Rare Radio Installation

[Luis]

Unknow fro me!

Germany Ago-1961

[4x4M38]

Interesting photo. Love to see the gas can mounts on that
A1. Or is that a 606?

Can't tell.

[wesk]

It's an A1. Radios could be several different sets. Also in Germany our guys often carried a SEM unit to communicate with German authorities which made some of our sets seem unusual.

[Xamon]

I have seen those rear baskets on some of the British sites they just hang on the back by a couple of hooks, no bolts.

[4x4M38]

Is that a spare mount from an ambulance rig?

Man there's a lot of weight on the a$$ end of that jeep!

[wesk]

No, It's a fabricated spare mount using the square block from the rear mount with an adapter bracket on the wheelhouse.




The Ambulance setup is mounted to the floor inside the M170. It's presence would have been easily spotted since it uses a lot of tubing.



The M38A1C mount was added to the side of cowl & required doublers be added inside.

[BBDE]

This M38A1 with M100 Trailer belongs to the 1st Battlegroup, 18th Infantry, 8th Infantry Division.
This Battlegroup was ordered by President Kennedy to support the American Berlin Brigade.

In August 1961, the Berlin Observer states:

8th Division Troops Dispatched by JFK To Beef up Bastilion

"The 1st Battle Group of the 18th Infantry arrived in West Berlin last Sunday afternoon and paraded through the city to the cheers of thousands of flower-tossing Berliners. Ordered to Berlin by President Kennedy to beef up United States forces in the Divided City, the 1,500-man battle group moved from the Mannheim, Germany area in a 50-mile convoy of 491 vehicles and trailers to join their allies in isolated West Berlin.










The battle group is commanded by Colonel Glover S. Johns, Jr., a 1931 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. With the lead vehicle moving into the Soviet Zone of East Germany at 6:34 a.m.


Sunday morning, advance element of the convoy reached Berlin at noon. Divided into five march units, the convoy from Helmstedt stretched over 100 miles of East German autobahn. Enroute, the convoy was under close observation by uniformed and plainclothes East German police. Half hidden, by trees and bushes, the “VOPOs” watched the convoy’s progress across communist territory. At the same time, a twin-engined Soviet jet patrolled the autobahn most of the time. The convoy was split into march units to ease the problems of command and control. Vehicles were cleared through the Soviet checkpoint a march unit at a time. The Soviets at the control point can look inside but not enter any vehicle. They also count the number of men, and compare the lists with identity cards. Just before the column spearhead moved into the East Zone, American, British and French military police and a West German border patrol man raised the flags of the four allied powers.

The Berlin-bound infantrymen passed under the Hammer and sickle of communism as they left the Soviet Marienborn checkpoint. While the battle group was enroute, members of the garrison in Berlin spent a busy weekend preparing far their arrival. From early Saturday morning until late that night, work details from Special Troops, 2nd and 3rd Battle Groups, 6th Infantry performed the herculean task of arranging quarters and messing facilities. Things were all set before each march unit pulled in Sunday. Refreshed Monday morning after a good night's sleep, the first task for the newly arrived infantrymen was to remove the flowers Berliners had draped over their trucks when they rolled into the city. Since their arrival, officers and non-commissioned officers of the group have attended a series of orientation lectures designed t o acquaint them with their duties while in the Divided City. A spokesman for the group stated that routine training in Combat-in-Cities and riot control would begin as soon as their equipment was in shape. "

This M38A1 is "Field upgraded" as other Jeeps from the 1st BG, 18th Inf.
Later the 1st BG, 18th Inf, was part of the Berlin Brigade as the 4/18.

My next project will become the double Jerry can mounting but will keep the Radio inside and the spare tire at the rear.
Seen in this thread in the picture with the "Badewanne":
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... c&start=15


Frank

[4x4M38]

Thanks for the pics Frank.

Don't forget that hood stencil for anti-freeze!

Have not seen that one before.

[BBDE]

I have that hood stencil right in place on my M170 Ambulance


Frank

[4x4M38]

Very nice!

[BBDE]

Thank you Brian,

I do my very best.

The Radiosets used in the Jeeps, I would say from the dimensions and the cover, are GRC-7 or VRQ-3 Sets, used by Infantry units.

"Sunday morning, advance element of the convoy reached Berlin at noon."
(Note the Jerry can´s and the Radio at the rear of the leading Jeep)


"The 1st Battle Group of the 18th Infantry arrived in West Berlin last Sunday afternoon and paraded through the city to the cheers of thousands of flower-tossing Berliners."
(note that the Jeep in front belongs to the3rd Rcn Sqdn, 8th Cav)


And again the glossy Jeep that Col. Johns used for his Duty.
(Note the Jerry can´s)
Behind the Jeep, a Ford 17m P3 (aka "Badewanne") from the 287th MP Co. is in colum at the parade.


Have a nice Day
Frank

[Luis]

Many thanks for sharing the pics Frank!

[ROBCDN3]

Hi. Frank. Great pic`s what a time to be there history in the making. I have a M38A1C CDN3 that did her time in Germany my dash plate has the Nato number. Your pic`s bring her to life for me in that time frame. Cheers Rob

[Luis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho-0NB_NCHM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-VX_COAyNM

[TomM]

The most common radio set that would occupy the entire rear of the jeep and require two short antennas is the GRC-3.
They also weigh approx over 250lb and would contribute to that jeeps rear squat.