US Armd Div radio nets 1944-45 (Light type Div)

I have been searching for (without success) a contemporary description of the radio nets found in the 'Light' type US Armored Division of 1944-45 (that with three each Tank, Armd Inf and FA Bns introduced in late 1943).

The relevant Field Manual would be FM 17-70 of June 1944, or ideally April 1945, however neither of these have been uploaded to the internet and nor are they to be found on commercial sites (well, at least not below about £100.00).

The FM for the Infantry Division (FM 7-24) of Dec 1944 is online and includes lots of general info plus some detailed diagrams. Is there a similar description for the WW2 era Armd Div available that folks could point me towards?

Thanks,

Gary

 

Thanks for the pointer, 1960 is I think too far out date wise in this instance, and also shows the nets available with the newer GRC type sets.

FM 101-10 of late 1945 indicates a Div Command Net, a Div Admin Net and a Reconnaissance Net, which are also found in the Inf Div set-up, plus an Air Request Net for the Armd Div, using a mix of the SCR-506 and SCR-299 (399) sets. Combat Command I assume would have a Command Net and an Admin Net working forward from its own SCR-506s, with each Tank or Armd Inf Battalion HQ having its own SCR-506s working back on both nets (the 1944 FMs show this for both types of unit). Would be nice to see it laid out in contemporary terms is all.

There was a 1950 version of FM 17-70, which is listed on the TM-WW2.com site but I can't find it to add to basket. I did email them a good few weeks back but answer came there none...I'm not sure they are still actually operating.

Thanks,

Gary

 

Unfortunately I only know what radio sets and where they were in the unit. I do not know how they were netted.

 

Thought I would have a go at a reconstruction, using the bits and pieces available. Primary among these is the file at CARL linked to below, which shows the radio nets for the Light Armored Division as proposed in March 1943. There are differences between the components and transport of this and the finalised version of the Division from September 1943, still there remains a lot of common ground.

Light armored division, proposed March 1943. - World War II Operational Documents - Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library (oclc.org)

Concentrating on the AM radio nets (shown as CW, continuous wave) in the diagrams I get the following. Numbering is just mine.

1. Division command net
2. Division reconnaissance net
3. Division air request net
4. Division admin net (forward)
5. Division admin net (rear)

6. Division artillery net.
7-9. Three SP battalion command nets

10. Combat Command A command net
11. CCA admin net
12. Combat Command B command net
13. CCB admin net

14. Engineer Battalion command net
15. Medical Battalion command net
16. Ordnance Battalion command net
17. Divisional trains command net

18. Cavalry Recn Squadron command net
19. Cavalry Recn Squadron admin net
20-23. Four Cavalry Recn Troop nets

Of the 11 halftracks in the Signal Company equipped with an SCR-506 set (and an FM SCR-500 series set) I would suggest they were tasked as providing net control stations (NCS) or general utility as below.

1. Division command NCS
2. Division reconnaissance NCS
3. Division air request NCS
4-7. Air request accompanying units
8. Division admin (forward) NCS
9. Set at Ammunition Control Point
10-11. Utility sets, one at forward and one at rear HQ

There were also six truck mounted SCR-299 (399) sets.

1. Link from Division to Corps
2. Link from Div air request to air support
3. Div admin rear NCS
4-5. with Div Trains, one for link to forward HQ and one with QM
6. Dunno really, was previously 'bomb control' for air support.

Div HQ had 7 SCR-506 sets of its own, three in halftracks for the Staff (CG, CoS and the Div G-4), two in AFVs (M8 and a light tank) and 2 in halftracks for CCR when formed. Each Combat Command HQ had 7 SCR-506 sets as well, 6 in halftracks and 1 in a light tank. These provided the NCS sets for the CC command net and admin net, and 'rear links' (in British terms) for the Div command, reconnaissance and forward admin nets, leaving 2 utility sets.

HQ Div artillery had 2 sets, both on the arty command net. Each SP battalion then had its own net using 10 SCR-506 sets, with 2 on their CC command net and 1 on the admin net, 1 on the Div arty net, and 6 on the battalion command net, including 1 with each firing battery.

The Engineer, Medical and Ordnance battalions each had 6 SCR-506 sets, allowing for 2 links back to the appropriate command net, 1 forward for the commander and 3 with their companies. Trains commander then had the Trains NCS set, with another SCR-506 on the reconnaissance net.

Each Tank and Armored Infantry Battalion had 3 SCR-506 sets, two working back on the CC admin net and the third on the CC command net.

Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was awash with SCR-506s, with one in each M8 armoured car, total 52, plus 3 in halftracks and one shoehorned into a light tank.

Still got plenty of queries of course.

Gary