"Yet another dumb question" Topic

Did German and U.S. armored infantry halftracks carry radios? All of them? Just platoon leaders? Receivers only or 2-way?

How about vehicles towing ATGs? Both division level (Panzerjager battalion/TD battalion) and lower (regt., btn., or co. TD/PAK co./platoon), and those towing infantry guns?

I don't know about the platoon commander vehicles, but I don't believe that the average Hanomag 251 had a radio – at least, I can't see one in this interior view

picture

The Hanomag, or SdKfz 251, halftrack started the war with a receive only unit in the majority with only command halftracks having two way radios. By the time Russia was invaded most of them had two way radios and by 1944 they all did.

you can't see the radio in that linked picture 'cos it's mounted on the RH hull side just behind the commanders seat.

Hunnicutt's "Half Track" (Presidio Press, Novato, CA, 2001) lists a radio for practically every variant of US half-track. The only types listed as not carrying a radio are the 40mm GMC T54E1 and the 105mm HMC T19. The T54 was never adopted for service, but the T19 was; as a consolation proze for not having a radio, Hunnicutt lists its communications means as a "Flag set, M238".

All the best,

John.

Well the 1943 German KStN tables list the leader and assistant leader of both rifle squads and platoon headquarters as also being 'sprechfunkers', which I understand is equivalent to radio operator. That certainly supports the idea of one radio per vehicle, by late 1943 at least. I've got to move stuff to get to the earlier ones, but definitely one on the Platoon HQ vehicle from 1942.

JJ Hays gives the 1943 T/O&E for the US Armored Infantry Rifle Company as having one SCR-510 each for Company HQ and the Anti-tank Platoon, and one per Rifle Platoon HQ, plus an SCR-528 set for Company. By late 1944 this changes to an SCR-510 for Company HQ, the Maintenance Section and one per Platoon HQ (total 6), an SCR-536 for the Company and each Platoon officer, plus one spare (total 6), and at Company HQ and SCR-505 plus an SCR-300.

And even though no one asked, a British or Canadian Motor Platoon had a single No.18 on the HQ vehicle.

Gary

OK, I'm working up a Tunisian scenario (early '43). If I follow GrotGnome, every 251 will have a radio, and if I follow John D Salt every M3 will have one.

The question remains, were they transceivers, or just receivers?