SCR-299#Specifications

File:Normandy.jpg 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 8 November 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.[http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/1857873/fhs_01222009A20.pdf Fort Huachuca Scout, 22 January 2009. Signal Corps carries the Torch, by Kristen Gregan, NETCOM Historical Staff] 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."[http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp The SCR-299, United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105221519/http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp |date=2010-01-05 }}

File:SCR-299dooropen.jpg panel van]]

The range of the SCR-299 exceeded original specifications, sometime establishing contact over {{convert|2300|mi|km}}.[http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp The SCR299, Army Communicator United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105221519/http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp |date=2010-01-05 }}

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.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0bRaa7UuD6EC|title=The Library of Congress World War II Companion|first=David M.|last=Kennedy|date=2 October 2007|publisher=Simon and Schuster|via=Google Books}} The SCR-299 was also used in the invasion of Sicily and the Allied invasion of Italy.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/normandy/TS/SC/SC3.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802084641/http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/normandy/TS/SC/SC3.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2012|title=Normandy - The Technical Services : Signal Corps|publisher=}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/VoiceofV1944|title=Voice of Victory (Part I)|first=|last=Handy (Jam) Organization|date=1 January 1944|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/VoiceofV1944_2|title=Voice of Victory (Part II)|first=|last=Handy (Jam) Organization|date=1 January 1944|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}

Hallicrafters Company advertising of the period sometimes used illustrations of the shelter-mounted SCR-399 to describe the achievements of the SCR-299.Dachis, Chuck (1996). Radios By Hallicrafters. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen (USA).

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File:SCR-299hallicraftersAd1942.jpg

• Transmitter: BC-610 plus BC-614 (speech amplifier), BC-729 (tuning unit) and BC-211 (frequency meter)
• Transmitter output power: 350 watts.
• Receivers: BC-312 and BC-342
• Frequency coverage: HF from 2 to 8 MHz (and 1–18 MHz using conversion kits)
• 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 2{{frac|1|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: {{convert|9|ft|m|adj=on}} whip antenna (receiver), {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}} whip antenna (transmitter). Optional {{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}} whip antenna while stationary or {{convert|45|ft|m|abbr=on}} auxiliary wire antenna for 2.0 to 4.5 MHz coverage.[https://web.archive.org/web/20021119010103/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]
• Remote control: field telephones, control boxes and cable.[https://archive.today/20021203005627/http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/Museum/AMC/radio2.asp Fort Gordon Museum, Transportable Sets][https://archive.today/20090529222507/http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/museum/scrcomponents/scrPart2.asp Fort Gordon Museum]

• ARC-5
• BC-348
• BC-654
• BC-610
• Collins Radio
• Hallicrafters SX-28
• M-209
• R-390A
• SCR-300
• SCR-536
• Signal Corps Radio
• Wireless Set No. 19
• List of U.S. Signal Corps Vehicles

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.scribd.com/doc/246660060/TM-11-227-RADIO-COMMUNICATION-EQUIPMENT-APRIL-1944 TM 11-227], 10 April 1944
• TM 11-280-B
• [https://www.scribd.com/doc/251665566/TM-11-487-OCTOBER-1944 TM 11-487] Oct. 1944, page 406

• [http://www.eht.com/oldradio/arrl/2004-04/April-2004.htm Hallicrafters HT-4, to War and home again]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100105221519/http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/ac/WWII/SCR299.asp The SCR299, Army Communicator United States Army Signal Center, Fort Gordon, GA]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100413132056/http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/museum/equipment.asp SCR and BC list]
• [http://www.realmilitaryflix.com/public/695.cfm US Army training film featuring K-55 trailer and SCR-299]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090621085147/http://jptronics.org/radios/Military/JANAP161/ Directory of Communications Electronic Equipment]
• [http://jptronics.org/radios/Military/JANAP161/an.gcgrt/an.grt-type.bc-610.pdf BC-610 data sheet]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TURd_XVpwvk Voice of victory]

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Category:Military radio systems of the United States

Category:World War II American electronics

Category:Military electronics of the United States

Category:Military equipment introduced from 1940 to 1944