BC-610
High-powered U.S. Army Signal Corps transmitter used in World War II.
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The BC-610 was a radio transmitter used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. It was based on the Hallicrafters HT-4, an amateur radio transmitter, and was part of the SCR-299 mobile communications unit.
Quick Facts
- Frequency coverage
- 2 to 18 MHz
- Weight
- 390 lb (177 kg) (without BC-614)
- Manual
- TM 11-280
- Signal corps radio sets
- SCR-299
- SCR-399
- SCR-499
- or GRC-38
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In the early 1940s, the U.S. military sought a high-powered radio transmitter capable of infallible voice communications over 100 miles, sturdy enough for all conditions, flexible in frequency coverage, self-powered, and operable in motion or at fixed locations. The Hallicrafters HT-4 transmitter was chosen from units available from various U.S. radio manufacturers. The HT-4 was designed for amateur radio use and had been commercially available for several years at a price of approximately $700. It was considered compact and stable for its era and could deliver in excess of 300 watts of power for voice or MCW communications and 400 watts during Morse code operation.
Modifications requested by the Signal Corps were performed by Hallicrafters' engineers working with U.S. Army technicians at Fort Monmouth, resulting in the BC-610 transmitter. Production began in 1942. Over 25,000 units were produced by Hallicrafters and other allied companies. The 'A' through 'I' models are the same basic unit with relatively minor component and cosmetic differences.
Reader's Guide
The BC-610 transmitter was a key component of the SCR-299 mobile communications unit. General Dwight Eisenhower credited the SCR-299 in the reorganization of U.S. forces, which led to their victory against the Nazis at Kasserine Pass. The SCR-299 was also used in the Invasion of Sicily and later, Italy.
A BC-610 transmitter was used by double agent Juan Pujol García during WWII as part of Operation Fortitude. Clear reception by the Germans of messages transmitted by García, code name GARBO, were so crucial to the Allied deception that use of the relatively high-powered transmitter was deemed necessary. In 1944, a short subject film was produced by the Jam Handy Organization and sponsored by the Hallicrafters Company detailing how the HT-4 transmitter was adapted for military service and dramatizing its use by the U.S. military during World War II.
More in Military and Two-Way Radios
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: BC-610 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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