[Milsurplus] [ARC5] SCR-A*-183 Broadcast Band Coil Set Listing

[David Stinson]

On 3/15/2021 3:56 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> FWIW, SCR-A*-183/-283 RECEIVERS were designed to serve in liaison 
> service with a complete range of receiver coil sets, or command 
> service with a limited selection of receiver coil sets.  Even the last 
> models from 1942 had a full set of receiver coil  set designations, so 
> there were potentially "on paper" quite a few SCR-A*-183/-283 receiver 
> coil sets that covered parts of the 540-1500 kHz AM broadcast band:
You are correct, of course, Mike.
  I have most of those
early manuals but didn't think of them.
I was using references like TM11-200
and the models likely to be issued in
1942 or later.
By then, the BC-229 was long gone from
Liaison service, but that's no excuse for
hasty writing.  I thought the modded
RU coils for BCB were interesting
and hoped to generate some discussion.
If wearing a bit of "egg on my face"
will do that, it's a fair trade :-D ;-)

If anyone has one of these Army BCB coils,
I'd be interested in some pictures.  I've been
collecting SCR-183 for a long time and have
handled many Army receiver coils and have
yet to see a Signal Corps receiver coil which
covers any part of the BCB.

My interest in the question was sparked by
General Doolittle's telegram to the Kearny,
N.J. Western Electric plant, complimenting
the workers who were building SCR-183/-283
at the time.  The SCR-AR-283 tags are stamped
"Kearny  New Jersey."

In that telegram, Doolittle stated:
"Through these radios, we issued commands
between
ships that sent our bombers on their marks"*
and "... through these radios, we cheered each
other on," about as clear a description of
Command Set usage as one could wish-for.*

He also stated:
"...through these radios, we heard the hysterical
Japanese broadcasters, too excited to lie,
screaming about the damage we had done."*
      * Target Tokyo, James M. Scott
       W.W Norton & Co 2016 pg 372
       ISBN 978-0-393-35227-6 pbk

That's an interesting statement.  The Kearny-built
SCR-AR-283 manual defines receiver coils
covering 200-400 KC and 2500-7800 KC,
but nothing for the BCB.  Was he perhaps
confusing Command audio with Liaison audio?
Well, we can't know for certain- any extant manifest
of the equipping of the Doolittle B-25s is likely
buried in a dusty archive and will be there,
unseen, until Judgment Day.  All the raiders
are gone now.  But we can make
"educated guesses" with what we know.

Take-off weight was critical.
The only aircraft that might have needed a Liaison
set would have been the lead, to report on the
mission.  All would need Command Sets and the
lower power and lower weight of the SCR-283
would make it ideal for a long range, "stealth"
mission.  Moreover- If the one Liaison set was
SCR-287, its BCB coverage was limited to 1.5 MC
and up.   A listing of Japanese AM broadcasters
at the time shows none operating above
about 1100 KC,
possibly because there are veteran reports
of naval operations on those frequencies.

http://www.radioheritage.net/Story176.asp

The DF set at the Navigator's post would
cover the BCB, but as far as I know, that
audio is not piped to the Intercom system.

So was Doolittle, sending "buck-up" telegrams
to civilian workers after returning home,
using a bit of "license" to help the bond
sales and morale along, or did someone
dig-up some old Army BCB receiver coils
(and why would they?  Extra weight)?
As with so much of our passion, we
will never have a settled answer.
But it's interesting to think and discuss.

SCR-183/283 (and GF/RU) really
should get more respect; it was in
service in suitable roles all through
the war.  Even as late
as Dec of 1944, the AAC order 600
more of them be built, which was
probably the Philco -AS order.
I use my set to check into local AM
nets when conditions permit QRP.
A little regenerative feedback sharpens
and enhances the receiver in crowded
conditions.  If you're careful and patient,
you can "slice away" those Side-Bandits
and enjoy some nice audio.

GL ES 73 OM DE Dave AB5S



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