[Milsurplus] SCR-245

[Ray Fantini]

Seeing that a BC-223 transmitter was offered up got me thinking about the SCR-245 radio system. That's the combination of the BC-223 transmitter and the BC-312 receiver to provide a low powered HF AM radio system intended for tank, armored vehicle and command car use that was replaced by the SCR-508 being a superior system for mobile operation being FM and VHF. The SCR-508 was introduced around mid-41 with the HF AM SCR-245 coming out in 37 so there was a period of time before VHF FM was adopted for vehicle operation but my question would be was the SCR-245 ever fielded in combat? Was thinking that maybe it was used in North Africa if it were used at all or was the SCR-508 in use by that time? If it was in use in North Africa were all the vehicles with that installation overhauled to the newer radios before use in Europe? What about equipment used in Sicily and Italy? Being that was in between the two operations.
The SCR-506 with its massive BC-653 transmitter and the BC-652 receiver also fits into this roll somehow but always thought that was more an artillery or more a command and control type radio being high power and not intended in the small tactical role as the SCR-245 also I have noticed that although I have only seen maybe two or three BC-223 transmitters before the ones I have seen appear to have never been issued and perhaps that says something to if they were ever used or not.
The relevance of all this is that in the last several years I have noticed that I had moved away from the concept of having just one part of a communications system and look at things more as a complete package. Where it was once something to have just a receiver or maybe a transceiver that I use on the Ham bands now looking at having complete systems and operations along the lines of original intentions, at least without the shooting part. In the last couple years the M151 with its VRC-12 and GRC-106 systems has been a lot of fun for use around the house or at shows but have been thinking along the lines of what's next and perhaps a field package of the SCR-245 in a big wooden transit case may have possibilities? Who knows, that may have to lead to a WW2 vehicle?

Ray F/KA3EKH
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