Here you find 379 models, 334 with images and 191 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.All listed radios etc. from MILITARY U.S. (different makers for same model)
Rt 176 Prc 10 Radio
Above: At the time, a widely distributed propaganda photo of Viet Cong guerillas operating in South Vietnam. Here using a captured PRC-10 radio while planning their next move. The man on the left would later become a VC General. His Komrade operates the H-33 handset connected to the radio; M-1 Carbine nearby.
The PRC-10 was carried in the ST-120A/PR canvas harness, worn on the back. The shape factor of the radio was thinner than the SCR-300 and that kept the weight closer to the soldiers back for comfort and also helped the ability to roll over more easily. The ST-120 harness was connected to the standard pistol belt along with the CW-216(*) accessory bag if carried.
These parts were carried in the CW-216(*)/PR accessory bag as shown. This bag has a February 1956 contract date stamp. The radio was also compatible with the mast-mounted RC-292 ground plane antennas. The Receiver-Transmitter is fitted with a BNC coaxial connector for other external antennas, such as a vehicle antenna.
RWI systems were perfected in WWII and continue to be fielded even today, now known as Net Radio Interface. By the use of Special Purpose Cable Assembly CX-1961/U, two radios may be connected to form a radio relay station operating on 2 independent frequencies, at least 3 MC apart. This setup could be mounted in a favorable location such as a tall tree, mountain top or aircraft to enable communications relay between other distant stations.
Above: Front panel controls and fittings. The continuously tunable frequency can be calibrated against an internal crystal at 1 MC increments. The dial indicator line can be mechanically repositioned on the calibrator frequency with a top-side knob. The dial knob itself can be locked down once the radio has been properly netted.
Hi. Interesting discussions that I can amplify. I was drafted in 1953 to go to Korea. After 16 weeks of basic training at Camp Roberts, 12 of us were assigned to go to Alaska and 14 to Indo China. The rest to Korea. At Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska, I was in the 4th Regimental Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, Co. I. We infantry troops used PRC-6 and PRC-10 radios. During winter months (about 6 months of zero to 50 below zero F) the radio guys with the PRC-6 would have a battery in the radio, one under an arm pit, and one in each of their two jacket pockets. It required a constant rotation of batteries every 20 minutes or so to have a battery in the radio warm enough to power the instrument. We also ate way too many WWII C rations and the occasional K rations. Ever since, compared to C rations, there is no such thing as a bad meal. Now a request. What is the tube lineup in these two radios?
Just found this website.good stuff. very interesting. our vietnam infantry unit ( 1-9 air cav recon) used the prc-10 in 1965-66. i remember the rto carried the batteries in plastic bags (looked like small loafs of bread) and rotated them frequently. rto said radio had limited ranges,especially in mountains-valleys with triple canopy jungle, low cloud cover, foggy, humidity, rain,etc. not only were our radios not great but our rifles sucked too.we had early m16E1 rifles, that jammed up, had corrosion pbms,etc. lots of firefights with this equipment resulted in dead soldiers and marines.poor planning on army-usmc part sending them into combat with bad equipment.however the m-60 lt mg was a kick ass weapon.it saved the day many times.
I do not know the nomenclature for this gizmo, but there was a round developed for the M-79 grenade launcher that was designed to go through the canopy of the jungle and deploy a long wire antenna for extended range communications. Probably used with 2 to 30 Mhz radios, but a longwire antenna can be used for just about anything in a pinch!
Thanks for the info on the PRC-10. I just talked with my Dad last weekend and he was remembering carrying one when he made a landing with an Army group in Korea in 1958 or 1959. He was a Marine MP, so he and his partner camped on the beach instead of heading inland while packing that radio, spare batteries, field pack and carbine. He also said that they used them mounted in their jeeps and trucks, with the power supply and amplifier.
I came across your great web site and the page about the AN/PRC-10 manpack radio while I was looking for information about the RT-70/GRC. I got two of them recently andI am trying to understand in which theatres the RT-70/GRC orAN/VRC-7 or AN/PRC-16 was used, in particular if it was used in the early phases of the Vietnam war. From your web site I learned that the PRC-10 was contemporary to the RT-70 so I thought that it could also have been used in Vietnam. However so far I could not find enough information about the deployment of that radio. It has been extensively adopted by NATO forces in Europe until reletively recent times (1970s, maybe 1980s ?) but no clues about its combat use.
The AN/PRC-10 came into the Army inventory in March, 1951. It is a 16 tube FM radio which was used as a squad radio. It is part of a family of radios AN/PRC-8, AN/PRC-9, and AN/PRC-10 which differ only in the frequency of operation and the components that determine that frequency.
Each AN/PRC-10 radio set consists of a superheterodyne FM receiver and FM transmitter that share a common antenna. The Receiver-Transmitter consists of a single panel chassis assembly mounted in a magnesium case with a watertight seal. A short eight wire cable connects the chassis to the BA-279/U battery while two springs clamps hold the R-T case to the battery case. The PRC-8,9,10 radios can be adapted for vehicluar use by means of the AM-598/U Amplifier Power Supply that converts 24 volts to the operating voltages of the radio (the battery cable plugs into the power supply), plus can drive an audio aux speaker.
The AT-271/PRC antenna (the long antenna) is used with the radio for maximum range. It is provided in seven sections connected by an internal stainless steel cable, a total of 10 feet long. When folded, the cable keeps the sections together as a group. This antenna screws into the LONG ANT jack on the top control panel. The AT-272/PRC antenna (the short antenna) consists of several lengths of flexible steel tape riveted together, making a tapered antenna 3 feet long that screws into the SHORT ANT jack. The short antenna is for general service and can be folded into the carrying bag that is part of the PRC-10 equipment list.
In the field, soldiers quickly found that the backpack antenna was a sniper target. The antenna was therefore removed, or sometimes the radio was carried upside down with the short antenna pointed to the ground, which did not seem to affect the range of 3 to 12 miles, depending on antenna used and siting conditions.
The handset H-33B/PT connects through a cable and ten contact plug that connects to the AUDIO jack on the control panel. The weight of the AN/PRC-10 is 26 pounds including battery and other components. The technical manual for these radios was TM 11-612, covering the AN/PRC-8, AN/PRC-9, and AN/PRC-10.
In July 1965, responding to General Westmoreland's complaints about the AN/PRC-10, the new, transistorized FM radios of the AN/VRC-12 and AN/PRC-25 families were shipped to Vietnam. Those radios, intended for deployment in Europe, soon became the mainstay of tactical communications in Southeast Asia. In three and a half years, 20,000 VRC-12 and 33,000 PRC-25 radios were delivered to Southeast Asia. The PRC-25, which fully replaced the PRC-10, was, according to General Creighton Abrams, "the single most important tactical item in Vietnam."
Each radio set consists of a superheterodyne FM receiver and FM transmitter use a common antenna. The Receiver-Transmitter consists of a single panel chassis assembly mounted in a magnesium case with a watertight seal. A short eight wire cable connects the chassis to the BA-279/U battery while two springs clamps hold the R-T case to the battery case. The PRC-8,9,10 radios can be adapted for vehicluar use by means of the AM-598/U Amplifier Power Supply that converts 24 volts to the operating voltages of the radio (the battery cable plugs into the power supply), plus can drive an audio aux speaker.
In the field, soldiers quickly found that the backpack antenna was a sniper target. The antenna was therefore removed, or sometimes the radio was carrid upside down with the short antenna pointed to the ground, which did not seem to effect the range of 3 to 12 miles, depending on antenna used and siting conditions.
The Army divided up the radio spectrum into three bands, Armor, Artillery and Infantry. The PRC-8 20-27.9 MHz, the PRC-9 27-38.9 MHz and the PRC-10 38-54.9 MHz. Note there is a small overlap for inter-division communication. The 38.0 to 54.9 MHz band was what we now call squad radio
JAN Type: AN/PRC-10Nomenclature: Radio Set Reference: TM 11-5820-292-XXNSN: 5820-00-223-5122Components: RT-176/PRC-10 Receiver-Transmitter, CY-744(*) Battery Case, BA-279/U Battery, AT-271(*)/PRC Antenna, AT-272(*)/PRC Antenna, AB-129/U Antenna Spring, H-33(*)/PT Handset Weight: 7.8kgMode: 30F3Frequency Range: 38-55 MHzPower Input: A: 1.5, B1: 67.5, B2: 135, C: 6 V from BA-279/UPower Output: 0.9 WNumber of Channels: Continuous Tuning (Calibration Osc at 2.15 MHz points)Replaced By: PRC-25 Replaces: BC-1000 Part of: PRC-10 Antenna: AT-271 and AT-272Description: The PRC-10 is a portable, low-power, frequency-modulated radio set which can be pack-mounted or installed in vehicles to provide voice commumnications over relatively short distances. They can also be used for homing. Provision is made for remote operation and unattended relay operation.Source: TM 11-5820-292-10, 12 Sep 61. PRC-10a,transmitting and receive in 6m (50-54Mhz) amateur-band FM only,and therfore usable to this work. 2ff7e9595c
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