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USAF - M151A1 - MRC-108
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Combat Forward Air Controller's Communications Jeep
Below is what was
in the back seat of the above Jeep
I believe that I have everything listed correctly.
| H.F. Transceiver was a AN/MRC-95 by Collins Model Number 618T3, 718F-1 coffin, 313V-1 control head, 618T-3 radio, 426T-1 power inverter, 460D-1 load coil, 670D-1 tuning coil, 76F-3 speaker. The HF Antenna was 32 feet tall mounted with a rubber boot for protection to people passing by so that they would not receive RF Burns. This antenna reduced to 10 sections the width of the jeep. This antenna is a Shakespeare 120 HF Antenna, NSN: 5985-00-846-6442 Military nomenclature: AT-1011/U and is still available from the factory in South Carolina. |
| UHF Transceiver was a AN/ARC-51BX, 718F-1 coffin, 313V-4 control head, ARC 164 or ARC 51BX radio, 76F-3 speaker. This antenna was shared with the VHF antenna. This antenna was just behind the passengers seat. This antenna was what is called a dual band antenna with VHF in the lower portion and UHF in the upper section. This antenna had separate RF feed lines. |
| VHF Transceiver was a Collins Model Number 618M, same coffin as UHF, 313V-3 control head, 76F-3 speaker. This radio shared the UHF antenna. This antenna was just behind the passengers seat. This antenna was what is called a dual band antenna with VHF in the lower portion and UHF in the upper section. This antenna had separate RF feed lines. |
| FM Transceiver was a AN/PRC-25 and a AM-2000 Power Amplifier (RT-254?) This radio had its own antenna about 15 foot long mounted on the left rear corner of the jeep looking from the front to rear. |
| Secure Voice System AN/KY-38 not found on the MRC-107's which were newer. |
| Portable Back Packs were a AN/PRC-47 (HF) and AN/PRC-25 (FM) units |
| The Jeep was a M-151 Military (Ford Motors) Jeep and was modified for this gear including engine, generator, cooling system, and seating. This jeep was very tipsy and could roll over on a dime. You did not get in a hurry in it if you wanted to live! |
| The Trailer was used to carry our supplies below the Generator which was mounted sideways across the top of the trailer above the Axle for weight control. Spare fuel was found only on the tail end of the trailer, not on the jeep due to high RF fields. Generator Voltage was 115v, AC 400cps |
When I arrived in Korea and was assigned to the 4th Direct Air Support Flight (DASF), I was informed that I would be doing more with the army than in radio maintenance. I found out that they use radio maintenance guys to do a job that was not classified as existing. When I was in Korea - 1965 - 1966 - I was called simply a "Combat Forward Air Controller - Close air support forward - Ground to Air Radio Operator, repairman and driver!" Just a small mouth full!. Or simply a FAC Team. For you Army / Marine guys, this means Depot Level Radio Maintenance plus 2 days training to be a Radio Operator!
I drove and maintained a M151A1 with a MRC-108 Radio Pallet on board with a trailer containing the Generator and supplies as well as extra fuel. My M151A1 Jeep number originally assigned to me was 64K65 in Korea at Osan AFB, and went to Vietnam with me in the summer of 1965. I left this unit for my replacement FAC when I returned to Korea and was assigned another M151A1 with a MRC-108 unit with generator and trailer. I use a number of different vehicles so I ended up not have a "personal" jeep. Most all of the MRC-108's in this time zone had a automatic antenna tuner which does not show up in a lot of pictures other than these that follow. Also we had the KY-38 Secure Voice System on board as well.
Now, we are called TACP, E-TACS, TACCS, ROMADs, and a whole host of other new names instead of just plain old FAC's and the AFSC has now changed from 304X4 radio maintenance as well!
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These units were issued to the 4th Direct Air Support Flight. The Flight consisted of approx. 10 Enlisted and 18 Officers plus the commander of the flight of 29 men. This was enough to make up 2 man teams. Deployment was in both Korea and Vietnam via TDY ONLY.
These are my pictures of a MRC-108 Communications Jeep number 64K123 USAF, as deployed in Korea.
Having returned to Osan Air Force Base, I was assigned a new M151A1 and MRC-108 Jeep which I do not remember the number assigned to it.
The MRC-108 pallet was also installed in APC trooper carriers and several other versions of the tanks.
The jeep is a M-151A1 (Ford Motor Co Built) Jeep and was attached to a trailer that had the generator mounted on cross rails on top of the trailer. The fuel was carried on the rear of the trailer for the generator. The generator produced 24v DC for powering the equipment. The jeep was a 24v DC setup as well that when the throttle was pulled the jeep engine would power the entire radio pallet. The Jeep base power system of 12v DC was still used.
All pictures are clickable
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Above is the Description of
the MRC-108 used at the Osan AFB, Korea,
Air Show open to all of the people of South Korea in the summer of 1966
Please note that the Hi Res Pix
are very LARGE but show fine details.
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The upper left B&W shows all of the equipment out of the Jeep
The automatic antenna tuner in on the extreme upper right which seems to be missing from a lot of pictures I have seen on the web to date.
The upper center shows the drivers dash board
The upper right shows the actual radio gear as mounted in the Jeep
Lower left shows the trailer / generator
The lower center is a good side view showing general proportions of the rig
The lower right is a side view showing all antennas mounted and door closed.
The upper left is a head on shot with the 32 foot H.F. antenna mounted
The Center is a good side view of the whole system
The Right shows the system from the side of the trailer with 32 foot H.F. antenna mounted.
Below is the MRC-108 Pallet mounted in the Army APC and Communication Center Tracked Vehicles.
These pictures are not clickable.
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One last note!
Sorry about the condition of the slides that these images are made from, but after 30 years or so I am happy to still have them in viewable conditions.
The "dirt" is really mildew that has grown on the slide and is now not able to be removed.
