The basis of this section is to give you an idea of what an RTO looks like and what he might be wearing. ’The Look’ is exactly like a rifleman accept you have this great big radio strapped to your back. So you want to be a RTO? Here we can discuss what you should have in your collection to display a basic RTO in the US Army in Vietnam. Mind you this is what I think, so you don’t have to go along with it. At the end of the day its up to you what you carry and how much weight you assign yourself. Along with all of your basic Rifleman load, you will be packing a radio, this could be a PRC77 or PRC25 or PRC10, with either the radio carrier or packframe with shelf. RTO’s were targets! They often tried to hide the radio a bit. You often see claymore mine bags tied to the radio, used to carry spare batteries, flares, etc.. A radio assecories bag would also be attached to the straps holding the radio in place, this would contain antenna components, maybe a spare handset. A buttpack is attached below it. This RTO keeps his radio well masked and in doing so keeps his profile down. Remember RTO’s are easy target to VC with their antenna acting like a flag. Take out the radio and you take out a valuable platoon resource.
This RTO is carrying a flare, two smoke grenades, an areal ID panel, map, radio accessories bag, machete and a pink flashlight. The radio is a PRC-10. I am not sure what the pouch is on the right. I wonder about the stuff being stored under the hold down straps. If they are pulled out to use, the radio would be loose on the carrier.
The RTO in this picture has an ID panel under his straps and on the left side there is an M-16 cleaning pouch (I think) and on the right is a case for an long wire antenna reel.
You see a towl under the shoulder straps on his pack straps. Being a Rifleman also, he is carrying an ammunition bandoleer.
Full Load and Combat Load
Combat load means you would be carrying all your usual rifleman’s equipment plus a radio. This isn’t too much of a problem, however, full load is another deal altogether. RTO’s basically carried everything a rifleman would have plus a radio and its extra accessories for a 36-hour period. This means spare handsets, antennas, and as many batteries as you think you will need (Two spare batteries does the trick fine). In Vietnam, batteries were one of those things that came on every supply chopper, but in re-enactment you won’t have this luxury. If you can find a Packboard, then use this to attach your radio and other equipment. The PRC-25 has its own dedicated harness that can allow a buttpack to be fitted to the bottom. You have seen pictures of RTO re-enactors use these with claymore mine bags attached and they seem to be able to carry everything they need. On the pistol belt of the RTO below he has three M1956 canteens and what looks like dearskin roping gloves.
4 Comments
June 23, 2008 at 8:22 pm
We are putting together a Native American Squad, To go along with our Color Guard. We have a prc25 radio with all the extras. The portable Box speaker is the question? How was it secured to the radio?
Thanks Gordon USAF 69-72
June 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm
This has been something of a mystery to us. If there is an official bracket to use on the threaded shaft coming off the top of the speaker we have not seen it. There is an L type bracket made to mount on vehicles for this threaded post. What we finally did was thread two cargo straps through the speaker grill of the unit, the outside slots on each side. After threading the straps through the speaker the were wrapped around the radio and secured. Two straps keep it from flapping around. I see them all the time in movies, hanging off the narrow side of the radio, but can never see how they do that. I would think anything that clamps to the loop handle of the radio would ultimately wind up flapping as the RTO ran, which would make a lot of noise.
There are two different speakers also, make sure you use the one with the potentiometer on the side, the unpotted one will not be loud enough to be of use.
I am cc’ing our RTO. He may have a picture of his rig that he can forward you.
Wise, Brad (DRMS)
to me, wampndn
show details Jun 24 (2 days ago)
Reply
I do not have a picture, however, at the last militaria show here in
Wichita, I did see an authentic photograph of an RTO carrying a PRC 25
with the speaker attached with two small cargo straps as Dave mentioned
in the previous email.
I will try to locate the guy that had the display and see if I can get
the picture for you.
July 18, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I live in Memphis and I’m the son of Dean Dauner Hawley, MN (85th Evac Medic- Phu Bai, ‘70-’71). My question pertains to the Pink Field Flashlight. Why pink, and was that very common? I’ve studied the war since 1985 and have only seen one other pic of a pink one (Marine -Tet Hue ‘68). Any insight is helpful. Also, great site, keep up the high standards!!
July 20, 2008 at 6:01 pm
The pink flashlight is an explosion proof flashlight. I am not sure exactly what makes it explosion proof, but that is what it means. Personally I would not carry a pink object in a prominent location on my gear in the jungle. As motion catches the eye, especially in your side vision, a bright color would help you to lock on to the motion. But some people will do such things. A case could be made that the RTO got his hands on something different and unusual and was going to use it no matter what, just to be different. Then again, it may have been all that was around to be issued to him.