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The SCR-284A / BC654 Multi-Configuration Radio Set:
* Field Radio / Vehicular Radio / Command Set
The history of the SCR-284A / BC-654 is long and proud. It was the firstAmerican Radio to see combat in WWII -- in Africa during operation TorchNovember 8, 1942. The BC-654 was the first radio set to establish communicationsfrom the beach to the Fleet, and was used to coordinate Naval gunfire, andBeach Nets. The Radio Set last saw service during Korea; and was used extensively.The Signal Corps intention had been to replace the BC-654 with the BC-1306by Normandy - but there were some snags in the production of the BC-1306,so starting with serial number 54,100 (and a date of around August 1943),some 50,000 BC-654s were produced and delivered in support of OperationOverlord. There is a story that one of the first half-tracks to reach thebeach was disabled so was used as a radio relay to the Fleet to coordinatethe landing and Naval Gunfire - if this story could be verified, it maywell be that the BC-654 was the first radio on the beach at Normandy aswell - but things were such chaos that day, no one seems to know for sure-there certainly wasn't time to take inventory!
The BC-654 is a receiver / transmitter which covers 3800KC to 5800KC andis rated at 17 Watts CW, 5 Watts AM Phone - although 25W CW and 11W Phoneare typical. The Radio Set comes in three basic configurations - Field RadioSet, Vehicular Radio Set (as displayed here) and Command Radio Set. Thefirst two were used during WWII; all three during Korea. In all configurations,the receiver / transmitter are identical - the differences come in how theunit is installed and powered. As a field radio, the unit sets on four legs,the receiver is powered by a battery (BA-43) and the transmitter by a hand-crankedgenerator. The set packed up into three 55 pound back-packs that the radiomanand two assistants would carry. Once in operation, the radioman operatedthe set, while the two assistants took turns cranking the generator andstanding guard. As a vehicular set the unit sits on a large stand whichalso holds a 6/12V dynamotor (PE-103) to power the transmitter -- the receiveruses a vibrator supply (PE-104). As a command set, the unit is usually seton a table, and powered by a two-cycle 3600RPM 1 horse gas generator.
That brings us to our BC-654 - serial number 56089, manufactured in August,1943. Whether it ever saw combat is doubtful - this unit looks as it didthe day it was made. Complete with all spares and most of it's accessories,this radio is ready for service. The manual, TM 11-275 dated 24 January,1944. The two mannequins, (only one shown in this picture) are in genuinefield issue uniforms with correct insignia... Fred (shown) stands whileSammy (not shown)
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