Communications/Electronics

1. General.  This report covers the period 1 July through 31 July.  The period was devoted to support of Battalion operations, the necessary maintenance of equipment, and training of new personnel.
2. Operations.  Communications were generally continuous and satisfactory.  The direct FM communications augmented by a relay unit at — provided good service to the rear at Camp Evans for Operation Cumberland.  When in the Dong Ha area as Division Reserve and during Operations Buffalo and Hickory II the Battalion had problems with mutual interferences on VHF frequencies as a result several frequency changes had to be affected in order to establish reliable voice-radio communications.
3. On 7 July, the Battalion (minus one company) was ordered from the Cumberland area to Dong Ha as the 3^rd Marine Division reserve, where the Third Battalion, Ninth Marines provided telephone communications.   The following FM voice radio nets were established, Battalion TAC, CP security, and CAC Forces nets.  Ninth Marines assumed the message guard for the Battalion.  The Battalion Tactical Net frequency had to be changed due to mutual interference generated by local units.
4. On 13 July, when placed under OPCON of the Ninth Marines, the Battalion relinquished responsibility for CP Security and CAC nets and entered the 9^th Marines Tactical Number one net.
5. On 14 July, Operation Hickory II began; Bravo and Delta Companies plus the 81 Conduct of Fire nets also had to have frequency changes due to other stations operating on the same frequency.
6. On 16 July, the Battalion was chopped from the 9^th Marines to 4^th Marines, and the 4^th Marines assumed Message Guard.  The 9^th Marines TAC net was secured and upon moving to Camp Evans, a station on the 4^th Marines Regimental TAC was activated.
7. On 17 July, the Battalion moved back to Cumberland area and the Battalion TAC, Regimental TAC, Artillery Conduct of Fire, and TACP local nets were set up.  Bravo Company FM TAC interfered with Battalion TAC and the Division CEO granted a change of frequencies.
8. On 19 July, a secondary frequency for the Battalion TAC was requested and received from the Division CEO.
9. On 24 July, the Battalion set up a message center with teletype service at the battalion-operating base.  The Battalion TAC Rear was moved from Camp Evans to Phu Bai.
10. Message center operations were normal for the month but involved changes of the message guard between 4^th Marines and 9^th Marines.  Distribution of numeral and authentication codes was affected from the rear CP to the user.  KY-7 online crypto and Teletype equipment were returned to the Battalion prior to the move to Phu Bai by the Battalion Rear.  Upon establishing the message center in the Cumberland area difficulties were encountered involving defective terminal equipment associated with the Teletype circuit and maintaining stable radio relay shots.
11. Message totals were:

Classified

This page last corrected 27 August 2011