Old 12-16-2020, 08:44   #1
RCummings
Guerrilla
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 189
Question about Panama comms

A question was asked about what equipment was used during the Panama 1980's job. The purpose is to make a historical recreation. The source is a HAM radio operator.

Thank you, respectfully,

Bob
RCummings is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2020, 23:22   #2
LongWire
Quiet Professional
 
LongWire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N.E.WA
Posts: 1,137
Quote:
Originally Posted by RCummings View Post
A question was asked about what equipment was used during the Panama 1980's job. The purpose is to make a historical recreation. The source is a HAM radio operator.

Thank you, respectfully,

Bob
Are you referring to Operation Just Cause beginning 20 Dec 1989?
__________________
"Most of us here can attest that we never took the easy way. Easy just is............easy. Life is a work in progress, and most of the time its a struggle." ~ Me

"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." -Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956)

"A Government that is losing to an insurgency is not being outfought, it is being out governed." Bernard B. Fall
LongWire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2020, 05:48   #3
glebo
Quiet Professional
 
glebo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Hope Mills, NC
Posts: 2,757
There were several radios used, some civilian such as the FRC-93 and 30L1 linear amplifier...

That most likely wasn't used during the invasion though..I wasn't in Panama, but I know quite a few that were. I'm sure some of them will chime in...

Even TM MTOE in various SF GP's had slightly different radios, from HF, VHF and UHF...

So, yeah someone from Panama would be better to help...
__________________
Out of all the places I've been, this is one of'em....
glebo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2020, 07:09   #4
RCummings
Guerrilla
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 189
Longwire, yes sir, Operation Just Cause. Glebo, thank you. The gentleman is putting together a historical recreation and is trying to make it as accurate as possible.

Respectfully,

Bob
RCummings is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2020, 22:08   #5
7624U
Quiet Professional
 
7624U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,461
Quote:
Originally Posted by RCummings View Post
A question was asked about what equipment was used during the Panama 1980's job. The purpose is to make a historical recreation. The source is a HAM radio operator.

Thank you, respectfully,

Bob
Rc

I know what we jumped in with while I was in the 82d as a RTO for 1/504th PIR

I jumped the PSC-3 Satcom radio, Another commo guy in the stick from the BN jumped in a PRC-104 HF Radio with KL-43, All the line companies had and the Battalion also had PRC-77's and AN/PRC-126s with a few RTO attachments if the Company was long range and out of PRC-77 range they had PRC-104 HF mainly. (we used the hell out of the KL-43 we had with us also if you want accuracy for historical purpose)

We even had a team with a hatch mounted Antenna and a highly amplified PSC-3 radio on the C-141 to talk in flight to the other birds and the rangers on the ground. Back in that day we only had two military satellites to use in the southern hemisphere.

it was hit and miss depending on the time of day it and was a pain in the ass to hit. HF was much more reliable long range combo paired with the KL-43.
__________________
"Make sure your plan fits the terrain or you will be slurping mud puddles”

"Me"
7624U is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2020, 10:15   #6
RCummings
Guerrilla
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 189
7624U, Thank you sir! Do you mind if I relay this information to tha HAM that is looking for it?

Respectfully,

Bob
RCummings is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2020, 20:36   #7
Badger52
Area Commander
 
Badger52's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Western WI
Posts: 6,817
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7624U View Post
HF was much more reliable long range combo paired with the KL-43.
That was a handy little sucker, and they had a longer lifespan than originally thought. I had those in '80 supporting an MI gal debriefing Cubanos & sorting the chaff from grain. As commo capabilities go (and how long other methods take) that was a geek's force multiplier sometimes. God I feel old now; there's a damn wiki page on the thing, lol.
__________________
"Civil Wars don't start when a few guys hunt down a specific bastard. Civil Wars start when many guys hunt down the nearest bastards."

The coin paid to enforce words on parchment is blood; tyrants will not be stopped with anything less dear. - QP Peregrino
Badger52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2020, 07:39   #8
miclo18d
Quiet Professional
 
miclo18d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Occupied Northlandia
Posts: 1,697
Ranger Battalion used PRC-77 with KY-57 Vinson at Platoon and Company Level.

Not sure what Battalion level used but I remember training with PSC-3(?) SATCOM as a PFC (Looking at pics of the PSC-3 doesn’t seem the same as I remember).

At squad level each squad leader carried a PRC-126
__________________
"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles." — Jeff Cooper
miclo18d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2020, 09:46   #9
RCummings
Guerrilla
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 189
Thank you micro18d!

V/R

Bob
RCummings is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2020, 19:23   #10
7624U
Quiet Professional
 
7624U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,461
Quote:
Originally Posted by miclo18d View Post
Ranger Battalion used PRC-77 with KY-57 Vinson at Platoon and Company Level.

Not sure what Battalion level used but I remember training with PSC-3(?) SATCOM as a PFC (Looking at pics of the PSC-3 doesn’t seem the same as I remember).

At squad level each squad leader carried a PRC-126
Yea I forgot we had the ky-57 also for the satcom. You can pass on the info I supplied all day long Rc
__________________
"Make sure your plan fits the terrain or you will be slurping mud puddles”

"Me"
7624U is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2021, 14:32   #11
pennywise
Quiet Professional
 
pennywise's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: NC
Posts: 24
radios used at Albrook, AFB

This is an old thread and Ive been radio silent for a minute. At SFOB 07 we had in the upstairs coms center we had , PSC-3 WITH KY-57 and KL-43C. I was parked out in the front of the hangar with my RTT rig. It had an AN/GRC 106 , KW-7, UGC - 74 and a TT-76. The 106 was a power house for the day and was awsome for HF. 2 nd BN in Rio Hato had the same setup but was stuck with SGM. Bone. LOL . The ODA's had the general HF and FM radios. (AN-PRC-70 and PRC-77 along with KL-43) Its been awhile so feel free. It was interesting to say the least. The post conflict pool party at Albrook was definitely the best. Lots of great people to say the least.
JL
pennywise is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-13-2021, 16:54   #12
RCummings
Guerrilla
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 189
Thank you to all who commented. I do believe that the displays made serve as a living history of events and a show of respect for those who participated.

Respectfully,

Bob
RCummings is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:05.



Copyright 2004-2022 by Professional Soldiers ®
Site Designed, Maintained, & Hosted by Hilliker Technologies