TITLE OF INSTRUCTIONAL EVENT: COMMUNICATIONS OVERVIEW 10 January 1996

NOTES PRESENTATION Prior to start issue SOIs,

SUPR 02065A, 1. INTRODUCTION outlines.

a. Tie-in: This is the first block of in- struction that you will receive in tactical com- munications. This class will introduce you to a number of terms and concepts that will provide a foundation for future classes.

b. Purpose: This class will provide you with an understanding of tactical communications at the maneuver brigade and below. Your mission as a Military Intelligence officer will be to collect, analyze, and report battlefield information and intelligence data. Obviously, you would have a hard time with the reporting process if you didn't understand the basics of tactical communications.

c. Objective: Given a written situation, the 52d Infantry Division (Mech) training SOI, and SUPR 80173A you will be able to identify the means and modes of communications at maneuver brigade and below, identify proper RTO procedures identify ECCM measures, correctly use the SOI, and identify the characteristics and capabilities of a variety of tactical signal equipment on a multiple choice exam. RAC: IVE-LOW

d. Safety Considerations: There are no safety considerations for this class.

e. Procedure: I will explain the details of how common tactical communications work and I will describe the characteristics and capabilities of some common pieces of communications equipment. Please feel free to ask questions or to share any insights that you may have on the subject at hand based upon your experience. If you have a question or comment, raise your hand and I will call on you. I would also encourage you to take notes on your note taking guide for later study.

Start IC 2. DEVELOPMENT

Show: Signal HMMMWV a. Introduction

(1) As you will be told later in your course, Army Operations doctrine rests upon four princple tenets: Agility, Initiative, Depth of operations, and Synchronization. These tenets give our combined forces tremendous flexibility and responsiveness to any senario. However, you will discover that the fast paced, non-stop, and

complex nature of modern military operations makes communications absolutely critical. With- out close and detailed coordination, planning and rapid information exchange, the integrated efforts of large numbers and types of combat elem- ents can not be successful. So the question is, how do units on the battlefield communicate in order to work together effectively and to achieve the common goal of efficient, integrated oper- ations?

Show: Communications (2) Let's start at the very basics and define some terms.

-Communications, at an elemental level is simply the transfer of information from one source to another. The concept to key on though, is the fact that communications involves the sources and a medium, or link of some sort.

-In the world of communications, the information sources are called subscribers or users. Someone who has access to a commo sys- tem like a phone network is called a subscriber.

-The medium of transmission for the informations exchange can be anything from sound waves in the air to radio waves which carry infor- mation from a transmitter to a distant receiver. During this class we will be talking about some different mediums of transmission and we will call them means of communication.

Show: Bde Organization -Since we will be talking about the different levels of command and their communica- tions assets, I hope that you are familiar with a maneuver brigade's structure. The brigade is made up of several battalions, the battalions are made up of several companies, and the companies are made up of platoons.

Show: Means b. Means of Communication

(1) These are the four means used to com- municate amongst tactical units. Radio is probab- ly the most common on the modern battlefield.

Show: Radio Adv -Each of these means has some ad- vantages and some disadvantages. Let's talk about radio first.

(a) Advantages

-Mobile. Obviously, it is important that we be able to talk while on the move due to the fast pace and fluidity of modern combat.

-Long range. Different types of radios can transmit different distances. Some can transmit thousands of miles, some are only effective if they are within direct electronic line of sight of a receiving antenna. Relative to the other means however, radios cover long distances.

-Radio communications can be en- crypted for "secure" operation. In communications the term secure means that some sort of code, either physical or electronic, has been used to scramble a message. By using controlled encryp tion keys, a radio can transmit information to distant stations without any unauthorized stations being able to understand the transmission.

-Radios can be remoted. We all know that radios create an electronic signature which can be detected by threat forces. With de- tection comes direction finding and position fixing. If an enemy element has a fix on the physical location of a radio, they can take steps to destroy that radio. It is therefore very im- portant that we have the capability to remote radios from operations centers and operate them by remote control.

(b) Disadvantages

Show: Radio Disadv -One of the largest disadvantages of radio communications we have already mentioned. That is direction finding. Along with direction finding goes jamming. Rather than destroying a radio transmitter, it is sometimes more advanta- geous to jam it by transmitting a signal at a higher power which will interfere with reception of the original signal.

-The other disadvantage to radio communications is that if the transmissions are not encrypted, it is the least secure means. Any one with a receiver could listen in on radio traf- fic from a safe distance.

-Lastly, there is the issue of in- terference. Radio interference can come from many sources. It can be caused by nature with lightning and ionispheric disruption as examples. It can also be man made with emissions from power stations, radar stations, and jamming stations as examples. The most extreme form of interference would be electromagnetic pulse as generated by a nuclear explosion. Show: FM (c) Radio Types You also need to know that tactical radios use both frequency modulation and ampli- tude modulation. Frequency modulated radios are characterized by relatively short transmission distances. Planning ranges for FM radios are 25 -30 miles. FM radios are quiet because it is very hard for natural interference sources to affect a frequency modulated signal.

Show: AM AM radios are used for long distance communications because the lower frequencies that AM radios use bend a great deal. This lets the signal "flow" around and over terrain obstacles. The AM frequencies also get refracted by the ion- osphere which produces a "sky wave" component of the signal. The ground wave travels about 50 miles and the range of the sky wave is about 100 - 2,500 miles

Student Check: Q -Suppose you were located at an important command post and you were concerned that the enemy could use the electronic signature of your radios to find you and then hit you with artillery fire. What could you do to prevent that? A -Remote your radios to a distant location.

Show: Wire & Cable (2) On the modern battlefield the use of wire and cable for communications links is mini- mal. In the old days, signal personnel used to install lots of wire and cable to link headquart- ers elements together. But that was when there was much less movement going on. Today, with the emphasis of speed of maneuver and agility of res- ponse, wire and cable is used primarily for on site communications. For example, a command post will use wire to install a small telephone network for perimeter defense.

Show: Wire Adv -The advantages of wire and cable include the fact that there is no electronic sig- nature to be detected by the enemy and by using wire to provide a link into commercial circuits, another communications asset (commercial phone systems) can be made available.

Show: Wire Disadv -As I have already said, its in- stallation takes time (and its recovery does too) and this reduces mobility. It is also not suited well for long distance transmission because re- peaters are needed due to rapid attenuation. Wire and cable are also very susceptible to damage by vehicles which either run it over or hook onto it where it crosses roads if it is not overheaded high enough. Wire tapping is another possibility when long runs are concerned.

Show: Messenger (3) One of the most basic forms of com- munication is messenger. Messengers have been used throughout military history to convey infor- mation and they are still used today. In the not too distant past, signal soldiers were dedicated to the messenger mission. These days, with so much movement, the unit which requires a messenger will supply its own soldier to perform that mis- sion.

Show: Messenger Adv -An obvious advantage to messenger service is that large, bulky items like operations orders and map overlays can be carried (transmitt- ed). Also, there is no electronic signature and assets are always available for the mission.

Show: Messenger Disadv -An obvious disadvantage is that it is a very slow means. There is always the possi- bility that the messenger won't make it to his destination, also.

Student Check: Q -Suppose your brigade was preparing to execute a counter attack mission and was consolidated in an assembly area. You want to minimize the use of radios so as to deny the enemy the ability to locate your unit and attempt a spoiling raid. What would be the best way for you to communicate within your unit? A -By means of wire because there is no electronic signature.

Show: Visual/Sound (3) The last basic means of communication is visual and sound. Here, we're talking about things like hand and arm signals, smoke, vehicle horns, and sirens. In the old days bugles were used to signal cavalry maneuvers and the unit guidon was followed for direction. Today, visual and sound signals are used for things like signal- ing chemical attacks, air attacks, ground guiding vehicles, marking unit positions (smoke), and so on.

Show: Adv/Disadv -As an advantage, these means are very simple and can be very effective. As a dis- advantage, They are only suitable for short dis- tances, they could be misunderstood, and they could also be imitated by the enemy.

Show: Modes c. Modes of Communication. By modes of com- munication, I mean the different types of devices which utilize the various means. Some of the more common modes are these:

Show: Telephone (1) Telephone. There are a large number of different types of tactical telephones in use today. They range from the humble TA-1 used for on site communications to the KY-68 which is a telephone capable of receiving an electronic en- cryption variable for secure communications and which also has a connection for data devices. Telephones can use wire and cable as a means or they can provide connectivity through an area multichannel switching network composed of multi- channel radio links and computerized switchboards. The modern tactical multichannel system is very much like the civilian phone system with many of the same subscriber features.

Show: Teletype (2) Teletype is becoming less and less important because there are faster, and better pieces of equipment which can do the same thing. Teletype machines are used for producing hard copy messages. A message is typed into a terminal at one end, the typed information is transformed in- to a series of pulses which are sent by radio or wire to the other end, and then the information is reproduced in its original typed form on a piece of paper.

Show: FAX (3) One of the things which is putting teletype out of business is the facsimile. Fax machines are capable of sending pictures and dia- grams as well as printed material. They scan a sheet of paper, transform the marks on it into a digital representation, and send that data across a wire line or radio system to a fax at the other end which converts the digitized information back into its original appearance. This is much faster than teletype because you don't have to bring the message to a teletype operator for typing and processing (he has to record time of receipt, time of transmission, etc). You just load it into your fax and send it.

Show: Digital Data Dev (4) Digital data devices are becoming more and more prevelant on the modern battlefield. Fast paced operations require fast paced decisions which require fast information flow. Every major Battlefield Functional Area (Maneuver, Fire Sup- port, Air Defense, Intelligence, and Combat Ser- vice support) has its own data distribution equip- ment. Systems like the Maneuver Control System and the TACFIRE system allow large amounts of data to be transmitted very quickly and efficiently by interfacing computer processors to either the multichannel phone system or with radios.

Student Check: Q -If you had an important message which listed lots of details on enemy movements and you wnted to sent this information to the division G2 quickly and in hard copy form, how would you send it? A -By facsimile because it is fast and easy.

Show: Brigade Commo e. Brigade Communications

(1) There is one means of communication which is more important than the others at brigade and below. That one means is radio. FM radio is the primary means of command and control at that level as a matter of fact. The reason that FM radio is so important here is that at this level the elements are highly mobile and move a great deal. The job of the maneuver battalions and brigades is to close with and destroy enemy forces FM radio allows commanders to direct their elem- ents while moving and it gives them virtually in- stant contact with their subordinates -push to talk, no dialing.

Show: Radio Nets (2) FM radio operations are organized and controlled by means of radio nets (networks). If every one in a brigade tried to use the same frequency for communicating, there would be so many people trying to talk on it that it would be useless. So radio networks are organized by function and user at each level. At Brigade level you will find three basic FM nets. One very im- portant fact is that all of the radio nets that I am about to discuss are encrypted at the secret level.

Show: Command Net -The command net is used by the brigade commander to talk to his battalion com- manders. The S3 elements will also be on this net because they are the operational hubs of their units. The command net is used to pass orders and information of immediate operational value. This net has the highest priority of all the nets.

Show: O & I Net -The Operations and Intelligence net is used by the brigade S2 to talk to the battalion S2's. Obviously, this net is used for passing intelligence information. This net is second in priority. It is usually refered to as the "Intel" net.

Show: A & L Net -The third net is the Administrative and Logistics Net. This net is used by the S1's, S4's, and various support persons like maintenance and supply people. Requests for resupply, casualty reports, maintenance and personnel status reports, and so on are transmitted on this net.

Show: Bn Commo (3) Battalions have the same three basic radio nets to control battalion and company oper- ations. The O & I net is referred to as the Sur- veillance net though. Here, the battalion S2 will talk to the Scout Platoon and any attached assets like a Ground Surveillance Radar team.

Show: Co Commo (4) At company level, there is only one primary net: the command net. The company com- mander uses this net to directly control the actions of his platoons.

Student Check: Q -As the S2 of a maneuver battalion you would have to communicate regularly with the brigade S2. What net would you talk to him on? A -The brigade intel net.

3. CONCLUSION

a. Review of Main Points: During this class I have told you about:

-The four communications means.

-Four communications modes.

-Brigade, Battalion, and Company radio nets.

b. Questions or comments

c. Tie-in: With the basic knowledge of com- munications that you now have, you are ready to learn some more specific aspects of tactical com- munications like radio net procedures, how to use the SOI, and the capabilities and characteristics of some common pieces of equipment. These will be the topics for your next class.