RBZ

is a portable short wave receiver used in WWII by the American Navy and their paratroupers to receive orders.
Reports state that it also was used by resistance groups in Europe.

It consists of two units: The receiver unit and the supply unit.

It is a 5-tube- Superhet, Mode AM, tunable.

Batteries and radio are built in two equal sized plastic housings, carried together in a canvas pouch on the chest. The pouch also contains the headset and an antenna lead (to the helmet).

Both units are waterproof. The controls are located on the panel cover of the receiver. A very rare Skull Cap , contained the headset. The helmet was the antenna.
My radio is a RBZ (no RBZ Special).

Skull cap (Click picture to enlarge)

Frequency range:

2 .. 5.8 MHz

( RBZ Special: 5 .. 13 MHz )

Mode:

AM

Sensitivity:

1 to 4 µV

Tubes:

5 ( 1T4, 1R5, 1T4, 1S5, 1L4 )

Controls:

2 Knobs:

on/off/loudness

Frequency

Powered by:

2 x 1.5V- batteries BA-30, parallel; 1 x 67.5V battery BA-51

Power consumption:

250 mA LT, 5 mA HT

Year of issue:

1943 ?