Military Hand Operated Electric Power Generators

One of the most interesting types of electrical generators used by the U.S. military is the hand cranked unit. The hand cranked generators disassemble and are light enough to be man-packed in a carrying bag or strapped on a packboard. The hand operated generator provides enough power for a small radio set, crypto gear, rechargeable batteries, and other electronic equipment in the field using a soldier's own muscles to rotate the generator. The clever and versitile hand cranked generators have been in use since before WW II and continue in use in the 21st century.

Signal Corps soldiers direct naval gunfire against German positions using SCR-284 radio with GN-45 hand-cranked generator, France, 10 June 1944
Signal Corps soldiers direct naval gunfire against German positions using SCR-284 radio with GN-45 hand-cranked generator, France, 10 June 1944.

Today in WW II: 24 May 1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait: German battleship Bismarck sinks British battlecruiser HMS Hood, flagship of the Home Fleet, killing all but 3 of the 1418 crew.  More ↓
24 May 1943 Dr. Josef Mengele, German SS officer and physician, becomes the medical officer at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Hand Cranked Mobile Electric Power

G-77/G hand cranked DC generator, with cables, carrying bag and other accessories. Photo: eBay seller blue1969diamond
G-77/G hand cranked DC generator, with cables, carrying bag and other accessories. Photo: eBay seller blue1969diamond.

This page lists U.S. military hand cranked generators used during World War II and afterward to the present.

Model When Output Notes
G-3/TRC-7 WW II/1945   TM 11-617, Variants, for Radio Set AN/TRC-7
G-8 1960s- DC aka G-8/GRC, for RT-66, RT-67, RT-68 or RT-70
G-43/G 1950s-1990s 52.5 watts, 10.5, 17.5, 30V DC TM 11-5122, TM-11-6115-218-xx, NSN 6115-00-510-0611, for AN/GRC-109, AN/PRC-74, Back packed, 22lbs, G-77/G is equivalent, MIL-G-14106B
G-77/G to 1990s 52.5 watts, 10.5, 17.5, 30V DC TM-11-6115-218-xx, NSN 6115-01-072-8080, for AN/GRC-109, AN/PRC-74, Back packed, 22lb, G-43/G is equivalent
GN-35 WW II 400VDC 75ma and 6.3V AC/DC at 2.5A For small radio sets including SCR-131, SCR-161 and SCR-171, SCR-203 (mule packed radio)
GN-37 WW II   For SCR-178
GN-44 WW II 400VDC 75ma and 6.3V AC/DC at 2.5A For SCR-288
GN-45 WW II   Variants, for SCR-284
GN-58/G WW II 425VDC 115ma, 105VDC 32ma, 6.3VDC 2.5A, 1.4VDC 465ma Variants, for BC-1306 and AN/GRC-9, aka G-58/GRC
G-76/G 1980s?? 30V DC TM 11-6115-470-xx, Variants, NSN 6115-01-082-8107, MIL-G-49369, for AN/PRC-70, AN/SC-3 and AN/VSC-7 radios

Notes: This list is not exhaustive. The date is the approximate year the equipment was in use, based on manuals or other information. "Variants" or "Many variants" refers to evolution of models such as PE-75-A, PE-75-B, etc. Manuals with suffix -xx refer to a series depending on maintenance level. If you can fill in any missing data or correct anything in this table, please contact Olive-Drab.com.

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