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Assignment 1: The Role Of Communication In The Army

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ii. Communications 1. Communication was limited. The primary means was by field wire but it took a great amount of resources to install especially since the corps commander's headquarters was so far away. Additionally, the life expectancy of wire could be as little as three days if uninsulated. Radio communications were used during the battle. However, the shortage of batteries, the number of people who had access to radios, and their restricted range limited their value in controlling maneuver forces. If the commander’s radio failed or if his tank was hit, manual signals had to be utilized. The poor communications often resulted in long delays in getting important information to the II Corps and 1st Army Commanders. The result was that decisions were made too late to allow the forces on DJ Ksaira and DJ Lessouda to withdraw to alternate defensive positions. 2. Communications security was practiced to some degree at least by Fredendall. An example of a message he telephoned to CCB was “Move your command, that is, the walking boys, pop guns, Baker's outfit and the outfit which is the reverse of Baker's outfit and the big fellows to M, which is due …show more content…

Fredendall was known as a brassy, outspoken, imprecise in speech corps commander, who had a firm opinion on every subject. He personally disliked Anderson and apparently had little understanding of that British procedures for emplacement of forces. Furthermore, Fredendall had no confidence in and little patience with the French. He was outspoken in his opinions of allied forces and was inclined to be critical of superiors and subordinates alike. But, of all his characteristics, perhaps the most fatal to the 1st Armored Division was his air of finality. His perceptibly excessive emphasis on security and safety of his command post, which he located far to the rear and seldom left to visit the front; and his open dislike for and reluctance to allow the 1st Armored Division Commander the opportunity to

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