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Russian spy radio set
The R-353 is a Russian spy radio set that was
developed in the USSR in the early 1960s, at the height of the
Cold War. It features an advanced built-in tape-based
burst transmitter for sending coded messages in
morse code
at very high speed, in order to minimise the risk of detection
and direction finding by the enemy.
The R-353 is also known by its codename PROTON (Russian: ПРОТОН).
Radios like the R-353 are extremely rare and are highly wanted by
collectors.
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The R-353 is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated
valve-based spy radio sets around.
It is completely self-contained and has a built-in power supply unit
that can be connected to virtually any mains voltage in the world.
Contrary to many other Cold War era radios, the R-353 is a true spy
radio set, that was used by Soviet (and other) spies and agents, to
send messages to the countries behind the Iron Curtain.
Therefore, most of the R-353 sets have their markings and controls
in English, as that would reduce the risk of being exposed.
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The transceiver has a modular design. On the left is the receiver,
whilst the transmitter is on the right. In between these two units,
is the burst transmitter: a small unit that can play back the
metal tape cassette (see below).
At the bottom is the power supply unit (PSU) which connects directly
to the mains. The PSU can be detached and replaced by a power inverter,
so that the R-353 can also be powered from a battery source.
A metal lid protects the controls and the tape reader. When opened,
the top lid acts as a stand, holding the transceiver in operational
position. Inside the top lid are some of the accessories.
On the left is a white plastic plate, behind which some fuses and spare
light bulbs are stored.
To the right of it is a dial,
which resembles the dial on an old telephone set.
The dial enables the operator to send numbers directly in
morse code,
without any knowledge of morse code whatsoever.
To the right of the dial is a small work light attached to a flexible
arm, and a small morse key that can be 'lifted' into position.
To the right of the morse key are the user instructions and frequency
tables; all in English.
Like most Russian equipment of the era, the R-353 was finished with Hamerite
paint. Two colours are known to have been used for this: grey (most common)
and green-blue Hammerite. The purpose of the different colours is unknown.
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Sending messages in morse code
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The R-353 was used to send messages in
morse code (CW) in a variety of
manners. The usual manner of operating the radio was by using the burst
encoder to send pre-coded messages at very high speed, in order to minimise
the risk of being detected. This method is further described in the next
section below.
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In case of emergency, the operator could also send messages directly in
morse, using a small morse key that was folded away in the top lid of
the radio. By pulling the morse key upwards, it locks into position
allowing normal hand operation.
A small connector, sitting in a small bay inside the top lid, should be
connected to the socket marked KEY on the radio's front panel. This
way, both the morse key and the number dial (see below) are connected to the radio.
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After use, the morse key needs to be stowed away before the lid can be
closed again. This is done by pusing a spring-loaded lever at the underside of
the key backwards and then pressing the key down.
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The morse key is only of use to an experienced radio operator, who is capable
of giving morse at a reasonable speed. If the operator is totally unexperienced
with morse, an alternative method to send a numerical message is available
in the form of a telephone-style dial.
Once the radio link with headquarters is established, all the user needs to do
is dial the appropriate numbers on the circular disc. A clever mechanism
hidden under the disc, translates each number directly into the appropriate morse code.
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The R-353 was supplied with one of the most advanced
burst encoders of its time.
It is based on a small cassette with a metal tape, on which the
message are recorded, much like the American
AN/GRA71.
A small metal box with a telephone-like dial was used to
record the message on the tape, without using batteries!
 More information
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The R-353 is completely valve-based. It contains many miniature valves
and one rather large power valve, for the PA-section of the transmitter.
In order to repair R-353 units in the field, a small metal box with
spare parts was supplied.
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The box contains virtually anything a technician needs to repair a faulty
unit: fuses, light bulbs, valves (tubes), tools (screwdriver and
pliers), spare metal tape,
soldering iron, solder and raisin.
Spares boxes for the R-353 are very rare and unfortunately most of them
have already been 'canibalised' in the past.
The one shown here was discovered in a former East-German spares facility
and according to the enclosed checklist, it is still complete.
It even contains some brown envelopes with additional spares.
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There are two variants of this box that have only minor differences.
The one shown here has a spool with spare metal tape (for the burst
encoder) in the top left of the top lid, whilst in the other variant
it is stored in a small metal container.
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By default, the R-353 was main powered, using the standard PSU attached
to the bottom of the unit. The standard PSU could also be replaced by a
power inverter, so that it could be powered from an external battery source.
The standard battery unit that was used with the R-353 is shown here.
It's a small box that houses a number of common Russian wet batteries.
The connector is on the right.
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When an external battery was used (see above) this separate power supply
unit was used to charge the batteries. It has two fixed wires: one that
connects to the battery case (left) and one for connection to the mains
(right).
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The R-353 has been in use in many Western European countries from the
early 1960s, well into the 1970s and was captured by western agencies
on a few occasions. One documented event was the capture of an
East-German agent in The Netherlands (i.e. a Dutch person)
in the early 1960s.
When he was finally exposed, the Dutch security agency
BVD
(now AIVD)
found a fully operational R-353 in his home
[1]
(see also
[2]
).
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- AIVD Website
Short impression of the capture of an R-353 in The Netherlands (Dutch)
- Chris Vos, et al. De geheime dienst: verhalen over de BVD
ISBN: 90-8506-181-4 (Dutch, book with DVD)
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© Copyright 2009-2013, Paul Reuvers & Marc Simons. Last changed: Saturday, 21 June 2014 - 22:25 CET
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