diff --git a/opendis/record/base.py b/opendis/record/base.py
index 735025f..a965713 100644
--- a/opendis/record/base.py
+++ b/opendis/record/base.py
@@ -82,10 +82,11 @@ def recordLength(self) -> int:
 
     @abstractmethod
     def serialize(self, outputStream: DataOutputStream) -> None:
-        """Serialize the record to the output stream."""
-        super().serialize(outputStream)
-        outputStream.write_uint32(self.recordType)
-        outputStream.write_uint32(self.recordLength)
+        """Serialize the record to the output stream.
+
+        The record header (recordType u32 + recordLength u16, see 6.2.83)
+        is written by each subclass before its own fields.
+        """
 
     @abstractmethod
     def parse(self,  # pyright: ignore [reportIncompatibleMethodOverride]
diff --git a/opendis/record/radio/__init__.py b/opendis/record/radio/__init__.py
index 8667ef5..1543c9a 100644
--- a/opendis/record/radio/__init__.py
+++ b/opendis/record/radio/__init__.py
@@ -480,6 +480,8 @@ def marshalledSize(self) -> int:
     
     def serialize(self, outputStream: DataOutputStream) -> None:
         super().serialize(outputStream)
+        outputStream.write_uint32(self.recordType)
+        outputStream.write_uint16(self.recordLength)
         outputStream.write_uint16(self.padding1)
         self.netId.serialize(outputStream)
         outputStream.write_uint8(self.todTransmitIndicator)
diff --git a/tests/test_StandardVariableRecord.py b/tests/test_StandardVariableRecord.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbe260f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_StandardVariableRecord.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!python
+
+import io
+import unittest
+
+from opendis.stream import DataOutputStream
+from opendis.record.warfare import DirectedEnergyDamage
+
+
+class TestStandardVariableRecord(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_serialize_length_matches_marshalledSize(self):
+        record = DirectedEnergyDamage()
+        buffer = io.BytesIO()
+        record.serialize(DataOutputStream(buffer))
+        self.assertEqual(record.marshalledSize(), len(buffer.getvalue()))
+        self.assertEqual(record.recordLength, len(buffer.getvalue()))
+        self.assertEqual(40, len(buffer.getvalue()))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()