Italian Radios Used by Iraqis
 IRET PRC-638 |
PRC-638 The most common set of it's type to be brought home by U.S. troops is the PRC-638 Built in Italy by IRET. Basically their equivalent of our PRC-77, it would be deployed to perform the same roles. Though it is of high quality design, manufacture, and boast several advanced features over it's U.S. counterpart ( then 25 years old ). It is not as robustly built as the U.S. PRC-77, but far less complicated to operate and service than our PRC-119 ( which is by all accounts, "a nightmare" ). References do not list the PRC-638 as ever being used by the military in it's country of origin ( Italy ) in any quantity, from this we can deduce two things: #1.) It was not the best design available. Most if not all examples of this radio coming here from the Gulf War, have all their panel markings in Arabic, one of only two radios known to be customised as such. Virtually every account from the original owners of these sets said the same thing, " I picked it up out of a ditch, they just threw them there when they were running away ". Below is a description of the set. PRC-638 Non-US, Back-pack VHF, FM transceiver. The PRC-638 is built in Italy by IRET, and is intended to perform a similar role as the US PRC-77. It can be combined with various ancillary equipment to provide backpack, vehicular, or semi-fixed station operation. Features digital synthesis, with four rotary knob selection of frequency. Modular construction for easy field service by replacement of sub-assemblies. And an automatic antenna tuner operates in the receive mode with either 1 or 3 Meter whips. Ops 30-76mc in 25kc steps for a possible 1840 channels. RF power output is a selectable 4 Watts high ( optional 2 Watts ), or 100mw Low. Requires 11VDC ( 100ma max rec. ), 1.5amps ( trans High ), 400ma ( trans Low ) as supplied by nicad batteries or vehicular accessories. Size 202mmH x 140mmW x 80mD ( with 4Ahr battery ), 3.5kg ( with battery pack ). Known accessories include PAL-30 30 watt vehicular RF power amplifier ( VRQ-109 ), CU-14 vehicular antenna tuner, CV-3TA optional vehicular antenna tuner, 2.75 Meter vehicular antenna, PU-66 24VDC fixed station power supply, PU-64 12VDC fixed station power supply. |
 IRET PRC-638 and Hand Set |
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 IRET PRC-638 |
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 Warnings on PRC-638 in Arabic |
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IRET PRC-638 Usage Instructions, Translated Note: you will hear and interrupted tone outside the (?) when (?) comes down. |
| IRET PRC-638 Warnings, Translated 1- Do not utilize the device without antenna because that would damage it due to it’s sensitivity. 2- Do not carry the device using the antenna or the manual device because that might result in damaging the base and it’s connection to the manual device (I guess they mean the speaker) Warning |
 IRET PRC-638 |
Frequency Controls and Lower Knobs From Right to Left - first socket upper writing: remote control then under it Morris and a symbol - lower writing: socket for manual control - Second socket upper writing one word: power - Third knob lower writing: Volume control adjuster - Upper writing from right to left: on, then voluntary emission and a symbol under it, last word is off - Forth knob is: for control of type of suppression - Upper writing on forth knob: first position is tone, second is carrier, third is off, the forth is tone, the fifth is carrier and the sixth is off - There are three words on top of this knob the right top one is labelled high the middle word from top is the output power, the third is high. - The fifth knob has two words one on top is on and two words on bottom upper one is off and the second on bottom is remote control. |
Note the VRQ-109 ( vehicular variant ) was announced in 1980 aimed at the export market. The PRC-638 though produced for the Italian Armed forces, it is known to have been exported to a number of countries. Quantities of these radios were brought to the US as war trophies from recent "Desert Storm" activities.
 IRET PRC-439 |
PRC-439 Marketed to appeal to military and police organisations, the PRC-439 appears to be a smaller and cheaper alternative to the PRC-639. As with it's big brother, the PRC-439 is built by IRET in Italy, is of early 1970's technology and is similar to the Racal TRA-967 in size, and concept. Normally carried in a canvas bag from the operators shoulder, it does not seem to have had the ancillary equipment available to allow it's use in various other roles, like other equipment of it's type. It should be noted that examples returning here from Desert Storm have panel markings in Arabic, a frequency spread of 40-49.975mc, and resemble a smaller PRC-639. Non-US, back-pack portable VHF, FM transceiver. Built in Italy by IRET, the PRC-439 appears to be a low cost alternative, tactical set for combat troops. It features small size, light weight, extreme simplicity of design and use, and is completely self contained to include a 220VAC battery charger built into it's battery box. The radio and all accessories are combined in a single canvas bag, provided with a strap for shoulder carry. Additionally it is provided with both carrier and 150cps tone squelch, built in battery test function ( indicates battery condition with audible tones ), and an antenna connection that accepts either a short steel tape antenna or any 50 ohm type. Ops 40-50mc in 25kc steps for a possible 400 channels ( optionally any 10mc segment from 30-80mc ). RF power output is a selectable 300mw or 3 watts. Requires 12.5VDC normally supplied by 10ea "C" cell rechargeable Nicad contained in it's battery box. Size 244mmH x 154mmW x 62mmD, 4kg (complete). |
 IRET PRC-439 |
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 IRET PRC-439 |
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