Unit: Division Signal Office, 8th Armored Division
Source: Maj. Charles E. Harris, Asst DSO, Sig Co
Interviewer: Capt. Joseph Vasta
Place and Date of Interview: 15 May 45, Gottingen, Germany.
HEADQUARTERS 8TH ARMORED DIVISION
APO 258 US ARMY
15 May 1945
Subject: Signal Historical Report 28 March to 13 April 1945.
To: Commanding General, 8th Armored Division,
Attn: Ninth US Army Historian.
- The following report simply list the
highlights and unusual circumstance concerning
the communications facilities and problems
encountered during the period 280001 March to
132400 April 1945. During the above mentioned
period the Division moved from the West side of
the Rhine River and on the 13th April arrived at
Wolfenbuttel, Germany. As to all problems
encountered, this report will deal only with
generalities and will not attempt to place
specific events at specific location.
I - RADIO OPERATIONS
- In striving for a method of centralized
control for the Radio Stations of Division
Headquarters a new system was tried which
accomplished the mission efficiently and
successfully.
- Due to the nature of the terrain in which the
Division had been operating it was found that the
radio stations had to be placed some distance
from the Division CP. To control the stations and
yet maintain close liaison with the section for
which the radio station operated the following
system was used:
- Radio stations were removed from valleys,
locations likely to decrease the reliable
range of the set, and were placed on suitable
terrain.
- Three wire lines were then installed to a
captured German switchboard located centrally
with respect to the radio station, with each
radio station laying one line into this
switchboard. Thus, one man, designated as the
"radio dispatcher", located at the
radio control board, could contact any
station. The three lines laid initially were:
- One line to the Division switchboard
- this allowed anyone having telephone
communication to contact any radio
station.
- One line to message center for the
sole purpose of clearing traffic from
message center to any radio station and
allowing the "radio dispatcher"
to inform message center, or staff
section, of receipt time on
messages.
- One line to a like switchboard in the
G-3 section for remote control of the
Division FM radio set, an SCR-508 located
in the G-3 half-track. Close liaison
could be maintained in this manner by the
radio operations officer as well as the
staff section concerned. The "radio
dispatcher' maintained complete records
of all transactions, kept traffic
flowing, and informed proper persons of
difficulties encountered.
 II - WIRE
- Wire difficulties, other than routine, were
encountered in two forms. One - the difficulty in
obtaining a sufficient amount of wire, and two -
sabotage of wire lines by German personnel.
- The shortage of wire was overcome by using
existing commercial lines, both open wire and
underground cable. This system is slow, due to
the difficulty of rehabilitating commercial
lines, but makes for better circuits,
particularly over long distances. Being on poles
or underground the danger of civilian sabotage is
lessened.
- A satisfactory solution to the civilian
sabotage had not been found. In one instance in
Braunsweig, Germany, one truck line from Division
to a Combat Command was cut in twenty-four
different places.
- The Assistant Wire Officer must have a
1/4-ton truck for transportation.
III - GENERAL
- From the combat experiences of the Division
the following conclusions have been drawn for the
sections of the Signal Company indicated:
- Division Signal officer:
- Needs authorized vehicles in the
amount of two 1/4-ton trucks, one for the
DSO and one for the Assistant DSO. In
addition to the half-track that is
authorized, the section should also have
one 2-1/2 ton truck and 1-ton trailer
with a shelter HO-17 to serve as an
office, cargo space, and publications
section.
- Should have a mimeograph machine in
place of the spirit duplicator authorized
the section for printing SOI
material.
- Requires two additional clerks in
publications section.
- Wire Section:
- A minimum of six (6) complete wire
teams are necessary, each consisting of
11 men, 1 2-1/2 ton truck and 1 1/4 ton
truck. One of these teams should be with
each Combat Command headquarters, and the
three remaining with Division
headquarters are charged with
establishing and maintaining
communications with the Combat Commands
and the teams with the Combat Commands
with establishing and maintaining
communications with their subordinate
headquarters. One more 1/4 ton truck is
necessary for the Assistant Wire
Officer.
- The amount of field wire authorized
an Armored Division should be increased
from 208 miles to approximately 400.
- Message Center:
- Messengers should have armored
vehicles for runs to the Combat Commands
as these deliveries are accomplished in
combat under artillery, mortar, and even
small arms fire. Armored cars should be
suitable.
- It is recommended that an additional
vehicle be authorized with proper bodies
to house the higher grade cryptographic
equipment. We accomplished this by using
two captured 4-wheel German trailers
towed by the message center half-track.
The equipment was installed in the
trailers and could be operated while en
route or when stopped. A PE-75 power unit
furnished the power for the equipment
when stationery and a 12-volt DC
converter to 110 AC while moving.
- Radio Maintenance;
- The amount of radio repair teams
should be increased to seven. There
should be a light repair team with each
Combat Command headquarters consisting of
a minimum of four (4) enlisted men, a
half-track or 3/4 ton weapons carrier
repair vehicle and a 1/4 ton truck. There
should be a heavy maintenance repair team
with each ordnance companies which
support the Combat Commands with a like
team at the ordnance battalion
headquarters. Each heavy repair team
should consist of a minimum of five (5)
enlisted men, 1 small arms repair truck
especially equipped for radio repair, 1
2-1/2 ton truck for spare parts and 1 1/4
ton truck. Each light repair team should
carry a minimum of two complete radio
sets of each type used by the Division
and each heavy team a minimum of five
complete sets. In combat, repairs other
than minor should not be attempted but
should be replaced on the spot. Sets that
have been replaced should then be
repaired or salvaged and replaced in
stock. Each team should carry all items
of signal equipment necessary to replace
vehicular loads. They should be able to
replace panels, flashlights, etc. , that
have become lost, damaged, or destroyed
in combat. The Radio Maintenance Officer
must have a 1/4 ton truck for
transportation.
- Division Signal Supply:
- Signal Supply should have a minimum
of five (5) 2-1/2 ton trucks and an
increase of a least six (6) enlisted men.
With the two 2-1/2 ton trucks now
authorized the Division Signal Supply
Section it is necessary to dump all loads
to make return trips to depots. We have
found that it is quite normal to travel a
total distance of 300 miles for a
round-trip to reach the nearest signal
supply depot. With the additional number
of men and vehicles it is felt that this
would no longer be necessary and would
eliminate a lot of confusion, unnecessary
trips, and expedite delivery of
supply.
IV - CONCLUSION
- Increase all sections of an Armored Signal
Company, except Radio Operations, Company Supply,
and Company Headquarters, with both both
equipment and personnel and redesignate the
organization as an Armored Signal Battalion.
- Changes the T/O so as to make the rank of the
Division Signal officer a Colonel in order that
he can bear more weight with the Division and
Combat Command Staffs on the problem of
communications, as all staffs are prone to accept
communications as being of minor importance
resulting in less emphasis and less training
being place on this subject than others.
- Communications have proved their importance
in the Battle of Germany, therefore the T/O &
E's should be changed accordingly to give the
signal section everything necessary to make the
systems more efficient.
For the Division Signal
Officer:
CHARLES E. HARRIS
Maj, Sig C
Asst DSO
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