4/25/2008 U.S. Army Electronic Technology & Devices Lab. Fort Monmouth,NJ 1

4/25/2008 U.S. Army Electronic Technology & Devices Lab. Fort Monmouth,NJ 1

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

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.

4/25/2008 2U.S. Army Electronic Technology & Devices Lab. Fort Monmouth,NJ

Signal Corps in Vacuum Tech Age


Occupation and the Constabulary

Long Line recovery of the GermanInfrastructure (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.


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.


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.


Defend Europe (1950)

• 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


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.


Available Potential Assets

• 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


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.


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 Siemens-Halski (microwave) else ware. Paid for by German WW2 reparation funds.

• Adaptation of commercial grade equipment.


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.


315 th Signal Bn (Constr)

• 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


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.


102d Signal Bn. (MW&RR)

• 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


102d Signal Bn.

• 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)


102d Sig. Bn Locations

• 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


USAREUR MULTICHANNEL RADIO TELEPHONE NETWORK


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


USAREUR Multichannel Radio Telephone Network Operational

• 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.


Portrait of a Typical siteHohenstadt Radio Station

• 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.


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.


A Unpleasant Sea Voyage



Stuttgart Terminal Site


Munich Terminal Site


Walt and Dorit 1957



Hohenstadt Cook


Lorenz VHF Equipment


US Forces Civilian License Plates


Tour Jacket Front


Tour Jacket Back


Uniform of the Day


Hohenstadt K-9 Security Dog


Digging Out


Hohenstadt Severe Weather


Hohenstadt Snow Storm


Snow


Military Payment Certificate (MPC)


USAREUR Ration Card


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).


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.


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).


References

• http://groups.msn.com/TheOne-Oh-Duece• http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm


Documents

4/25/2008 U.S. Army Electronic Technology & Devices Lab. Fort Monmouth,NJ 1