[Milsurplus] TBY on Saipan '44 ?

[Mike Morrow]

I have a book that I can't find right now that contains some personal memoirs of USMC actions in the Pacific in 1944.  One of the memoirs refers to the radio being used as the "SCR."

That would lead one to think that maybe the USMC eventually began using sets like the SCR-300 (BC-1000), SCR-536 (BC-611), or SCR-284 (BC-654).  These army sets were far superior to the TBY, MAB/DAV, or TBX junk that the USN/USMC had as their equivalent native designs. 

>> "Saving Private Ryan:"  WWII for Republicans.
>> "Thin Red Line:"  WWII for Democrats.
>> "When Trumpets Fade (HBO):"  WWII for real.

>You forgot "Pearl Harbor":  WWII for Hollywood.
>
>Band of Brothers has to fit somewhere in the "most credible" accounts,

My vote for the best WWII movie, for attention to detail and interesting story line, goes to "Das Boot," although "Band of Brothers" gives it very strong competition for that honor.  Get the DVD containing the complete six-hour mini-series as it was shown on West German TV, not one of the various shortened theatrical releases.

Probably the most inaccurate thing portrayed in "Das Boot" is all the jumping around that takes place on the submarine as depth charges explode nearby.  A submarine under depth charge attack does not jump around at all.  No depth charge is strong enough to move such a large mass as a submarine even a couple of inches through incompressible water.

I really despise a movie like "U-571."  It is sheer nonsense, totally devoid of historical basis.  For such an abomination, Hollywood wouldn't even bother to at least choose one of the many U-boat numbers that were never assigned to a real boat.  There was a real U-571, moderately successful with 44,000 GRT sinkings credited to it, and subequently lost in combat.  The movie is a dishonor to the crew of the real U-571, which is "still on patrol."

Unfortunately, not much radio action was shown in "Das Boot," though the reconstruction of the radio operator's station is dead on accurate, just as was the entire set used as the type VII-C U-boat.

At least the BC-611, BC-654, and BC-1000 made appearances in "Band of Brothers."

Mike / KK5F
ex-SSBN-629