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Comm Equipment Used In The Corps

Comm Equipment Used In The Corps

Today, this 79 year old Marine was reminiscing about the old days and wondering what type of communication equipment the Marine Corps uses now days, its got to be high tech. In the mid-fifties we used field radio equipment like the AN/PRC-8, 9’s and 10’s and the AN/GRC-9 which used a hand cranked generator for power to transmit. Cranking that thing was fun, not. We even had the AN/PRC-6 (walkie-talkie) in our inventory but don’t remember using it. For mobile comm we had the MRC-6, the MRC-38 and other vehicles depending if you ere infantry, artillery or armor. For the old timers I stand to be corrected.

As a CW radio operator I remember using what was called a knee key (J-45), to tap out messages in Morse code while in the field. To me it was fun but sometimes on the other end of the radio net you would run into a operator who we called a “s–t fist” (A person who needed a lot more training in the use of a telegraph key).

It was a little difficult trying to decipher what the radio operator was trying to send but if you got part of the word you could figure it out. The attached picture shows me, a Pfc, using a knee key at Camp Lejeune in 1956. The other picture shows Marines using the AN/GRC-9 in the Philippines on a NFG (Naval Gun Fire) training and shoot in the early sixties. If you look closely you can see a Marine with the generator and I’m sure some of the old timers have tales to tell about cranking that thing.

In 1965 and ’66, when I was with 2/9 in Vietnam we were still communicating with the P—k 10 and don’t remember when the Marines started receiving the AN/PRC-25. And I wasn’t the wireman MOS 2511 who worked along side of us and were an important part of Marine Communications. That’s all. I’m just an old fart thinking about the good times in the U.S. Marine Corps.

GySgt G.R. Archuleta
Never Retired, Always A Marine

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Comments

Raul Ramos - June 30, 2020

Hey Gunny: I was one of those S-t Fist. I received 5 hours of training by the comm sgt E-4 and then they put me as a CW operator 2533. Never went to radio school. spend time as a switch board operator in Camp Garcia and we put all the telephone poles up in the Island, also on the job training lineman in 63. How we survived?

Semper Fi
PFC Raul Ramos
1961-1965

Albert Allen - June 30, 2020

I’m an old fart also US Navy 62/66 radioman served on Guam as a ship to shore operator all CW then on the USS St Paul CA-73 a heavy cruiser. Taught CW to fleet strikers and I still use CW in amateur radio. Thanks for your service.
Al Allen RM-2

Paul Culliton - June 30, 2020

I was a 2847 radio-crypto tech with HQCo 26th Marines in Vietnam “68-69”. We were about 10 miles west of DaNang, near 1st MarDiv HQ. Saw plenty of prc-25s, and prc-47s. Always had a problem with the wet cell batteries for the 47s and 41s. Ky-8s were the main crypto gear before they came out with the Ky-38. We always had to scrounge/trade/steal spare radio parts from the Army! They always had more than enough. Brought back some good memories! Thanks, Paul

Sgt Joe - June 30, 2020

If you were getting interference on a TRC-75, you should have switched to SSB. AM carrier transmission on that one radio is the least efficient mode of operation. What I liked about the MRC-83 was that big ol’ 3 phase alternator that was good for 2.5 kW to drive that TRC-75 up to the kW+ output.

MSgt Edd Prothro, USMC Ret. 1964-1984 - June 30, 2020

OK, I’ll buy that. In the fall of 1971 we were setting up a teletype shot between Cherry Point and Bouge Field using a MRC-83/TRC-75 HF/AM radio carrier, but we kept getting interference on the voice side before we could switch to TTY. After negotiating with the other end for about an hour, we found out it was an Army unit a Ft Gordon GA on the same freq. Figure it could only have occurred because there was a big rain system all up and down the east coast, and we were getting a ground wave. But, you would have to have a grounded system for that to work. Strange things do happen. Semper Fi!!!

Sgt. Tom Gilkison - June 30, 2020

I was a 2532 radio relay operator at Hue Phu Bia. we used the AN GR62 and63s.Good for about 25 miles. It was mounted on 3/4 T truck with trailer that had 2 generators in it. Call sign was Beach Boy Alpha. We talked to Monkey Mountain”Beach Boy”. Good Com most of the Time.

MSgt Edd Prothro, USMC Ret. 1964-1984 - June 30, 2020

Hey Bruce – How could you ever forget the old reliable SB-22 switchboard. We always referred to all SBs as Son-of’a-Bitches. Semper Fi!!

MSgt Edd Prothro, USMC Ret. 1964-1984 - June 30, 2020

We would use green duct tape ever since I can remember to waterproof equipment before going shipboard. But we called it “100 mile-an-hour tape.” Don’t know why or where about the origin of that term, but I was surprised to find a roll in the Quantico PX marked as such when I was out there a few years back. So, I bought some just for the hell of it. Semper Fi!!!

Harry 1371 - June 30, 2020

I’ll take a stab at it. 500 meters southwest of some where along a river or stream. You were E-Co 2nd Battalion of some regiment. Harry 1371

Harry 1371 - June 30, 2020

While at Liberty Bridge we used a “Prik 25” to send and receive messages to and from Camp Love that was located about 10 miles north of the Da-Nang air field. Not real sure but It was between 15-20 mile distance. Harry 1371

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