SCR-299

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The SCR-299 was a U.S. Signal Corps mobile military communications unit used during World War II.

Shelter-mounted version of the SCR-299, the SCR-399

History

Hallicrafters SCR-299 ad c. 1944, depicting DUKW mounted SCR-399 version

The SCR-299 "mobile communications unit" was developed to provide long-range communications during World War II. The US Military sought improvements of range, flexibility and durability over its existing SCR-197 and SCR-597 transmitters. In 1942, Hallicrafters Standard HT-4 was selected as the SCR-299's transmitter, known subsequently by its military designation as the BC-610. The SCR-299 was first used on November 8, 1942 during Operation TORCH involving companies of the 829th Signal Service Battalion establishing a radio net that could exchange messages between beach-landed forces and bases in Gibraltar. Despite initial problems unloading the sets from convoy ships, the SCR-299s served until the installation of permanent Army Command and Administrative Network stations.[1] According to US Army military historians, "General Dwight Eisenhower credited the SCR-299 in his successful reorganization of the American forces and final defeat of the Nazis at Kasserine Pass."[2]

SCR-299 housed in K-51 panel van

The range of the SCR-299 exceeded original specifications, sometime establishing contact over 2,300 miles (3,700 km).[3] The SCR-299 provided reliable communications with England during the North African campaign, and in Normandy on D-Day, served as a connection between two airborne divisions with Britain.[4] The SCR-299 was also used in the invasion of Sicily and the Allied invasion of Italy.[5]

War correspondents and press reporters frequently made use of the SCR-299 and SCR-399. Access to the sets was provided to them by US Second Army and US Third Army Group Communications Teams, and in one instance, the SCR-399 became the only means of getting press copy direct to London.[6]

In 1944, a short subject film was produced by the Jam Handy Organization and sponsored by the Hallicrafters Company that showed the construction of the SCR-299 and dramatized its use during World War II.[7][8]

Hallicrafters Company advertising of the period sometimes used illustrations of the shelter-mounted SCR-399 to describe the achievements of the SCR-299.[9]

Specifications

SCR-299 interior operators desk and gear, from Hallicrafters ad, 1942
  • Frequency coverage: HF from 2 to 8 MHz (and 1–18 MHz using conversion kits)
  • Transmitter output power: 350 watts.
  • Receivers: BC-312 and BC-342
  • Transmitter: BC-610 plus BC-614 (speech amplifier), BC-729 (tuning unit) and BC-211 (frequency meter)
  • Power supply: 2000 watts, with additional 1500 watts for heater and lights supplied by PE-95 (power unit) on K-52 "Ben-Hur" style trailer. Optional 12 volt storage battery, or 115 volt 60 cycle AC commercial power and two spare 6 volt storage batteries
  • SCR-299 housing: K-51 van truck
  • SCR-399 housing: HO-17 shelter mountable on 21⁄2-ton trucks.
  • SCR-499 housing: air-transportable
  • Frequency Conversion Kit MC-503: coverage down to 1 MHz.
  • Frequency Conversion Kit MC-516: coverage to 12 MHz
  • Frequency Conversion Kit MC-517: coverage to 18 MHz.
  • Antennas: 9-foot (2.7 m) whip antenna (receiver), 15-foot (4.6 m) whip antenna (transmitter). Optional 21 ft (6.4 m) whip antenna while stationary or 45 ft (14 m) auxiliary wire antenna for 2.0 to 4.5 MHz coverage.[10]
  • Remote control: field telephones, control boxes and cable. [11][12]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/1857873/fhs_01222009A20.pdf Fort Huachuca Scout, January 22, 2009. Signal Corps carries the Torch, by Kristen Gregan, NETCOM Historical Staff
  2. ↑ http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp The SCR-299, United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA
  3. ↑ http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp The SCR299, Army Communicator United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA
  4. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=0bRaa7UuD6EC&pg=RA1-PA393&dq=scr-299&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=3&as_pt=ALLTYPES The Library of Congress World War II Companion by Margaret E. Wagner, David M. Kennedy, Linda Barrett Osborne, Susan Reyburn, Library of Congress, Simon and Schuster, 2007 ISBN 0-7432-5219-5, ISBN 978-0-7432-5219-5
  5. ↑ http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp The SCR-299, United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA
  6. ↑ http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/normandy/TS/SC/SC3.htm United States Army Center of Military History CHAPTER III, The Signal Corps in the ETO to Mid-1944
  7. ↑ http://www.archive.org/details/VoiceofV1944 Hallicrafters, The Voice Of Victory (1944), Internet Archive
  8. ↑ http://www.archive.org/details/VoiceofV1944_2 Hallicrafters, The Voice Of Victory (1944), Internet Archive, Part 2
  9. ↑ Dachis, Chuck (1996). Radios By Hallicrafters. Schiffer Publishing,Atglen(USA).
  10. ↑ http://www.gordon.army.mil/OCOS/Museum/ScrComponents/scrPart2.asp Directory Of Components, The SCR299, Army Communicator United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA
  11. ↑ http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/Museum/AMC/radio2.asp Fort Gordon Museum, Transportable Sets
  12. ↑ http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/museum/scrcomponents/scrPart2.asp Fort Gordon Museum

See also

References

  • TM 11-227, 10 April 1944
  • TM 11-280-B

External links

voice of victory

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