Transcript Army Strategic Communication and Long Lines in the Cold

ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY
The Cold War, Long Lines and
Army Strategic Communications
in Europe
The 102d Signal Battalion (MW&RR)
1955 to 1967
Vladimir G. Gelnovatch, Director (RET)
U,S,Army Electronic Technology and Devices Laboratory
Fort Monmouth, New Jersey
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Abstract
• The period of 1950 to 1960 represented an
unprecedented buildup of US military forces
in Europe. This was accompanied by a
strategic long lines comm. requirement
unparalleled in the history of the U.S. Army.
Limited technology required adaptation of
existing commercial equipment. The 102d
Signal Bn. (MW&RR) provided a multichannel
backbone for USAREUR from 1955 to 1967.
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Signal Corps in Vacuum Tech Age
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Occupation and the Constabulary
Long Line recovery of the German
Infrastructure (Lorenz VHF) Deutche Post was
required.
• German underground wire infrastructure not
suitable for Army use.
• No strategic theater system in place, only
various tactical net to net Comm.
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Berlin Blockade
• Demonstrated Occupation level
communications inadequate.
• Berlin cable and telephone lines cut. HF
jammed.
• Deutche Post Bocksberg link to Berlin only
multichannel available (commercial).
• Realigned national policy to defend Western
Europe.
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Reach Back
• Two cables available, Hamburg(diplomatic) and
Cherbourg.
• Army ACAN network used HF radio, limited to 2 or 3
voice channels, 15 TTY channels.
• HF sites at Orleans and Neuostheim.
• Tape radio relay sites use manual paper to paper
transfer.
• HF affected by sun spots, outages for days.
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Defend Europe (1950)
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Army grows from 50,000 to 500,000
Combat units to Czech & E. German border
Hq. 7th Army and USAREUR in Germany
Hq NATO in France
Berlin Brigade reinforced
Strategic and Tactical infrastructure TBD
Build up competes with Korean Police Action
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Requirements and Goals
• Provide multichannel comm. from Paris to Munich
(SAC) and to Berlin. Mimic Bell Tel.
• Backbone architecture & expandable.
• USAREUR asset, peace time application.
• Use military and commercial equipment and
practices. Paid by German reparations.
• Contractor built permanent facilities.
• Lease German physical property for 99 years.
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Available Potential Assets
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AN/FRC-23/26 S-Band 24 channels PPM
Siemens Halski commercial 24 channel PPM
Lorenz VHF commercial 24 channel FDM
AN/TRC-6 C-Band 8 channels PPM
Philco Commercial C-Band 24 channel PPM
Bell Telephone long haul 960 channel C-Band FDM as used since 1948 coast to coast
• AN/TRC-8 230 to 250 Mhz
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Personnel
• Require large number of Microwave repairmen
(281.1 MOS).
• Two shifts in Signal School at Fort Monmouth.
• Compete with US Army Long Lines in Japan.
• Create new TD&A with career growth potential for
RA.
• Conscripts not eligible due to training length.
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USAREUR Multichannel Radio
Telephone Network is Born
• 4th Signal Group tasked to plan network 1951.
• Largest LL network operated by U.S.Army.
• Contracts awarded 1952 for German portion
Lorenz AG (VHF) in South & Berlin link SiemensHalski (microwave) else ware.
Paid for by German
WW2 reparation funds.
• Adaptation of commercial grade equipment.
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4th Sig. Gp. Command Structure
• 315th Signal Bn is transferred 20 Oct 1953 to manage
the new network
• 315th pulls together various MW units to incorporate
into network (503 Sig. Co.,550 Sig. Co.,22 Sig. Det.,
506 Sig. Plt.&7793 Sig. rel. Pl)
• 315th supports 7th Army Cmd. Post manuvers
• 315th Conducts test shots in France for Fr. Link
• Support HICOG network-State Dept.
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315 th Signal Bn (Constr)
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Atlanta, Georgia Reserve unit
Activated early 1951, sent to Fort Jackson
“Gyro’ed” to Worms, West Germany late 1951
Strung wire in Worms area
Transferred to Karlsruhe Oct 1953 less
personnel and equipment, renamed MW&RR
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Progress
USAREUR Multichannel Network
• Southern VHF Lorenz Network operational in 1954.
• Siemens-Halski network near completion 1954.
• Spring 1954 -French link from German border to
Maison Fort begun using AN/FRC-23/26.
• July 1954-french link operational.
• Spring 1955- Overall network operational 53 sites.
KSL given operational control.
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102d Signal Bn. (MW&RR)
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Constituted 12/1/44 -Heavy Construction
Re-designated light constr. 5/1/45
Returned to CONUS 5/2/45
De-activated Camp Miles Standish,Mass
While inactive designated MW&RR 2/1/55
Activated 3/18/55 Smiley Barracks, Karlsruhe
De-activated Nov 1967
Po River Valley, North Appenine Campaigns
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102d Signal Bn.
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TD&A structure
Roughly 700 personnel
Five lettered Companies (B HQ in Munich)
Subordinate to 4th Signal Group
Excluded the Berlin terminal
Konigstuhl control center
Lt. Col. William Felty first CO, (last CO of 315)
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102d Sig. Bn Locations
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Bn. Hq/Hq. Det- Feudenheim
Co. A-Frankfurt (FKT)
Co. B-Munich (MNH)
Co. C-Kaiserslautern (KLN)
Co. D-Vernou, France
Co. E-Heidelberg (KSL)
Did not operate Berlin Terminal
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USAREUR MULTICHANNEL RADIO
TELEPHONE NETWORK
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Training
• US Army Signal School, Fort Monmouth, NJ 26-30
weeks -MOS 281.1
• Equip. AN/FRC-23/26, AN/TRC-29, AN/TCC-13
• In-Theater- Siemens-Halski, Lorenz AG, OJT
• High School guaranteed school choice prog.
• Only open to RA (no US) 3 year enlistment
• Basic Signal Officers Course, Fort Monmouth
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USAREUR Multichannel Radio
Telephone Network Operational
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Network operational 1955
53 sites participating
102d Sig. Bn strength approx. 700
Dial class A service available in Germany & Fr.
Contractor support at terminals
Largest ARMY Long Line project ever
High reliability for vacuum technology era.
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Portrait of a Typical site
Hohenstadt Radio Station
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Isolated site (814 meters elevation)
Six personnel (E-7, SP1, four SP2’s)
Two Lorenz systems 48 channels (HPG,SGT, KSL)
Emergency 40 KW generator
Logistics support from 4th AD Goeppingen
Difficult Winter conditions.
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Physical Security
• HST to be defended by 6 M-1 carbines and one
Browning 30 Cal Crew served weapon.
• Network considered expendable in wartime.
• Station to be destroyed if threatened.
• Curious validation/confirmation process.
• “Combat Passes” available in site safe.
• No realistic order of battle available.
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A Unpleasant Sea Voyage
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Stuttgart Terminal Site
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Munich Terminal Site
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Walt and Dorit 1957
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Hohenstadt Cook
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Lorenz VHF Equipment
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US Forces Civilian License Plates
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Tour Jacket Front
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Tour Jacket Back
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Uniform of the Day
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Hohenstadt K-9 Security Dog
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Digging Out
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Hohenstadt Severe Weather
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Hohenstadt Snow Storm
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Snow
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Military Payment Certificate (MPC)
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USAREUR Ration Card
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Troposcatter; the beginning of the
end
• Troposcatter emerged from the Signal Corps Labs in
the early 1960.
• Did not require line of sight operation.
• Extended distances and decrease no. of relays
• No need for manpower intensive relays and difficulty
to defend those relays.
• Feasibility demonstrated in Viet Nam using
commercial equipment ( BACK PORCH).
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The System is Aging
• Demands of wideband requirements in the 1960’s
Tax the network.
• Viet Nam experience shows value of tropo.
• Planners are delayed due to Viet Nam needs.
• Signal Corps Labs Develop military hardware.
• STRATCOM planners evolve to new system.
• Change over begins.
• 102d Signal Bn. Will not be the new owner.
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The End
• The USAREUR Multichannel Radio Telephone
Network is decommissioned in Nov. 1967.
• The 102d Signal Bn is deactivated shortly.
• The 68th Signal Bn. Takes over all remaining sites that
remain active using tropo.
• Additional duties include CEMATARY network.
• This becomes the forerunner of the ET/A backbone
(digital).
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References
• http://groups.msn.com/TheOne-Oh-Duece
• http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm
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