TACP Radio Equipment

The radio equipment used by the TACP’s varied depending on the time frame and types of units being supported. Generally, U.S. and Allied Units were equipped with more elaborate mobile communications vehicles while the Advisory Teams supporting ARVN operations used whatever was best suited to their particular location. The earliest type of Mobile Forward Air Control vehicle used in Vietnam was the:

MRC-94

The MRC-94 utilized International Crewcab type pickups with an enclosed equipment container mounted in the bed of the pickup. The equipment was operated through a window in the rear of the vehicle cab.

Radio Equipment consisted of:

ARC-58 HF 2-30 MHz

AM-2306 1kW Linear Amplifier

CU-749 Antenna Coupler

ARC-27 UHF/AM

ARC-73 VHF/AM

PRC-25 VHF/FM 

Note: The UHF and VHF equipment were locally supplied/installed and was not a standard configuration for the MRC-94. These units had limited use in the 1963-1965 time frame.

MRC-108

The MRC-108 started arriving in-country by mid 1965 and were used through the end of the war. The trailer was an intergral part of the 108 and was used for transporting antennas, rations, supplies and a gasoline generator for fixed operations.

Radio Equipment consisted of:

AN/MRC-95 HF Transceiver (Collins 618T3 Ground mounted
AN/ARC-51BX UHF Transceiver
Collins 618M VHF Transceiver
AN/PRC-25 with AM-2060 VHF FM Transceiver/Amplifier
AN/PRC-41 and AN/PRC-47 Backup portable transceivers

An/ARC-51BX AM/UHF (transceiver) radio w/control head and speaker used to talk mainly to FAC and fighter A/C.

618M AM/VHF (transceiver) radio w/control head and speaker used to talk to FAC, some fighter aircraft , cargo and gunships.

An/MRC-95 HF AM/SSB/CW (transceiver) radio w/control head and speaker and antenna coupler used to talk mainly to DASC for Immediate requests (TIC),  Preplanned Air Requests, BDA, and we talked to base camp when out in the field using alpha call sign Chirp 71 this is Chirp 71a.

AN/PRC-25 VHF/FM (transceiver) radio w/control head and speaker used to talk to FAC, and Army (ground, choppers etc.)

Trailer w/generator for fixed site use.

Also were a portable AN/PRC-41 AM/UHF transceiver for talking to FAC/Fighter A/C, and AN/PRC-47 HF SSB/CW transceiver for talking to DASC.

Control heads for above radios could be removed, attach cables to remote radios to a tent, bunker etc.

MRC-107

Although the MRC-107 was an earlier version of the MRC-108, it didn’t arrive in-country until the end of 1965 with U.S. units arriving from the states.

Radio Equipment consisted of:

AN/GRC-106 HF Transceiver
AN/ARC-51BX UHF Transceiver
Wilcox 807 VHF Transceiver
AN/PRC-25 with AM-2060 VHF FM Transceiver/Amplifier
AN/PRC-41 and AN/PRC-47 Backup portable transceivers

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Advisory Teams

Most advisory teams were equipped with the Collins KWM2-A and PRC-47 HF Transcievers as well as the PRC-25(FM) and PRC-41(UHF) mentioned above. VHF/AM equipment was apparently an assortment of off the shelf type equipment. Some advisory teams had demounted communications pallets from MRC-107 and 108s as well. In most instances the use of the equipment in the mobile configuration was not possible due to lack of passable roads and/or air transport.