[Milsurplus] GRR-5 vs. R-392

[Ray Fantini]

Although the subject has been beaten into the ground before I still am
curious, what was the original intent and deployment of the GRR-5? The
broad tuning, lack of standby function and no IF filter show this not to
be much more then a repackaged GRC-9 receiver and with the internal
speaker, multitude of power options and preset channels it almost appear
more along the lines of a moral receiver, except it dose not cover the
entire AM band. Before anyone say anything I do know that a GRC-9 only
covered 2-12 Mc and the GRR-5 covers 1.5 -18 Mc , but look at the tube
lineup and controls to me they have more in common then different. When
was the first deployment of the GRR-5 series? When were they withdrawn
from service? They look a lot like they belong with AN/VRC-10 family of
radios and less like equipment that was in use in the mid to late
sixties but I have several first hand accounts of its use in Vietnam.
The R-392 receivers that were in abundance in Vietnam were so superior
for AM and CW operations that I would speculate that no one would use
the GRR-5 for serious communications work. Was their a transmitter
intended to be used with the GRR-5? , The R-392 was always paired with
the T-195 in the AN/VRC-19 but cannot picture a GRR-5 with anything.
Other questions about the GRR-5, is their any radio with the exception
of the GRC-109 with as many power options? Where they at any point in
production at the same time as the R-392? And what was the cost
difference? Yea, I know that the 392 cost more but with all the stuff
jammed into a GRR-5 they could not have been cheap. And on the subject
of moral receivers, was their a military purchased radio available in
Vietnam for troop use? 
Ray Fantini KA3EKH