Pictures From My RATT RIG Days

[rboltz]

I am in the process of creating a web site for RATT RIGS, the slang used for Army Signal Corp Radio Teletype Shelters. I began digging through my pictures from my Signal Corp days and found these I took of shelters on the M-715. These are from the 414th Signal Company in about 1969 plus or minus a year. Later I was in the 129th. I was not the least interested in trucks in those days, just the radios and did not remember taking these. The people are "my squad" and I don't even remember their names. Take a look at the S-144 shelters, with the AN/GRC-46, that do not fit well on the M-715. They were designed for the M-37. This is mentioned in the "Quirks" booklet for the M715. Notice the tie-down cables go outside the bed and under the truck to the frame. Why? I have no recollection as we did not mount the shelters. Ahhh, the good old days!!!

 

[m38inmaine]

Thanks for posting the pictures, look forward to the new web site as well.

 

[rboltz]

Site

It will be Coming Soon... and is under construction now.

 

[Crazyguyla]

I remember back in 1992 when my 1st unit(501st Sig Bn, 101 ABN DV) was turning there rat rigs in for the new stuff. Those things were so old LOL

 

[steelandcanvas]

The people are "my squad" and I don't even remember their names.

Shame on you, you don't remember their names? But then I guess it was about 41 years ago. Great photos!

 

[jcappeljr]

Cool pics.....

 

[srodocker]

awesome pics!

 

[rumplecat]

You should post the pics. over on the M715 Zone I know they would like to see a 715 in action.

 

[rboltz]

A few more

My home, the NCO Tent
Mess Trucks (complete with smoke!)
Comm Center Trucks with the microwave masts.

 

[rboltz]

Shame on you, you don't remember their names? But then I guess it was about 41 years ago. Great photos!

I remember the guys I was first with but not these names, just faces. I do remember the guy in the white T shirt got hurt. He was firing a M1919 .30 cal machine gun and had a stoppage. He forgot the rules "pull the charging handle" and opened the breech cover. A "cook off" round exploded in his face. He was lucky as no eye damage.

 

[Chief_919]

I know where there are several shelters that have the racks, many of the GRC-106 componets and the teletypes still in them.

Waiting for someone to save them frm being stripped down for the coppper...

 

[gunboy1656]

Nice mix of equipment. All the RATT rigs were out of our inventory before I got in (1992). My unit had just taken all their CUCV's with shelters to get line of sight systems. Only things I drove regularly was M1008, M1009 (as part of the wire team) and HMMWV's (radio operator days) Only deuces we had was Supply and Mess.

 

[bgx2063]

I Joined the 414th Sig Co in Oct 1970.. One of thse pics might be of me. I was an SSG in the RATT Pllatoon under SSG Raemes. Jerry Fischbein

I am in the process of creating a web site for RATT RIGS, the slang used for Army Signal Corp Radio Teletype Shelters. I began digging through my pictures from my Signal Corp days and found these I took of shelters on the M-715. These are from the 414th Signal Company in about 1969 plus or minus a year. Later I was in the 129th. I was not the least interested in trucks in those days, just the radios and did not remember taking these. The people are "my squad" and I don't even remember their names. Take a look at the S-144 shelters, with the AN/GRC-46, that do not fit well on the M-715. They were designed for the M-37. This is mentioned in the "Quirks" booklet for the M715. Notice the tie-down cables go outside the bed and under the truck to the frame. Why? I have no recollection as we did not mount the shelters. Ahhh, the good old days!!!

 

[rboltz]

I Joined the 414th Sig Co in Oct 1970.. One of thse pics might be of me. I was an SSG in the RATT Pllatoon under SSG Raemes. Jerry Fischbein

We, the 129th, were attached to the 414th for TDY in 69 or 70 at Ft. Meade. I was also there in 68, and 71 but just for a few weeks. Those in the pictures were from the 129th Sig Bn. Were you at Meade? I think the 414th was in Germany sometime during those years also.

 

[wreckerman893]

I remember back in 1992 when my 1st unit(501st Sig Bn, 101 ABN DV) was turning there rat rigs in for the new stuff. Those things were so old LOL

I was in the 501st in 1973-74. I was a teletype operator. I was reclassed from the infantry due to a training accident (FUBARED my left knee) and switched to Signal. Back then there was very little money for travel so they cross trained a bunch of us at a school set up at Campbell.