
Destroyer Escorts. ( DE class vessels. ) I dunno if that claim of its
main purpose is true.
Hue Miller