Communications
- Message Center. The Message Center Section continues to function at both Quang Tri and Vandegrift. Quang Tri center is responsible for scheduled pickups of classified codes from 3rd Marine Division and maintaining ComTac publications and General Message files and distributing classified and unclassified traffic to the Administration offices at that location. The Vandegrift Message Center is responsible for the distribution of 3 letter word code groups, shackle sheets/authentication codes and brevity codes to the deployed units. The forward message center is responsible for the classified traffic incorporated into the Commanding Officers daily read board.
- Radio. Radio is the primary means of communications in the tactical situation and proved equally important in the static position. With the previous operation completed the Battalion was given the mission to defend Vandegrift Combat Base. As a result, the Base Defense Net was activated to support such a mission. All supporting units were incorporated into this net. The Battalion Tactical now proved very flexible throughout this period and was expanded to include stations at Khe Gio Bridge, FSB Fuller, Elliott Combat Base, Signal Hill as well as the Companies standing lines at VCB and a voluminous over changing number of OPCON units. This net also covered the Seabee Security Station and the Daily Road Sweep Activity along Route #9. The Administrative traffic was passed throughout the month between Vandegrift and Quang Tri on the Admin Net.
This month the Battalion received components for the PRC-88 series. The units received are the PRT-4 transmitter, batteries for the PRR-9 receiver and Crystal units for the PRT-4. Units not yet supplied are the PRR-9 receiver and the batteries for the PRT-4. This month the Battalion turned in our issue of PRC-93 UHF transceivers.
- Covered Circuits. The PRC-77/KY-38 cypher unit remained to be utilized in the Regimental Tactical Net this month. The KY-38 problem of the previous month could not be resolved by 2nd echelon repair and all 3 units were turned in to Force Logistic Command Bravo in Quang Tri.
- Wire. The wire section continues to maintain 4 SB-22’s. Two are located at Quang Tri and two at Vandegrift. In this month’s static position, they were used extensively. At Vandegrift all lines were cabled and tagged. Two new lines were laid to 4th Marines. Relocated SB #1 was a hot line to be used when the Battalion moves to the field and our SB is not guarded. Hot lines were also used to connect the base coordinator (G-4) and Task Force Hotel with the Battalion COC. Wire loops were installed at Khe Gio Bridge and Signal Hill.
This month the wire section also installed a complete electrical system in the 1st Bn 4th Marines area at VCB.
- Electronics Repair. During February the tech shop continued to provide second echelon maintenance from Quang Tri and expanded its activities to include VCB. The tech shop at Vandegrift will be used for all maintenance when the Battalion is in the field. At this time the shop at Quang Tri will be used only as a liaison with Force Logistic Command Bravo. When the Battalion returns to VCB the tech shop there will remain to function as well as the shop in Quang Tri where there is a greater availability and access to spare parts.
- Radio Relay. There was no use for this section during the month of February.
- Critical Shortages. Modules for the AN/PRC-25 remain in a critical status. In particular they are as follows: A-1, A-2, A-9. A-10, A-16, A-17, A-21, A-22, A-25. In addition, whip antennas and antenna bases, tape bases and message books are in shortage. Tech shop testing meters ME-25/A and IG-255 are unavailable at this time.
- Equipment Repairs. Maintenance repairs for the month of February are as follows:
ITEM NO. FSLB TURN
RT-505 26 8
EE-8 3 6
TA-312 7 3
524 1
TA-1 14
This page last corrected 4 September 2011