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Post by motokid351 on Jul 29, 2008 19:55:24 GMT -5
how often were EE-8 field phones used by the paratroops. because i know they used the BC-1000, but i didnt know how often they used them. i was thinking about buying one for a amatuer radio man set-up, but i didnt know if it was worth it to get. thanks
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azeeze
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Post by azeeze on Jul 30, 2008 11:40:49 GMT -5
Field phones were used by all. I don't think they would be good for a radio man setup, they are for outposts to stay in touch with their command post. Field phones have a wire that runs to a circuit board, you would need alot of wire to be runnin around with one....
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 30, 2008 12:23:06 GMT -5
The battalion HQ always attempted to run field phone wire out to the companies and back to Regiment as quickly as they could. Field phones were supposed to be the primary means of communication with radios as a backup. A field switch board set up was available to direct calls much like the old phones set up with the chords and plugs. (At company level there were little discs) The radio man would have been trained on both the radio and field phone.
The challenge with field phones was the wires were often cut from artillery and mortar rounds and usually at the very time the commanders wanted and needed immediate input about what was going on. Radios only allow a single conversation at a time and can be heard by the enemy. The Germans were especially skilled at locating HQ elements due to their effective radio direction finders and were every effective at directing artillery on command post vicinities. Something the US never fully understood. They always thought the Germans had aggressive infiltration or stay behind scouts
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Post by motokid351 on Jul 30, 2008 14:01:04 GMT -5
the EE-8 phone did not require any phone line, (i dont think) it was a battery powered radio with a range of anywhere between 11-17 miles without line on a point to point call. (i think), but anyway would phone line be needed if you had two ee-8's and count they be used in an airsoft battle?? if all of this information is completely wrong please tell me because im just trying to learn some stuff here and that info above, (if you can even call it info) is from olivedrab.com any corrections are extremely welcome, since i think im totally wrong anyway.
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azeeze
Private 1st Class
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Post by azeeze on Jul 30, 2008 14:17:48 GMT -5
when you read the point to point description on olive drab it states that 2 field phones are connected, no switchboard, meaning that wire is connected between the 2 phones only. the wire doesnt have to do anything with it being battery powered, the wire is so you can connect and talk to others. You need a phone line.
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Post by motokid351 on Jul 30, 2008 14:38:26 GMT -5
oh, my bad. sorry, i miss read, but still would it be worth getting one as a suitable prop?
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azeeze
Private 1st Class
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Post by azeeze on Jul 30, 2008 14:41:57 GMT -5
Yeah they would be good to have, say you want to portray a forward outpost, you could have the phone setup as if you were talking to your command post.
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Post by motokid351 on Jul 31, 2008 9:39:28 GMT -5
so which unit member in say a company would have the field phone. a scout?
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azeeze
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Post by azeeze on Jul 31, 2008 12:23:59 GMT -5
I would assume anyone acting as a forward outpost, which can be several different positions, also rear positions as well, such as artillery or mortar crews. I have no military experience, so I cannot be certain on that question. -Nick
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jul 31, 2008 14:56:17 GMT -5
Usually field phones woulkd be placed at company HQs and operated by the CO, XO, Field first and enlisted staff (runners) At Battalion Level the staff is larger and more formalized. In addition if the company was lucky they'd have enough phones to run a phone to each platoon and a couple listening posts placed in front of the main line of resistance. Certainly Battalion and sometimes the companies would have a line that runs directly to the dedicated artillery battery and the mortar element. Forward observers would almost always have a phone and line running back to their fire direction center.
Scouts were too mobile to successfully use field phones as they require that wire get laid. Laying wire is a bit more involved than simply trailing it out. It needs to either go over roads and foot paths or be buried at roads and trails. It is constantly broken and often needs to be retraced. Because multiple lines run various placed sometimes one can get through to your in tended call via remarkable circuitous routing.
For example an FOs line to the fire direction center might be broken but he can reach one of the battalions who can get to the FDC by calling one of their companies who has an open line. Between radios and field phones the US Army was fortunate to have vastly superior communications capabilities vs. the axis forces. Conversations on field phones were far less formal than conversations by radio and two parties can talk over each other as on a regular phone which of course you can't do with a radio. Occassionally the enemy might tap into a line and listen in but this was very rare. Monitoring radio conversations was very common however.
Since many Germans spoke English it was highly effective.
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Karl
Private 1st Class
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Post by Karl on Aug 1, 2008 11:31:42 GMT -5
I think having a field Phone would be good idea because during an event I was in there were a few friendly fire incidents because of miscommunication and not knowing where all our friendlies were.
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Post by Capt. Zak on Aug 3, 2008 22:09:50 GMT -5
I think having a field Phone would be good idea because during an event I was in there were a few friendly fire incidents because of miscommunication and not knowing where all our friendlies were. So it was confusing and you couldn't communiacte that well? Just like real combat.
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