[Milsurplus] TRC-77 Battery box

[Dongen, Nico van]

Despite as was stated in a previous mail the Battery Assembly
BB-447(*)/TRC-77 is a battery box.
The actual battery used in it is of the wet cell type, a worse choice
couldn't have been made. 
The TRC-77 was used extensively by reconnaissance units of the Dutch
Commando forces on station in Germany. Perhaps 20 or 30 sets where
surplused complete with battery boxes and accessories some 15 years ago
here in Holland. A lot of the battery boxes had very big holes in them
caused by corrosion that came from the acid spill out of the battery. 
The default reaction to the effect of paint dissolving by the acid seems
to have been, apply a new layer of paint without cleaning anything. When
I got my TRC-77's I cleaned the battery boxes with hot soda water to
neutralize the acid and all the layers of paint peeled of instantly. The
aluminum battery box has a stainless steel inner box that enclosed the
battery but it was not hermetically sealed so it didn't help much in
keeping spills inside.

I have a TRC-77 with most of the accessories and including the battery
box available of swap for other special forces radio gear. The set is
technical in good condition but can use a repaint.

Nico  PA3ESA
Netherlands