[Milsurplus] New video - 13 mnutes

Sun Feb 1 15:17:31 EST 2026

Howdy,

The SCR-508 was not designed to replace the SCR-506.  Both were in 
development around the same time, and the SCR-508 was actually 
standardized before the SCR-506.  Rather, the two sets were intended for 
different roles.  There was a need for a short-range (e.g., 10 miles) 
crystal-controlled, tactical mobile FM set for use primarily in tanks, 
as well as a longer range HF vehicular radio capable of at least 50 
miles range on CW or 20 miles on AM voice.  The SCR-508 was used 
primarily for inter-tank communications and liason with artillery groups 
using the artillery band SCR-608 FM sets.  They were simple to use and 
required minimal operator training.  The SCR-506, operated mainly in CW 
mode, was used primarily for communicating at the division command and 
admin net levels and required trained radio operators.  Relatively few 
SCR-506s were installed in tanks, and those that were, were used for 
communicating back to battalion and division level nets.

The WWII FM sets were state-of-the-art and unique to the U.S. forces, 
and were a radical improvement in mobile tactical communications.  The 
SCR-506 was also a pretty advanced design for its time.  The disparaging 
remarks about the 506 in amateur publications stems from its limited 
frequency range (and the limited viewpoint of hams), which includes only 
one amateur band. In fact, the SCR-506 was an excellent, well-designed 
set that did just what it was designed to do.

It's gratifying to see a youtube video on the important but completely 
overlooked subject of wideband FM tactical radio and its great effect on 
the course of WWII.  A fascinating episode not mentioned in the video 
and which demonstrates this, took place during the Battle of the Bulge.  
As mentioned, the German tank sets were AM, and an airborne AM jammer 
system code-named "Jackal" had been developed to jam them.  However, the 
German AM sets and American FM sets overlapped in frequency, so 
commanders were unwilling to deploy Jackal for fear of jamming U.S. tank 
forces along with the German.  Armstrong urged them to proceed on the 
basis of the AM interference rejection capability of the wideband FM 
SCR-508 sets.  The Jackal jammers were installed in B-24s and flown in 
relays over the battlefield.  POW interviews conducted after the battle 
indicated the jamming seriously disrupted German communications, 
contributing greatly to the American breakout. SCR-508 operators were 
unaware that jamming was even taking place...

73,

John K9WT

On 2/1/2026 1:09 PM, Ray Fantini via Milsurplus wrote:
> I am always up for  watching videos on YouTube! But I do have a 
> question about the use of the SCR-508 and its use in Operation Torch 
> in North Africa. My limited understanding was that the SCR-506 (BC-652 
> and 653) being a HF AM set was replaced by the SCR-508 (BC-609 and 
> 603) with its improved semi VHF and FM modulation.
> Always speculated that for use in North Africa the older 506 would 
> have been used being it was already out in production and in the field 
> along with SCR-193 and 177 (BC-312 and BC-191) sets? And the Newer 
> better FM sets were only just being deployed?
> By the time we get to the Sicilian and Italian campaigns and defiantly 
> by the time of Overlord but not ready for deployment during Torch.
> There is a relevance to all this. In the military vehicle preservation 
> world there has been some controversy over the appropriate radios for 
> things like M1A1, M3A1 Scout Cars, M2A1 or M3 Halftrack and M29 
> Weasels along with M2A3 tanks.
> One school of thought is it has to be a SCR-508 in one of its many 
> configurations or its not correct, the problem is that the SCR-508 
> family of radios is just about useless in today's world. Where as the 
> SCR-506 HF AM can be used on the modern Ham bands.
> In the world of military vehicle collectors and restorers you have two 
> groups, one group that stuffs the appropriate radio according to 
> documentation on the vehicle regardless of its functional state, some 
> go so far as to strip out the guts of the radios and stuff in things 
> like CD players. The other camp are into functionality, we not only 
> want it to look good but also preform somewhat along the lines of what 
> it was intended to do.
> One of my favorite justifications for the SCR-506 is that it's what we 
> started the war with. OK, by the end of the war FM was king but in the 
> beginning of the war the AM was all that was in the field. Also have 
> to admit that I have always had a warm spot in my hart for the SCR-506 
> after reading in the 1948 CQ Surplus conversion manual that the 
> SCR-506 was basically five hundred pounds of nothing.
>
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Mike Feher 
> <n4fs at eozinc.com>
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 31, 2026 12:36 AM
> *To:* 'Charlie L.' <mjcal79 at gmail.com>; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net 
> <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Milsurplus] New video - 13 mnutes
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of Salisbury University. 
> Please exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments 
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>
> Great video, Charlie. Thanks for sharing. 73 – Mike
>
> Mike B. Feher, N4FS
>
> 89 Arnold Blvd.
>
> Howell NJ 07731
>
> 908-902-3831
>
> *From:*milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On Behalf Of *Charlie L.
> *Sent:* Friday, January 30, 2026 10:24 PM
> *To:* milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* [Milsurplus] New video - 13 mnutes
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUhTYz5QkQU
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Charlie, W4MEC in NC
>
>
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