Hello, how many radio sets would a British parachute battalion have taken into battle in 1945? One per company and one for Bn HQ? What type of radio sets were used? How were they carried during the jump? Thanks for your help!
I’ve got the signals set up on a document on my computer, if it answers your query I’ll send it over. Also Lt Col Pine-Coffins radio Op gave an account of the drop, I’ll get the link.....
They also used hand held sets as described by Pine Coffin. 12. Wireless communications worked well, and, as an experiment, the Bde Comd, all COs and all Coy Comds carried "Walky talky" sets on a separate net. I found these quite effective, and was in touch the Bde Comd and all my Coys (except C Coy (Maj Keene MC) whose set was broken up on landing) nearly all the time. I do not recommend this set as a normal issue though, as it is still a burden to carry, despite its diminutive size, and all talking is carried on through very heavy interference. It was an interesting experiment, nevertheless, and undoubtedly this set would have many advantages on special occasions.
According Eric Lancaster he had a No. 68 wireless set, to be carried on the back. And the quote from Pine Coffin suggests that the SCR 536 - on that occasion (and in addition to other sets?) - were used from Bde via Bn to Coys - which answers my question above - no wireless on the Platoon level. Right?
Parachute and Air Landing Bns initially used the same wireless sets as the Inf Bn, the No.38 (essentially for Pl to Coy HQ) and the No.18 (for Coy to Bn HQ). The No.68 was a later variant of the No.18. Everything that I could find on allocations is detailed in this piece; http://www.bayonetstrength.uk/BritishArmy/BritParaBn/Org of the British Para Bn 1941-45.pdf Note on the term walkie-talkie (imparted to me by others I have to admit). The SCR-536, when introduced, was called the handie-talkie (or handy-talkie) by the troops using it, largely because it could be held and operated with one hand. The walkie-talkie was the name for the SCR-300, which was actually a backpack set, similar in size and purpose to the No.18. Somewhere in time the term walkie-talkie became attributed to the SCR-536. I wonder if the reference made by Pine Coffin is to the SCR-300. The SCR-536 had a range of not much more than a mile, often less, so it was not a set for comms between Bde HQ unless they were standing a field or two away. The SCR-300 had a range of up to five miles on a good day (I think, and without looking), and was an FM set so was reliable. On the down side because it was an FM set it could only talk to other FM sets, and literally in this case only another SCR-300 due to its frequency range. Gary
On this occasion (Op Varsity) 5 Para Bde HQ was less than a mile from 7 Para, pretty much the sam location as 12 Para and maybe 1 Mile to 13 Para so the close range could’ve been handled by the 356 ( I’m no expert on the sigs!) thanks for the info on the hand held variant, wasn’t aware of that.
Not sure without looking for reference, but the mortar platoon and MMG platoon ( and I suspect the Anti tank Platoon also) did have comms direct with Battalion.
SCR 300 was tested by the 6th Airbone Divisional Signals back in February 1945 while they were in the Ardennes. Think the War Diary might have something on it. As Gary has pointed out that 76, 68 and 38 sets in Germany were in use and also demonstrated here is the WS 52.
So the para battalions had 10 No. 18 and 43 No. 38 wireless sets each - according to Gary's link. In case you are interested - 6 AB Divisional Signals equipment for Op. Varsity was (according to War Diary) C 52 flown in: 12 lost: 5 No. 62 flown in: 54 lost: 23 No. 68 flown in: 20 lost: 9 No. 76 flown in: 10 lost: 6 No. 300 flown in: 27 lost 16 FVCP Flown in: 2 lost: 1 C9 flown in: 1
I looked this up in Ellis "Victory in the West Vol 1" (1962): According to member Gary Kennedy (in a link he posted above) there were 43 No. 38 sets in a parachute battalion - 11 to each rifle company. His Informationcomes from an Equipment list for 1 Can. Par Bat. If this applies for British units, too, in Theory tjis means: With an overall (ideal) battalion strength of 613 men that amounts to one wireless for every 14 men. Ellis writes that the No. 38 was used within the company. To my surprise all of this suggests that every section had a radio - that is quite impressive. Is my reasoning correct?
The number of No.38 sets in the Para Bn example is somewhat inflated as they were issued to 3-in mortar dets as well, in both the Rifle Coys and the Mortar Platoon (using the 1942-43 WE). The figure includes two per 3-in det, as indicated in the Cdn equipment table. So 43 per Bn did not result in each Section having a No.38 set. Gary
IWM B14344 - B14364 The following won't help with actual numbers but may be of general interest. There is a series of posed photos under the title of "Army's Signal Equipment" on the IWM site that runs from B14344 to B14364 that shows a number of wireless sets as demonstrated by 5th Parachute Brigade Signals in Heldon Holland. Wireless sets shown include: No. 22, No. 76, SCR 694, SCR 300, No.68 (based on No. 18). Some of the photos in brithm's post above belong to this series. The opening photo: Regards ...
Following up on Cee's #17 post 5th Parachute Brigade Signals demonstrate Signal equipment Holland February 1945
Guys, Gary Kennedy you were spot on with the 300 hand held. alberk this is all I have on Battalion Comms.
For Varsity Brigadier Poett stated "One lesson I had learned in Normandy was that of wireless communications. On the night of D-Day I had lost the wireless team that jumped with me and I was without proper communications throughout the whole night. This time, therefore, (Varsity) I and all my battalion commanders carried our own American walkie talkie sets strapped inside our parachute harnesses. These radios were intended only to maintain control until proper communications had been set up in the RV or on the final objectives but they proved to be a huge success " Major Jack Watson A Coy 13th Bn Parachute Regiment states that on landing during Varsity "Like the commanding officer and all the company commanders in the battalion I had a hunting horn. We each had our different calls to muster our men. I blew mine, calling my company as we went for the objective. My batman was still with me saying "Right behind you Sir!" Lt Col Darling 12th Bn Parachute Regiment outlines that drastic steps were taken before the Varsity jump to strip as much weight from the men as possible including digging tools and grenades so as to allow for swift initial actions on landing. Within the 5th Parachute Brigade during Operation Varsity it appears from the Brigadier down the emphasis on landing was speed and aggression with communication from Brigade to Battalion being via US walkie talkies held by the Brigadier and COs. At Battalion to company level communication appears to be by means of hunting horn. Platoon to company initially would have been by verbal or runners whilst the DZ was secured and enemy positions assaulted. The normal radio net appears to have been set up once the objectives had been secured, I will check but I believe some of the battalion signallers landed by glider.
