Communications / Electronics – March 1969

 

Communications

During the month of March, the Communications Platoon continued to provide minimum essential communication services to the administrative sections of the rear elements encamped at Vandegrift Combat Base and Quang Tri, while tactical communications were provided for the Alpha and Bravo Command Groups during Operation Purple Martin.  Operations in mountainous terrain has reaffirmed the requirement for thorough prior planning and close liaison within the Battalion.  Line of sight propagation characteristics of VHF equipment employed has necessitated the attachment of personnel to other Fire Support Bases to act as relay stations.  Reaction time and accuracy are slightly degraded when using this technique.

  1. Message Center – This section provided the shackle sheets and the brevity code for this Command and its attachments.  Classified and non-classified message handling is exercised.   A forward message center is operating at Vandegrift Combat Base.
  2. Radio – The radio section continues its mission of maintaining communications with all elements through use of radio relay stations at Hill 950 and Fire Support Base Neville manned by two radio personnel each.  Spare parts and batteries are supplied to attached units when required.
  3. Covered circuits – The KY-38, KY-8, and AN/PRC-77 have been used extensively during the month of March.
  4. Wire – The wire section maintains a switchboard in the Battalion Forward Area when the situation requires its use.
  5. Electronics repair – The electronics section continues to conduct second echelon maintenance on organic electronic equipment.  This service is also provided attached units when requested.
  6. Radio Relay – There was no use for this section during the month of March.
  7. Critical shortages – a shortage of repair parts is as follows: A-9, A-10, and A-1’s for the PRC-25.  The UG-255’s for the RC-292 are also critical.
  8. Equipment deadlined and repaired – Maintenance repairs for the month of March are as follows:
  9. PRC – 25                       33
  10. TA – 312                          8
  11. TA – 1                               5
  12. H – 189                          16
  13. EE – 8                               8

This page last corrected 6 September 2011