We had access to these in training after boot camp. We were exposed to the Soviet block equipment as well. Interesting fact, one could set off a blasting cap for C4 with TA1-/PT. That voltage hits at least 100 volts and does a good job with electric caps. Lost a good friend late last year, who served in Army in Nam in the sixties, he was hosed with Agent Orange and suffered skin ailments for most of his life. He was in relatively in good health but dropped over from a heart attack. No doubt caused by the exposure. Live long and Thank You for your service.
Wow, seeing all that commo wire reminded me of an incident that happened when I was in the service back in the 80s. It was only a Army Reserves yeah I know but we were at campsite one time and it was raining and a bunch of guys from the next squad over we're sitting on there steel pot helmets and the rain was coming into their tent. And then all of a sudden a lightning bolt struck up on top of the hill and the guy down in the tent that was sitting on his helmet was knocked off as he got electrocuted. Apparently lightning bolt hit up on top of the hill ran all the way down through the commo wire into the tent where he was at. The rain water just amplified it. :(
That's WD-1/TT wire, two conductors twisted; the WD-1A/TT is two conductor wire bonded together. These are neat field phones. I'm going to get my hands on one or two soon. Thanks for this video.
I wish my unit had these or a modern version that could maybe do duplex or multiple chat groups or be able to link to main hub in the toc and also use a radio remotely. This has an even more justified use today then back in the day, we operate in a extremely tech'd out military and against "equally" capable opponents and to have as little RF presence we could use these instead in some cases. The ease of use would also justify it even more, no need for radio etiqqute or even comsec.
I spent my time on and around Hill 55, and used the phones in guard posts around the Hill, just inside the wire. They ringed the Hill and were mostly connected by a shallow trench, sometimes with some sand bags on the outer perimeter. The phones could be set to “silent” and worked well. Although not taught in wiring class, the two-pair could be “looped” or connected end to end, such that a break in the wire would not take comms down. It would have been easier if one of the pair had been identified! The wire was below grade for most of the run. The biggest problem was mortars, with rockets damaging mostly above grade stuff. Not all posts were used (they were changed every night) and the phones could be connected as needed to bared spots on the wires as needed. My Dad was a wireman in the Pacific during WWII and told me that the Navy used sound powered phones to control gun sighting on board ships. He said they, the Marines, would stock-up before landing, to the determent of the Navy. Steve
We had access to these in training after boot camp. We were exposed to the Soviet block equipment as well. Interesting fact, one could set off a blasting cap for C4 with TA1-/PT. That voltage hits at least 100 volts and does a good job with electric caps.
Lost a good friend late last year, who served in Army in Nam in the sixties, he was hosed with Agent Orange and suffered skin ailments for most of his life. He was in relatively in good health but dropped over from a heart attack. No doubt caused by the exposure. Live long and Thank You for your service.
Thank you for your service. My dad was there in 67-68 Na Trang on the coast. He flew in the HH43 Huskies as a medic.
Wow, seeing all that commo wire reminded me of an incident that happened when I was in the service back in the 80s. It was only a Army Reserves yeah I know but we were at campsite one time and it was raining and a bunch of guys from the next squad over we're sitting on there steel pot helmets and the rain was coming into their tent. And then all of a sudden a lightning bolt struck up on top of the hill and the guy down in the tent that was sitting on his helmet was knocked off as he got electrocuted. Apparently lightning bolt hit up on top of the hill ran all the way down through the commo wire into the tent where he was at. The rain water just amplified it. :(
Thanks Steve, that was some really interesting old military tech. It would be great if you had any more old stuff like that to show us.
That's WD-1/TT wire, two conductors twisted; the WD-1A/TT is two conductor wire bonded together. These are neat field phones. I'm going to get my hands on one or two soon.
Thanks for this video.
Yes, in 1967-68 the USMC only used -1, twisted. The US Army was using -1A. Never saw the bonded wire.
Steve
I wish my unit had these or a modern version that could maybe do duplex or multiple chat groups or be able to link to main hub in the toc and also use a radio remotely. This has an even more justified use today then back in the day, we operate in a extremely tech'd out military and against "equally" capable opponents and to have as little RF presence we could use these instead in some cases. The ease of use would also justify it even more, no need for radio etiqqute or even comsec.
I spent my time on and around Hill 55, and used the phones in guard posts around the Hill, just inside the wire. They ringed the Hill and were mostly connected by a shallow trench, sometimes with some sand bags on the outer perimeter. The phones could be set to “silent” and worked well. Although not taught in wiring class, the two-pair could be “looped” or connected end to end, such that a break in the wire would not take comms down. It would have been easier if one of the pair had been identified! The wire was below grade for most of the run. The biggest problem was mortars, with rockets damaging mostly above grade stuff. Not all posts were used (they were changed every night) and the phones could be connected as needed to bared spots on the wires as needed.
My Dad was a wireman in the Pacific during WWII and told me that the Navy used sound powered phones to control gun sighting on board ships. He said they, the Marines, would stock-up before landing, to the determent of the Navy.
Steve
Can this talk to a ta-312?
yes it will
Steve
Semper Fi
THANKS!!!