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Radio USSR
Mobile HF/VHF radio station
- this page is for reference only
R-142 was a complete mobile HF and VHF radio system,
developed in the USSR
and used in the Warsaw Pact countries during the Cold War, consisting of
a fairly large metal rack with a number of
radio transceivers, intercoms,
interfaces, control units and
encryption devices.
The radio station was generally housed inside a communications shelter
mounted on a GAZ-66 truck.
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The image on the right shows a typical GAZZ-66 communications truck with
a full command and communications shelter on its back, as seen from the rear.
The open door at the right is the entrance to the radio
shack with the R-142 set at its heart. Apart from the standard R-142 set,
it has space for three secret devices (see below).
A small 2-step ladder provides easy access to the radio shack. The lights
inside the shack can only be turned on when the door is closed.
As soon as the door is opened the lights go off and the red
combat lighting comes on automatically.
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The open door at the rear is the entrance to the commander's
cabin. Inside this compartment is a table with chairs at
both sides. The commander can operate the radio set in the
other room from a remote control set mounted above this table.
To the left of the door is a power generator.
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Two foldable window antennas are mounted at the roof of
the shelter. They are used for HF communication. A retractable
mast with the VHF antennas is mounted behind the door of the
radio shack. Furthermore, a selection of rod antennas and
wire antennas can be mounted to the shelter. Some can be
used whilst driving.
The image on the right shows a typical R-142 radio station
at it was built inside the GAZ-66 communications vehicle.
Various radio sets are visible in this picture. The sloped
device at the bottom center is the operator's control panel.
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The empty space to the left of the control panel is reserved
for the secret M-125 (Fialka)
cipher machine.
At the bottom right is another secret device: the
R-014D burst encoder.
It is shown here with it yellow/green top cover present
and was used to avoid
radio direction finding (RDF).
The radio station can be controlled from four different
places inside the vehicle:
from within the radio shack, from the commander's
cabin (two positions) and finally from the driver's seat (even whilst driving).
The frequencies and the cryptographic keys
can only be controlled from the radio shack.
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R-142 equipment on this website
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The image above shows a block diagram of the R-142 radio
station as it was mounted inside the shelter of the GAZ-66. Click the image
to view the block diagram in full resolution.
The R-142 station had space for three secret devices
that are highlighted in yellow in the diagram above:
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The latter is at the top of the diagram. It is connected
to the R-130 HF transceiver and takes the necessary 4.8V power supply from
the TE-20 PSU that also feeds the
P-180M recorder.
Note that the secret units were normally not installed in the radio set,
but were only issued at the event of war or during an exercise.
In peace time they were represented by empty places in the radio rack.
The image above shows the position of the various components
inside the GAZ-66 truck. The blue-coloured section is the
R-142 radio set. The various pink-coloured units are the
remote control panels. Note that the command post has two
control panels plus a recording device.
The three secret devices (which were only installed in times of a conflict)
are shown in yellow.
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The R-142 radio stations consists of over 60 individual units,
plus a large number of junction boxes and cables. Whilst it is
difficult to give full details of each individual unit, we have
listed some highlights below. Please refer to the block diagram
to see how the units are connected.
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- R-111 (2x)
- R-123MT
- R-130
- R-809M2
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- BP-26 (for R-12MT)
- TE-1 (for R-111)
- TE-2 (for R-111)
- TE-20 (for R-014D and P-180M)
- TE-25 (for R-809M2)
- TE-26 (for R-130)
- TE-75 (for expansion unit)
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- AB-1-P/30 power generator
- G-290 power generator
- R-011M modem
- R-012M selective call unit (1 or 2 units)
- P-180M audio recorder
- Heater for T-219
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- Crypto Museum, R-142 Block Diagram
Copyright 2009-2013.
- UKW/KW-ESB Funkgerätesatz R-142. Technische Beschreibung. Band II.
Description of each module (German).
- UKW/KW-ESB Funkgerätesatz R-142. Technische Beschreibung. Band II.
Full technical description with block diagram and wiring diagrams (German).
42-000-206. Serial number 021068. 29 November 1976.
Last changed 1 March 1980. CM300309.
- Funkgerätesatz R-142 Wartungstechnologie
Maintenance instructions for the R-142 radio set (German).
A 040/1/852. 11 December 1979. CM300437.
- Funkgerätesatz R-142 Instandsetzung
Description on how to set up and test the R-142 radio set (German).
A 040/1/510. 8 October 1980. CM301415.
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- Anonymous contributor, Photograph of GAZ-66 with R-142 radio set, seen from rear
Personal correspondence.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Sunday 27 October 2013. Last changed: Thursday, 04 January 2024 - 13:55 CET.
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