The SCR-203 was a U.S. Army radio

Radio

Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...

 transceiver

Transceiver

A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...

 used during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 and designed to be mounted on an animal pack saddle

Pack saddle

A pack saddle is any device designed to be secured on the back of a horse, mule, or other draft animal so it can carry heavy loads such as luggage, firewood, small cannons or other weapons too heavy to be carried by humans, etc.-Description:...

.

Specifications

The SCR-203 was a low power, short range, portable command set designed to clamp onto a Phillips pack saddle for animal-pack transportation and operation. It was used primarily by the cavalry

Cavalry

Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...

, and field artillery

Field artillery

Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....

. It consisted of the BC-228 transmitter, the BC-227 receiver, and BC-235 control box and could transmit 7.5 watts

Watt

The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...

 AM

Amplitude modulation

Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...

 voice, MCW

Modulated continuous wave

Modulated continuous wave is defined by the Federal Communications Commission in 47 CFR §97.3 as "Tone-modulated international Morse code telegraphy emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G, H or R as the first symbol; 2 as the second symbol; A or B as the third symbol." See Types of radio...

, or CW

Continuous wave

A continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off...

 for a range of approximately 30 miles

Miles

Miles is the plural of mile.Miles may also refer to:- People :*Miles Brothers, American cinema pioneers* Miles ** Miles Browning, World War II admiral** Miles Davis, jazz trumpet player** Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver...

. Its radio frequency

Radio frequency

Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...

 coverage was approximately 2.0 to 3.0 Mhz. The unit was powered by various battery packs and a GN-35 hand cranked generator and used a 25 ft whip antenna

Antenna (radio)

An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...

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History

The mule

Mule

A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...

-packed radio concept dates back to before World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, but due to the decline of the Horse Cavalry and the miniaturization of radio components, the SCR-203 was the last of the U.S. Army's radio sets designed to be animal-mounted. The SCR-203 was replaced by the SCR-245.

External links

• http://www.gordon.army.mil/ocos/museum/equipment.asp scr and bc lists
• http://pages.cthome.net/fwc/SCR.HTM SIGNAL CORPS RADIO SETS, F. W. Chesson
• http://www.militaryhorse.org/studies/phillips/pack.php
• http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeeir49/militarysaddleryresearch2/id19.html
• http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1942/APR_1942/APR_1942_PAGES_312_317.pdf in use