[R-390] 1980's Navy R-390A's

Tom Chirhart k4ncgva at gmail.com
Thu Mar 10 20:36:02 EST 2011


Nick, when the Sherman Class Destroyers came out of FRAM in the early/mid 70's two R-390a's were left inside Radio Central for morale purposes. (I was on DD-938/Ingram.) They were cabinet mounted next to the WRR-3B MF receiver used to monitor 500 Kc. The 1051's were great for RATT using the UCC-1 and KWR-37's/KG-14s for fleet broadcast and with the KW-7 URA-17 Orestes ship/shore, but the CW ops, including me, preferred the 390 so when we had to do HF CW we jury rigged a long cable for the headphones so we could sit at the mill and log and take traffic. Of course is a ship on the net was off freq we had to stand up and tune them in. Still better than the 1051's that were rack mounted at tabletop height to the right of the operators position. I hope to tour the USS Barry DD-933 at the Washington Navy Yard with hopes to take a inside Radio Central to see how badly they gutted it when it was decommed and made into a museum ship. 
73
Tom K4NCG

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 10, 2011, at 1:17 PM, "Tom M." <courir26 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I think the difference here was between "GOVT SUPPLIED" material and "CONTRACTOR 
> SUPPLIED" material.
> 
> The 390As for Avondale were contractor supplier according to my discussion with 
> them.
> 
> I have a copy of the book "THE YARD" about Bath Iron Works.  They go into that 
> in the book.
> 
> Really good scooped pics!  I really like them.  Interesting that this setup had 
> all sorts of cats and dogs for HF receivers.
> 
> Tom
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Les Locklear <leslocklear at cableone.net>
> To: Nick England <navy.radio at gmail.com>; r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Thu, March 10, 2011 2:02:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [R-390] 1980's Navy R-390A's
> 
> 
> Fantastic find, Nick!
> 
> I was absolutely amazed when I helped uncover the 1984 Fowler R-390A 
> story. Not we've got a whole new chapter. I wonder where they procured 
> their 390A's from?
> There were plenty in military inventories at that point in time. I would 
> bet they purchased a bit smarter than Avaondale Shipyard 
> did.............
> 
> Les Locklear
> Gulfport, Ms.
> DX'ing Since '57
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nick England" <navy.radio at gmail.com>
> To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 1:29 PM
> Subject: [R-390] 1980's Navy R-390A's
> 
> 
>> I have a 1986 document on the radio equipment aboard the Navy's FFG-7
>> class frigates.
>> Shown on an equipment layout amongst the R-1051's and other modern
>> stuff is an R-390A
>> Last night I found some photos of the communications center on a
>> couple of these ships and sure enough, there's a familiar face.
>> These particular two ships were commissioned in 1984 and 1986 - the 51
>> ships in the class were built between 1977 and 1989 by Bath and Todd
>> shipyards.
>> OK, I know about Avondale and the Fowler R-390A's - but where did
>> these 50 or so R-390A's come from??? Did the shipyards buy them on
>> ebay or what?
>> I checked with a fellow aboard FFG-40 and he says there is now a
>> modern receiver in that rack.
>> Photos for your amusement and edification at
>> http://www.navy-radio.com/ships/ffg7.htm
>> 
>> cheers,
>> Nick K4NYW
>> www.navy-radio.com
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