Radio Operators Tasks

[cris2006]

Hi Everyone,

As we all know, most WWII German radio sets have plugs for TWO headphones, which means that two operators could work at the same time.

Plugs for two headphones were present not only in sets capable of transmitting / receiving both voice and telegraph messages, but also smaller sets like Feldfu type backpack radios capable of exchanging voice messages only.

Judging by wartime photos of Torn.Fu.D2 and Torn.Fu.B1 being used in the field by a couple of operators, I would guess that while one operator actually operates microphone or telegraph key, the other one is just listening and taking notes (I guess decoding or just writing incoming messages).

Was it really just as simple as this?

Should both operators be capable of changing places and perform each others tasks?

Sometimes an NCO or an officer is also near the radio. What could be his specific tasks? To coordinate flow of messages? To deliver messages to or collect mesages from radio operators? What else?

Are these procedures described in any manuals?

Sorry for making questions on things apparently so obvious, I am just curious and would like to be sure about the specific tasks of WWII German radio operators when they worked in couples and when they were working under the supervision of a signals NCO or officer.

I appreciate any comments.

Thank you!

Cristiano

[Funksammler]

The radios were generally operated by so called Funktrupps. Depending on the equipment used these could be from 2 men to several dozens. A typical "Tornister Funktrupp" consisted of 2-4 men.

Generally, the members of the Funktrupp would be qualified radio operators, recognisable by the "Blitz" insignia on the left shoulder. In a Tornister Funktrupp there would typically be a corporal commanding, with the other members lower rank Funker.

Because most members of the trupp were qualified radio operators, they could all operate the set. How this was organised depended on the tactical situation. If the radio station had to be manned constantly, they would operate a shift pattern. In any case it was the Trupp commander's responsibility to ensure that tactical needs could be met.

It would not be untypical for one Funker to operate the equipment, while the other handled the messages. The operator Funker would obviously also listen in to the radio traffic to react to the transmission management codes or "Verkehrsziechen". But generally the message Funker would concentrate on the message content and (de)code it and transfer the message to the addressee.

I mention addressee here because in most cases the Funktrupps were assigned to specific tactical commands, and their role would be to provide communication services for the commanding officer of that command.

In case of the Feldfunksprechers things were at their simplest. The officer requiring the radio link would assign the Feldfunksprecher to his runner, who with minimal training could operate this simple device. (Feldfunk operators were generally not trained Funkers, and did not posses the Blitz insignia). The officer could listen in with the 2nd headset, but generally the Runner was kept at easy shouting distance as a radio antennas attract enemy fire and runners are, well... expendable.

The officer would shout the message to his runner, who would transmit it and shout back the answer to his officer. In some cases, the officer would take the Feldfunksprecher himself, but probably only when he was pretty sure not to be under observation from the enemy.

regards,

Funksammler

[cris2006]

Hi Funksammler,

Very enlightening, thanks a lot.
Were procedures described in any manuals?
The only manual I found with some procedures for radio operation by two people was D 947/1 Fernbeschprechgerät bf (Fbg. bf) - the remote control that could be used with TornFuB1 and a few other radios.
However, the remote control implies that only one of the operators should be placed at the radio station itself and the other one would be in a distance of up to 50 meters away from the radio and he would actually be a foward observer.
Are there other manuals pertaining this subject?
Thanks a lot for your input!

Best Regards,

Cristiano

[Funksammler]

I have seen one tactical training manual for the armed reconnaissance troops of the panzer divisions (signed by Guderian himself!). This training manual describes the use of the various radios and roles and responsibilities of the various signals personnel.

I assume that there were similar training manuals for different arms and branches, but I have never come across any other examples.

The "Funkvorschrift der Luftwaffe" (L.Dv. 421) describes the general procedures in relation to the management of message traffic, including generic roles and responsibilities, but it does not go as far down as to describe tactical use of the equipment used. I assume the equivalent army H.Dv. has a similar content.

There are other manuals that describe other specific aspects of radio traffic (such as encoding, preparation of so called "Sprechtafel" etc.) but again these focus on the management of message traffic by communications officers rather than the use of equipment.

So the only type of manual that I know that describes how to tactically use the radios are the tactical training manuals. For example I know from this that the officers were taught to keep some distance from their runners carrying the Feldfunk...

regards,

Funksammler

[Val]

Thanks Funksammler.
Does anyone knows good videos (youtube) showing wartime radio usages and tactics?

Here's our funker using Torn.Fu.d2, in the beginning of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLQ1MkJiyyY