M38 agency plate

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:22 pm

The "Responsible Agency" data plate was missing off my M38 when I bought it, but I was lucky enough to find an NOS replacement.

There is a space next to the "Mtd. Eqpt." for stamping a number in, and to date this is the only photo I've found with this plate stamped:

Anybody know what those numbers signify? And should my replacement plate be similarly stamped, or do I leave well alone?

Thanks in advance,
Owen.

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:37 pm

Mine's blank as there was no mounted equipment.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:09 pm

That block usually has the sytem number and the responsible agency for it's maintenance and procurement. This was usually a radio set and etc.

The stock number you have in that photo was I believe a new suoerseded number for a complete M38 and was usually overstamped on the serial plate.

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:56 am

Thanks for the info folks. Guess I'll leave mine blank......

Owen.

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:51 pm

I have a 1951 M38 that has the exact set of numbers on that plate. Mine also had the radio power cable on the jeep when I bought it, so assuming that number references the radio?
Kendall

Post by **wesk** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:22 pm

The radio power cable was standard from Willys on the M38 thru MC47771. The receptacle bracket was standard on all production M38's.

That Federal Stock Class 2740 is not radio equipment. It is a complete vehicle stock class. Most military units updated the Federal Stock Numbers on their vehicle data plates when they were superseded or updated in the stock catalogs. However many did not and many did it on the wrong plate.

58XX is comm & navigation gear
59XX is electronics parts and compents
60XX is antennas, couplers and fiber optics.