Jeeps4Brains escribió:Taken from: Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN
RT-70,MORE THAN JUST A TANK RADIO!
The RT-70 though usually referred to as a Tank Radio,was used in various other roles dating from 1951 to approx 1965,& continued on in service with U.S. secondary combat units,& allies even longer.
It was originally conceived in response to a need for communications between tank personnel & their support infantry(armor radio frequencies were in the range of 20-27mc,while infantry was 38-54mc). Though this need had been recognized early in WW-II,it was not properly addressed until the Korean Conflict. Up until the requirements of the RT-70 were added to that of the new family equipment(RT-66-68 etc). Field telephones were mounted externally on tanks,thus an infantryman needed to run along side the moving vehicle to pass information. Though this practice was continued,it was no long the only means of infantry soldier/tank communications.
So the RT-70 now enters the seen as a liaison radio to provide the service outlined above. In addition it could be used in a similar role between infantry & artillery when space/weight requirements were limited. With the addition of some minor components,it also was found useful in several other configurations.
The most overlooked was it's Back Pack setup as the PRC-16. With the addition of a CY-590 battery box,& associated antenna accessories. Here the RT-70 is mounted with it's ancillary equipment to a standard pack board. Used in this manor it could & did serve in several capacities unsuited to any other system. #1. as a backpack set for artillery spotting. #2. as a manpack system providing a very light weight portable ground station. #3. as a stand alone vehicular radio(with the AM-65). #4. & most notable is it's installation with the CY-590 battery box in light aircraft for Artillery spotter & observation duties.
In the above listed roles,the RT-70 had the distinct following advantages over it's cousin set,the PRC-10 which was used to a greater extent in similar fashions.
#1, though it was heavier,& didn't cover as wide a frequency range,the RT-70 had the advantages of greater frequency stability,longer operational time by virtue of it's larger batteries,two presetable frequencies,a wider selection of antenna types with better compatability(with it's integral antenna trimmer),& a much broader selection of optional power sources.
#2. In the Manpack role,the RT-70 combined those assets noted in #1,with it's ability to be powered by a hand crank generator.
#3.As a vehicular radio,the RT-70 with its companion power supply(AM-65). It's advantage of smaller size could be combine with it's ability to be installed in vehicles having 6,12,or 24vdc electrical systems. In comparison the PRC-10 with it's AM-598 power supply/audio amp,was larger & limited to 24vdc operation. In addition it's AM-65 supply also provided multi channel audio amplification for either accessary radios,or interphone operation in high noise/crew served vehicles. The PRC-10/AM-598 had no such provision.
#4,when used in an aircraft all those advantages noted in #1 come into play with an emphases on the dual present freqs & longer battery life. We might stray here for a moment to note that it was common practice to strap backpack radios in light aircraft for the noted uses. This beginning with the introduction of prototype SCR-194's & 195's in late 1935. Their success was not impressive until the advent of the BC-620 & 659. Later the SCR-300 replaced the earlier sets. All this because early aircraft of this type did not have electrical systems of their own,thus the radio needed be supplied by it's independent source(it's battery).
On the subject of the longer battery life advantage. It must be noted that front line tactical radio equipment in normal routine operation,is not operated continually while it's personnel are deployed. Radio's in service with a patrol for instanse,would not be turned on when they deployed,then turned off upon their return. Rather the operational communications procedures required pre-determined check in times. Or the radio might be used to call for unexpected assistance or coordinate actual combat activities. Also the absence of one of these pre-determined check in's would alert higher echelon to trouble. Thus normally operated PRC type radio's did not need be operational for several hours at a time. Where as,in the application noted above,prolonged operation was always a necessity.
To conclude,some notes for the collector/operator. The RT-70 is one of the best & simplest radio's to restore,repair,or get into operation. Unlike many portable set's with numerous voltages & multi celled bastard batteries,the RT-70 requires only 6 & 90 vdc. It's one of the most common & affordable surplus radios available(for the present). It's advantages over the PRC-10 family are numerous. & never under estimate it's mere 500mw output. Until all the old farts I once talked to in the area,died off. It was an every day thing to communicated with them over 15-20 mile paths using a stock RT-70 & 1/4 wave ground plane. So get you one,beginner or expert,put it on the air & use it!
COMPLETED PRC-16 CONSIST OF:
RT-70
CY-590,BATTERY BOX
G-8,HAND CRANK GENERATOR(OPTIONAL)
H-33,HANDSET
CX-1209,POWER CABLE(THIS WILL MOST LIKELY NEED BE MADE)
MT-673, MOUNT(OPTIONAL)
MT-652,ANTENNA BASE
AB-22,& AB-24,MAST SECTIONS
TM11-288,MANUAL
THE MT-652 IS SECURED IN THE HOLES LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FRONT PANEL OF ALL RT-70,66,67,68,ETC. THE AB-22,24(OR ANY OTHER OF THIS FAMILY OF ANTENNAS),ARE THEN SCREWED INTO THE MT-652.
THE ORIGINAL BATTERIES USED WERE,5ea BA-403 1.5vdc,& 1ea BA-419 90vdc.
THE MT-673 COULD BE MOUNTED TO A STANDARD PACK BOARD,TWO WHERE REQUIRED FOR SIDE BY SIDE MOUNTING. ONE FOR VERTICAL MOUNTING.
AM-65
Aclaro, el equipo de las fotografias , no es de Martin!!
