The Armored Reconnaissance Radio Operator
Armored Forces Newsletter (July 1943)
Originally published in the first issue of the Armored Forces Newsletter, the following article describes the training of the radio operators of armored reconnaissance units.
Armored Reconnaissance - Radio Operator
Experience reports submitted by units often complain about the poor quality of the specialized training received by radio operators of the Armored Forces.
The success of an armored reconnaissance battalion depends largely upon the speed and reliability of radio communications. The best report does little good unless the radio operator is able to transmit it quickly and flawlessly.
The radio operator of a deployed reconnaissance unit bears a heavy burden. An ordinary radio operator is not necessarily a good armored reconnaissance radio operator. He [the latter] must be able to work while traveling along bad roads, cross country, in uncomfortable positions, and in bad weather.
It is therefore urgently required that these circumstances play a role in training. Everything that a radio operator does to operate his equipment and keep it running in a flawless manner must be done inside a reconnaissance vehicle. He must practice working while traveling cross-country, at night, and in unfavorable weather conditions. Exercises that last for several days, which also require great physical exertions from the radio operator, are valuable.
The most detailed knowledge of equipment is also required. The armored reconnaissance radio operator must be trained on the same type of equipment that is installed in the armored reconnaissance vehicle. He must be able to diagnose and repair small malfunctions during a journey, so that the mission of the reconnaissance unit can continue.
Only when the armored radio operators assigned to armored reconnaissance companies are trained in accordance with these requirements can units achieve useful results.
Source: A typescript of the first issue of the Nachrichtenblatt der Panzertruppen can be found on the website of the German Federal Archive. Printed copies of subsequent issues are available at Sturmpanzer.com.
Photos: The photos used in this series, all of which originate with the German Federal Archive [Bundesarchiv], are made available through a creative commons license.
For Further Reading:
One good Funker is worth a batch of Junkers?
More seriously, good radio operators are worth a considerable amount, especially when speed, accuracy and clarity of communications are required (which just about always?). One of the things I watched change over time with respect to US Army Tables of Organization, was the shift from Single Channel Radio Operators (a trained communications MOS) to whatever the predominant MOS was in the unit as the Battalion Commander’s and Battalion Executive Officer’s drivers. It made a difference, especially initially.