[MRCA] PRC-88 mentioned in 1980 "Infantry" magazine

[Mike Morrow]

Robert wrote:

> The radio developed and apparently built by USMC was
> apparently called AN/PRC-68, not 88.  Plus it supposedly
> had a synthesizer instead of crystals.  Whether the
> photo you have is of AN/PRC-68 or not I can’t say for
> sure but could be.  It certainly does not look like
> any combination of AN/PRT-4(*) and AN/PRR-9.

The RT-1113/PRC-68 is extremely well-documented and very common in surplus.  Pictures and details are here and many other places:

  http://www.prc68.com/I/PRC68.shtml

I saw my first one in 1978 being used by the Marine detachment onboard the submarine tender in Holy Loch Scotland.  My personal AN/PRC-68 has a 1978 order date.  (I've used it on 51.0 MHz at several hamfests including Dayton in the past decade.)

It certainly has not even the remotest relationship to what is alleged to be the "AN/PRC-88".  I consider the AN/PRC-88 to be of very dubious veracity ...perhaps at best some kludged-together experiment.

Between 1970 and 1979 I saw Marines using the following portable tactical VHF-FM sets:

1.  AN/PRC-6 (!!!)
2.  AN/PRC-9
3.  AN/PRC-10
4.  AN/PRC-25
5.  AN/PRC-68
6.  AN/PRC-77

I never ever saw an AN/PRR-9, AN/PRT-4, or some mysterious concoction called an AN/PRC-88.  I believe the last as a deployed radio set is more fancy than fact.

I have friends who served multiple tours as U.S. Army ground-pounders in Vietnam between 1965 and 1972.  I have shown all of them the AN/PRR-9 and AN/PRT-4 and none have any recollection of using, being trained on, or even seeing those units.

I don't understand the fascination of some with the so-called but very dubious AN/PRC-88, other than its possible existence as some trials experiment...maybe.  It doesn't help how easy it is to mix up a 68 with an 88.

Mike / KK5F