Jpage Posted February 27, 2021 Share #26 Posted February 27, 2021 2 hours ago, Steve Brannan said: Saw the thread on Strobe Lights. This is the one I used in Vietnam 1969-70. Very nice ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Brannan Posted February 27, 2021 Share #27 Posted February 27, 2021 I was given this Strobe by a Navy Seawolf Pilot working with our boat. He wanted to be able to identify us at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpage Posted February 27, 2021 Share #28 Posted February 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, Steve Brannan said: I was given this Strobe by a Navy Seawolf Pilot working with our boat. He wanted to be able to identify us at night. You got Your strobe the hard way, unlike me. Thanks for serving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulture06 Posted March 1, 2021 Share #29 Posted March 1, 2021 From my Vietnam Leg Holster Survival Kit.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted March 1, 2021 Share #30 Posted March 1, 2021 Very nice one right there. Before this thread I didnt even know those ASI ones were out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted March 1, 2021 Share #31 Posted March 1, 2021 Here is a couple strobes that belonged to a couple of SEALs during VN. They are as I got them and other than unscrewing the battery out of the one I haven't messed with them at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted March 1, 2021 Share #32 Posted March 1, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpage Posted March 1, 2021 Share #33 Posted March 1, 2021 2 hours ago, Spike said: Looks like a home-made IR filter ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted March 1, 2021 Share #34 Posted March 1, 2021 Very well could be an early IR setup, even for Vietnam era. They did have starlight scopes around and Ive read reports that even some very early NVG mask type setups like a PVS-5 were being tested for aviation use in SEA before the actual PVS-5 was authorized for limited use in Aviation I think in 1974. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted March 7, 2021 Share #35 Posted March 7, 2021 Would this have been painted as it is by the owner or issued like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWW Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share #36 Posted March 7, 2021 It would have been painted by the unit. If you look at the top of this post you will see a photo of a page from the Air Force TO with Section 5 titled "Performance Testing" then look at "a" "Light Leakage Test". This tells about the painting. The early flash guards only fit over the clear dome of the strobe and this also helped with light leakage from them. Despite what is called for in the TO, you will see a wide variety of widths of black paint on strobes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted March 8, 2021 Share #37 Posted March 8, 2021 RWW, cool info. This one was in a large UDT/SEAL grouping I got about 6 years ago and I found it the the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vark_07 Posted August 23, 2021 Share #38 Posted August 23, 2021 My contribution to this very interesting thread, a 1977 example that I strongly believe to be naval (quick extraction yellow strap + velcro hook backing). More pictures and close-ups are available here if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted August 23, 2021 Share #39 Posted August 23, 2021 34 minutes ago, Vark_07 said: My contribution to this very interesting thread, a 1977 example that I strongly believe to be naval (quick extraction yellow strap + velcro hook backing). More pictures and close-ups are available here if needed. Yes, 100 percent a NAVAIR item with the pull tab and the red dummy cord, plus the velcro for the helmet attachment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWW Posted August 24, 2021 Author Share #40 Posted August 24, 2021 No doubt a great Navy example. Your post does raise a question on how the Navy marked strobes used in vests. I have never seen a name or call sign engraved into any Navy item. (I have no doubt individual aviators might have customized items, but as for the shop marking things, it is pretty standard.) It is usually 2 letters and 4 digits. I have a couple of Navy strobes and none of them have any markings on either the strobe or yellow webbing. Below is a picture of a strap cutter with the webbing marked as an example of how all the Navy components I have seen are marked. Please post any pictures of marked Navy strobes you might have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted August 24, 2021 Share #41 Posted August 24, 2021 7 hours ago, RWW said: No doubt a great Navy example. Your post does raise a question on how the Navy marked strobes used in vests. I have never seen a name or call sign engraved into any Navy item. (I have no doubt individual aviators might have customized items, but as for the shop marking things, it is pretty standard.) It is usually 2 letters and 4 digits. I have a couple of Navy strobes and none of them have any markings on either the strobe or yellow webbing. Below is a picture of a strap cutter with the webbing marked as an example of how all the Navy components I have seen are marked. Please post any pictures of marked Navy strobes you might have. Earlier Navy stuff, Id say pre mid 90s didn't seem to do that standard marking of what they do on each item currently. From what I understand its your initials and last 4 of your SSN. If you recall the SV-2Bs used to have the big name tapes down the knife pocket back in the early 90s and before and now all the AIRSAVEs and what not just have the initials and numbers on all the pockets and all the gear inside as well. I like that jack the ripper hook knife, haven't seen one yet with the NAVAIR webbing pull like that. Was that out of an AIRSAVE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayward Son Posted September 17, 2021 Share #42 Posted September 17, 2021 Very interesting and informative thread. As it has been progressing over the past few months, I got the opportunity to pick up some SDU-5/E's from a surplus / militaria shop going out of business in Idaho. All the stuff seen here cost me a whopping $25. Dates are 1972, 75, 81 and 85. The oldest battery in the lot is from 1976. I have also included a couple of shots of the SDU-5/E civilian version made by ACR. I found it in a second hand boating store back in the late 80's. I believe it's production date was 1985. Waiting on a couple of CR123 conversion caps to test them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWW Posted September 17, 2021 Author Share #43 Posted September 17, 2021 You did great, and got a good representative sample of SDU-5/E's! The '72 dated one with the orange cap battery is an especially good find! If they haven't been used in a while, it may take a few minutes after you put the battery in before they will flash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayward Son Posted September 17, 2021 Share #44 Posted September 17, 2021 I would like to add that if anyone here is in need of a non functioning BA-1574/U battery and / or brass cap, PM me and I'll get you whatever you need for the price of shipping. Cheers. 🍻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted October 26, 2021 Share #45 Posted October 26, 2021 I'm interested in a couple of brass caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted November 28, 2021 Share #46 Posted November 28, 2021 Got a pretty decent shape 68 contract ELCO recently. The battery is stuck in place so I cant check the date on it. Why are there 2 FSNs for the SDU-5? I noticed some are 6230-067-5209 and others 6230-938-1778. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vark_07 Posted November 28, 2021 Share #47 Posted November 28, 2021 Is there a chance these 2 distinctive FSNs could be related to some kind of "global issue" FSN versus "naval only issue" FSN ? My USN SDU-5 has the 6230-067-5209 number, for what it's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted November 29, 2021 Share #48 Posted November 29, 2021 11 hours ago, Vark_07 said: Is there a chance these 2 distinctive FSNs could be related to some kind of "global issue" FSN versus "naval only issue" FSN ? My USN SDU-5 has the 6230-067-5209 number, for what it's worth. I saw your Navy one is a later (post 1974) so it had the NSN but its basically the same number as that FSN ending in 5209, only has the 00 country code added. I would have wanted to say maybe that other stock number was discontinued that was on my 1970 strobe but I saw the last contract ones from 1995-1996 had the other number ending in 1778. If they are the same lights Id imagine they wouldn't have a different stock number, would seem confusing. I guess we shall see when Bob chimes in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWW Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share #49 Posted December 1, 2021 I asked our question to a fellow collector who is much better at researching things than I am. He found the answer in the TO on strobe lights. The answer is a very simple supply issue. -5209 gets you the strobe, battery, and case. -1778 only gets you the strobe. Now we know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted December 1, 2021 Share #50 Posted December 1, 2021 Excellent work! Isnt the 4RM1B battery the original style that had the red end cap? Surprised none of the BA designation batteries are there but I guess it depends on when that TO was published/current to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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