Radio Jeep Top? What's that?

[moose53]

I dunno if there were, I haven't ever seen one. I thought for ground C&C they used a APC like the M113.

Jim

[Ralph Fuller]

Jim: In 1970 I was on a Brigade staff at Ft Riley, KS, 24th Div (Mech). The Brigade Commander, a Full Bull, used a M577 (Looks like a tall M113) for the TOC. I remember a M577 backed up to another with a canvas shelter cover between the two. I was assigned a M114, and became the remote radio relay for the brigade. That way, the bad guys could zero in on my communications and not the commanders.

History M577
Type classified in March 1963 as a mobile command post, the M577 has also been utilized as a mobile field aid station, artillery fire direction center, and communications vehicle. Essentially a vertically expanded M113 armored personnel carrier, the interior of the M577 has been reconfigured to accommodate additional communications equipment, map and tactical information boards, field desks or artillery plotting tables, and additional crewmembers. Each 577 is equipped with an externally mounted electric generator capable of powering the additional equipment to reduce loading on the vehicle's inherit electrical system. In addition, each M577 is equipped with an integral expandable shelter which can be deployed when the vehicle is stationary. In a tactical situation, multiple M577 shelters can be linked together to create an enclosed working space. Like the M113, the M577 is amphibious, and is equipped with a diagram for load equalization, necessary to counteract the M577s high center of gravity. The M577 is equipped with a standard M113 driver's hatch and a single vehicle commander's hatch centered in the roof of the vehicle. The commander's position is equipped with a pintle machine gun mount which may accommodate either an M2 HB caliber .50 machine gun, an M60 7.62mm machine gun, or a Mk19 40mm grenade launcher. The vehicle is equipped with an engine driven Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, filtration system which supplies the crew with purified air via a protective mask hose coupling, but does not over pressurize the crew compartment. Since it's introduction, over 4,000 M577, M577A1, and M577A2 command vehicles have been produced for the United States Army.

[moose53]

Thanks Ralph,

I knew it was based on the M113, but couldn't remember the right number for the M577. Thats the one I remember seeing, usually with the tent deployed from the rear. Nice of them to make you the rocket magnet lol. I don't recall ever seeing any radio jeeps other than the FAC and ReTransmit Jeeps. I have seen Humvee ambulances converted to mobile command posts though.

Jim

[raymond]

MrD

If you get one of those big radio settups, you might be able to talk back to those aliens that keep beaming messages into your head

[kb0jyl]

That is my next project. Just to find one of those M577's add to my collection. Reminds me of where I spent my time for awhile.

Actually haven't seen one for sale anywhere, but I will keep looking.

[k8icu]

I was thinking like an infantry unit or MP where they were more mobile than say a mech. Also was thinking of a BN CDR who would be a Lite Bird... Probably was just a jeep with a radio set on both back fenders and a spare receiver or two so he could talk to his troops, talk to the Artillary and maybe listen to the Armor.

[moose53]

A typical command set in a jeep would have been a RT-524 and two R-442's....

Jim

[mrdibbles]

MrD

If you get one of those big radio settups, you might be able to talk back to those aliens that keep beaming messages into your head

What "messages" are you refering to Raymond?

[Spectre623]

When MUTT " radio jeeps" were used by the Air Force they were known as "combat control radiojeeps". They were used by enlisted guys known as combat controllers. They acted as the control tower when mainly Air Force aircraft were operating in forward areas where there were no towers and they were landing on dirt strips etc. The term FAC in Vietnam , "forward aircraft controller " referred to the pilots who flew O-1, O-2, OV-10 and early on, F-100's known as Misty FAC's, and they directed air strikes down on Charlie's head. Bill

[Rainman]

Hey K8icu,

Not sure if it qualifies because the radios were trailer mounted and pulled with an M151, but an AN/GRC-103 radio set did multichanel UHF. Each trailer could handle 48 separate voice or tty lines. Here's the rig, the configuration # has been forgotten years ago. These were 1st Cav pieces in the pictures. I still have one of the antennas and the launcher.



Slightly off topic, but M151 communications none the less. The soldier at the controls is still a good friend of mine. A homey from Ohio!

Rainman

[Rainman]

Oh yeah, I should mention that this was a stationary radio setup using 1.5KW generators for power, but
still considered moble. Not only moble, but AIRMOBLE! HOOAH !!

Rainman

[rickf]

With a C5 my freakin house is airmobile!

[m151tx]

Hi Guys.

One of the command/control installations would have been the VRC97 RT-1539 Mobile Subscriber Radio Terminal (MSRT) installation. The MSRT provided a mobile link to the MSE system and was installed with the KY68 Digital Secure Voice Terminal (DSVT).

This sytem was often fielded with a redundant VRC12 installation in the vehicle as the MSE system was a little hit and miss at time.

However there is not much chance of building one of these as both the MSRT and the DSVT as both CCI devices and unlikely to ever make the surplus market, its a neat looking installation when installed in a M151a2

Mark