[Milsurplus] radio rooms aboard USS Iowa BB-61?

[Mike Morrow]

> Some intrepid radio pictures from 2011:
>
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7259.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7260.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7261.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7262.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7263.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7264.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7265.JPG
> http://www.w2hx.com/x/09-04-2011-Intrepid/Intrepid/IMG_7266.JPG

I was stationed on the USS Intrepid for a few months in 1971 for
ACDUTRA, and I tried to spend some time in the various radio
spaces.  I don't recall any of them looking much like what's shown
here.  Doubtless all that test gear shown is bogus, as well as
the antique stuff like that RBM-*.

I remember R-1051, T-827, AM-3007 stuff, some R-390s, several
AN/WRR-3s, one always on 500 kHz.  I remember one radio space
with a bank of AN/ARC-27 units in it.  But most of what I saw
has disappeared from memory after 42 years.  The thing I most
remember was how busy and crowded the main radio space was,
24 hours a day.

Those video displays may be authentic.  There was a ship-wide
CCTV system that had a "studio" for "broadcasting" news and
rumor.  There were also other CCTV screens in the appropriate
places that showed flight deck activity continuously.  All
black and white video.

Intrepid was decommissioned in 1973, so what I saw should be
close to what she had at the end.  Apparently most of that was
pulled.

I don't think the radio display is helped by the nonsense that
is shown in these photos...it's like they collected whatever
some hams had for donation, and put it all on the shelves.

Mike / KK5F