The U.S. Carbine Caliber .30 - Infrared - Sniperscopes & Equipment Infrared Background & Overview Sniperscope & Snooperscope Model M1 Sniperscope Model M2 (Early & Late) Sniperscope Set No. 1, 20k volts Model M3 Metascopes Select an image to view the web page Infrared-Sensitive Phosphors at Work The Metascopes The term "Metascope" generally applies to any scope that views infrared light as visible light. During WWII this term was used for the devices utilizing infrared sensitive phosphors. The term expanded to include other IR imaging devices after WWII. The metascopes of WWII paired an infrared image-sensitive phosphor with a simple optical system. These devices generally lacked the clarity of a telescope but were capable of viewing the presence of infrared light without the size and weight of a telescope and accompanying power source. A phosphor coated panel suspended inside the metascope was exposed to an excitation source which in turn activated the ability of the phosphor to convert near-infrared light to visible light. The most common excitation source was a small incandescent light bulb. Excitation sources varied with the design of the infrared sensitive phosphor. One phosphor used ultraviolet light. Another used radioactive radium. Between early 1942 and the end of the war, the research team at the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester designed and built eleven different metascope models. Six of these were accepted for quantity production by the Army and Navy. With the rapid pace of research and development, half of these were obsolete by the time the contractor was ready to start production. Type A Infrared Metascope The "Type A" metascope was the first developed by the NDRC and in conjunction with the Navy. The Navy's first field tests of the Type A involved signal communications between ships and American forces on the shore during the invasion of North Africa November 8-10, 1942 [1]. The tests revealed the production model required further attention. Production was halted before the contract was completed pending a redesign. The pace and progress of research overtook the usefulness of the Type A metascope with the introduction of an improved phosphor before production problems could be worked out. It was recalled and replaced by the Type AM metascope (below).       Use:   Recognition, Signals, IR Detection           Phosphor Excitation Source:   Incandescent Bulbs (2)           Mount:   Hand held           Dimensions:   6" long x 3.5" wide x 3.5" high           Weight:   1.8 lbs     Contracts Branch Contract # Quantity Manufacturer Start Date End Date Amount U.S. Navy OEMsr-1100* [2] 10,000** Samson United Corp. Rochester, NY 1942 early 1943 unknown * Both the Type A and Type B were manufactured under the same contract. ** Production suspended then canceled before the contract was completed. Unknown how many were produced. The Type A had two incandescent lamps (lower left and lower right) and two phosphor disks. One phosphor disc could be charged by a lamp while the other was being used by rotating the knob left or right. Type A with stadiameter attachment. The stadiameter enabled the user to determine the distance and angle of an infrared light being viewed by the receiver. Type B Infrared Metascope       Use:   Recognition, Signals, IR Detection           Phosphor Excitation Source:   Incandescent Bulb (1)           Mount:   Hand held and Ship           Dimensions:   6" long x 5.5" wide x 8" high           Weight:   4.6 lbs     Contracts Branch Contract # Quantity Manufacturer Start Date End Date Amount U.S. Navy OEMsr-1100* [2] 5000 Eastman Kodak Rochester, NY 1943 early 1944 unknown * Both the Type A and Type B were manufactured under the same contract. While efforts to perfect the Type A metascope were under way the Type B metascope was developed at the NDRC at the request of the U.S. Navy. The Type B featured an aperture twice the size of the Type A with 2x magnification. Initially intended as an inline viewing system that would increase its detection distance the design was changed to a folding mirror system to reduce its bulk and weight. This reduced its detection distance to that of the Type A metascope. Lever (A), Button (B), and Knurled Cap (D) Shown here removed from inside the upright column is the Knurled Cap (D) with Push Button (B) that activates the incandescent bulb Lever positions The large mirror in the rear of the Type B Metascope is attached to the back panel and removed at right. Early production Type B Metascopes had two battery compartments that were sealed when the battery cap was attached. At some point during production the battery compartment on the right side of the unit was eliminated and the top of the battery compartment/tube was opened to allow the user to see if batteries were installed. The small sliding panel on the front of the unit provided access to connectors that allowed the scope to be operated from an external power source. Opening the door disabled the internal power. It is not uncommon to find the sliding panel has broken. Type US/F Infrared Metascope       Use:   Recognition, Signals, IR Detection           Phosphor Excitation Source: Radium           Mount:   Hand held           Dimensions:   3.31" long x 2.75" wide x 3.5" high           Weight:   0.85 lbs     Contracts Branch Contract # Quantity Manufacturer Start Date End Date Amount U.S. Army Corp of Engineers W44-009-ENG-120 [3]   Samson United Corp. Rochester, NY 2/44 8/44 $103,000 U.S. Army Corp of Engineers W30-082-ENG(MSP)-4327 [3]   Electronic Laboratories Indianapolis, IN 1/45 8/45 $3,681,000 U.S. Army Corp of Engineers W30-082-ENG(MSP)-4524 [3]   Samson United Corp. Rochester, NY 1/45 7/45 $3,375,000     55,000         The Type F metascope was the first of two successful and mass-produced near-infrared viewing devices. The combination of a new phosphor and optical system it employed gave the Type F high sensitivity and good image quality with a size and weight never before achieved. Sealed inside was a small disk of radioactive radium on gold foil mounted on a lightweight swinging arm. Tilting the instrument exposed the phosphor to radium alpha particles making it sensitive to IR light. The unit was sealed to prevent exposure to radium's radioactive alpha and beta particles. The Type US/F Metascope was tested concurrently to the Type C-1 Infrared Telescope by the U.S. Army Infantry Board at Ft. Benning, GA. The tests and conclusions appear in Infantry Board Report #1595A dated 17 Oct 1944. The Infantry Board recommended the Type U.S./F metascope be adopted for use by infantry. A ten-page manual was included as Appendix B in TM 5-9340 Snooperscope & Sniperscope dated September 1944. Instructions for use are also included in FM 21-75 Combat Training of the Individual Soldier and Patrolling dated October 1950 and updated June 1957. Radioactive Radium The Type F metascope cannot be refurbished and cannot be made operable. DO NOT open the device, attempt to repair it or attempt to remove the radium. The lifespan of the phosphor has long since ended rendering the device inoperable. With a half-life of 1600 years, the radium is still radioactive. As radium deteriorates it generates radioactive gamma rays that penetrate the exterior of the device. The level of gamma radiation within 1 foot of the device can be hazardous to your long-term health. Radiation exposure is accumulative and stays with us throughout our lifetime with the potential of causing bone cancer. Keep your distance and limit exposure time. For additional information: Center for Disease Control (CDC) Single Phosphor Panel with Swing Arm   (A) Storage Position, Radium arm locked (B) Button releases Radium arm exposing Phosphor to Radium (C) Turn unit upside down, push button to lock Radium arm (D) Turn unit rightside up, lift lid and view The U.S. Type F as manufactured by Electronic Laboratories was slightly different than those manufactured by Samson United Corporation. Both met the specifications, operated the same and performed the same. Left: Electronic Laboratories Type F Metascope, rotary switch for charging & use Right: Samson United Type F Metascope, push button switch for charging & use Samson United Corporation

	Radioactive Radium
The Type AM metascope cannot be refurbished and cannot be made operable. DO NOT open the device, attempt to repair it or attempt to remove the radium. The lifespan of the phosphor has long since ended rendering the device inoperable. With a half-life of 1600 years, the radium is still radioactive. As radium deteriorates it generates radioactive gamma rays that penetrate the exterior of the device. The level of gamma radiation within 1 foot of the device can be hazardous to your long-term health. Radiation exposure is accumulative and stays with us throughout our lifetime with the potential of causing bone cancer. Keep your distance and limit exposure time. For additional information: Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Single Phosphor Panel with Swing Arm CAUTION: DO NOT attempt to remove the red lens or open the unit. Doing so risks exposure to radioactive alpha particles and beta particle in addition to the radioactive gamma rays that are not contained by the design of this device.

References: [1] "Infrared Signal Systems", Military Communications: From Ancient Times to the 21st Century, Christian H. Sterling, Editor, p.229-230, 2008 [2] Image Forming Infrared; Summary Technical Report of Division 16, National Defense Research Committee, 1946 [3] Alphabetic Listing, Major War Supply Contracts, Cumulative, June 1940 through September 1945, Industrial Statistics Division, Civilian Production Administration, 1946 Also see: [a] Science in World War II Series; Applied Physics: Electronics, Optics, Metallurgy by the National Defense Research Committee, 1948 [b] Catalog of Naval Electronic Equipment, Supplement 1, January 1948 Should you have questions, assistance is available on our Discussion Forum. The Discussion Forum also serves as a reference desk for the more advanced material that could easily overwhelm a website and is often subject to opinions that may vary due to a lack of original documentation. A number of researchers and authors are present on the forums, helping others and seeking information for various research projects.