Army Strategic Communication and Long Lines in the Cold War in Europe

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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. (MWRR) 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)

• 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

• 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 TDA 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
  Siemens-Halski (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)

• Atlanta, Georgia Reserve unit
• Activated early 1951, sent to Fort Jackson
• Gyroed to Worms, West Germany late 1951
• Strung wire in Worms area
• Transferred to Karlsruhe Oct 1953 less personnel
  and equipment, renamed MWRR

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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. (MWRR)

• 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 MWRR 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.

• TDA 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

• 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

• 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 siteHohenstadt Radio
Station

• Isolated site (814 meters elevation)
• Six personnel (E-7, SP1, four SP2s)
• 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 1960s
  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