Original U.S. Vietnam War Era RT-196/PRC-6 “Handie-Talkie” Radio Receiver & U.S. Supplied Israeli Defense Forces RT-196 Radio with Accessories
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Original Items: Only One Group Available. This is an interesting pair of original RT-196/PRC-6 military radio receiver-transmitters, commonly associated with the AN/PRC-6 “Handie-Talkie”, a portable communications system introduced during the Korean War era and retained in limited American military service into the Vietnam War. Both radios show considerable evidence of military use, and one is particularly noteworthy for its Israeli Defense Forces identification plate, reflecting the postwar distribution of American military communications equipment to allied nations. The Israeli-marked example is identified as an MK-6 radio transceiver, serial number 3445, while the American example has modern replacement data plates that prevent confirmation of its original identification markings. Both retain their antennas, and the group includes several additional accessories, including two radio covers and a few small empty boxes. Neither radio is presently operational, although examination of their interiors suggests that restoration may be possible with appropriate technical work.
The AN/PRC-6 was developed as a replacement for the WWII SCR-536 handie-talkie. Its distinctive cast-magnesium case contained the transmitter, receiver, microphone, earphone, vacuum-tube circuitry, and battery compartment in a single hand-held unit. The radio could be carried by its rear web strap or held upright like an oversized telephone during operation.
The RT-196/PRC-6 operated on a single crystal-controlled frequency within the 47 to 55.4 MHz VHF range. It provided approximately 250 milliwatts of output power and had a stated range of roughly one mile under favorable conditions. Actual performance could be considerably reduced by hills, buildings, and dense vegetation.
The U.S. RT-196 has modern data plates added, so we are not sure what the original designation was. The Israeli radio has a data plate noting it as an Israeli Defense Forces MK-6 radio transceiver, with serial number 3445. Neither radio is in working condition, but the insides of each show that with some hard work they could possibly be made to work again. There are a few small empty boxes and two covers for part of the radios.
This group of two RT-196/PRC-6 Handie-Talkie radios represents an interesting example of American military communications equipment from the Korean War through the Vietnam War and Cold War periods. The heavily worn condition of both radios reflects their extended histories, while the surviving antennas, internal assemblies, and associated accessories preserve much of their original configuration. The Israeli Defense Forces MK-6 identification plate provides a particularly noteworthy connection to the international distribution and continued use of American-designed military radios. Although neither example is operational and the original identification of the American radio remains uncertain, the pair offers a useful comparison of U.S. and Israeli military communications equipment from the middle decades of the twentieth century.
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