Communications/Electronics

A. Operations

Communications have been operated from a forward Battalion Command Post of limited size. Wire lines have been established between the Battalion switchboard and the supporting Artillery unit, the Logistics Support Area and the organic rifle company in defense of the Battalion perimeter. Internal command telephones have also been installed. Contact with the three rifle companies operating at distances of from two to seven miles from the Command Post over mountainous and extreme terrain has been constant and reliable through the use of PRC 25’s. Battery life of the BA-386 under extreme heat conditions has remained over 90 hours. Contact with the rear Command Post at the Phu Bai Enclave, a distance of 23 miles and the rear echelon units at the Chu Lai Enclave, a distance of more than 100 miles had been maintained through the establishment of a Battalion administrative net using the PRC-47. Communications with higher Headquarters is accomplished through Regt TAC #1, UHF using the PRC-47 and Regt TAC #2 VHF using the PRC-25 through a voice relay.

B. Problems Encountered.

The Battalion has been operating in the forward area for an extended period of time. The ability to timely act on messages, correspondence and other pertinent administrative matters has been severely hampered by the non-availability of radio relay equipment and the unavailability of the use of organic Teletype equipment due to the almost total commitment of the Battalion radio resources to fulfill other missions. The necessity for key Battalion Staff Members to commence and consult with their regimental counterparts is extremely limited by the availability of only one voice net for this use. With no generators at this position the charging of BB-451’s must be accomplished at the Electronics Maintenance Facility of the Logistics Support Area. The LSA is not prepared to assume this mission nor provide parts for the batteries and with elements of the Battalion at three separate and distant locations and each location requiring battery charging facilities, the number of charges the Battalion has been able to place at the LSA provided only barely adequate support.