Communications and information systems of the British Armed Forces
An update and enhancement package was completed in late 1999, which included a self-tracking antenna to replace the previous hand-adjusted variant, extended the life of the terminal for several years.
The terminals could be assembled and connected to the satellite network within five minutes by one soldier, even in darkness, to provide long-range secure voice, data and messaging services, as well as a store and forward (e-mail-type) facility.
It will provide a computing infrastructure and services that will enable sharing of information and collaborative working to a variety of groups and individuals including those that currently have limited or no connectivity.
It will extend into the operational arena, interface with battlespace systems and improve shared information between headquarters, battlefield support and the front line, allowing greater interoperability between the MoD and its allies.
[27] Terrestrial trunk radio relay systems are primarily used to connect the headquarters of brigades, divisions and higher military formations.
They typically deliver voice and data services, and can be based on boxed or palletized equipment, or vehicle installations, which may be mounted under armour for use on the battlefield.
[28] Introduced in 1967, BRUIN was the Army's first area trunk network mounted in both wheeled and tracked vehicles, which connected formation headquarters and units using multi-channel UHF radios.
They deployed their equipment and vehicles among the woods and farms of northern West Germany, putting their skills to the test in an annual cycle of command and signal exercises.
These nodes are connected by multichannel UHF and SHF radio relay links that carry voice, data, telegraph and facsimile communications.
They covered the provision of the full range of Ptarmigan items from small individual equipments, such as subsets, to major vehicle-mounted installations such as switches and SCRA radio centrals.
Cormorant was the area trunk communications network that linked the component headquarters of the British Joint Rapid Reaction Force.
[31] Due to natural forces, particularly lightning and dust storms, the project was abandoned shortly after in February of 1900 by the Director of Army Telegraphs.
[31] The equipment was more suitable for them than the Army because their location gave them the aerial length and connectivity needed for the frequency, while the South African terrain proved to have unsupportive ground conduction, which limited energy transmissions.
This experience helped the Army spend the next few years studying and building their technical communications equipment, especially in preparation for the First World War.
This effort resulted in over ten thousand trained telegraphists by 1916 alone, significantly enhancing the Army's wireless communication capabilities during the war.
The equipment was exclusively assigned to the cavalry due to the difficulty of providing rapid communications by other means, however senior officers in the field did not fully appreciate the technology at that time.
Historian John Ferris notes that this proved immensely beneficial for the Canadians during their Hundred Days offensives, as it positioned them “a generation ahead of any other army.”[41] On both sides, an elaborate telephone network spanning thousands of miles of wire quickly emerged.
This included pole lines with numerous cross-arms and circuits established behind the opposing armies, while buried cables and wires were laid within the intricate trench systems connecting to the frontline outposts.
Attempts to address these issues included laying completely new cables instead of repairing damages and gaps, however this led to problems like inductive loops causing cross-talk interference, which made telephoning nearly impossible and was straining telegraphists deciphering wanted signals from interfering ones.
Concerns about military telephone usage grew when it was discovered that conversations could reach towns far behind German lines via intact civilian magneto-telephone service.
[47] At the time, both the Germans and the British were devising a new technique and use for simple spark transmitters as part of the development of earth induction telegraphy.
Although this system proved invaluable to the Allies when used to connect advanced sections at the front and for infantry communications, this form of ground transmission was eventually withdrawn due to the significant source of security leakage created by the interference it emitted.
[50] After the trials with the Marconi Company's commercial spark transmitters, the British military undertook efforts to address deficiencies in the operation and utilization of wireless equipment, especially as newer sets became available for deployment with forward troops.
[52] The initial deployment of the loop set took place during the Battle of Loos in September of 1915, where its limited communication range of 2 kilometres posed no significant disadvantage.
[54] This allocation strategy helped minimize interference between different communication channels, ensuring more reliable and efficient wireless transmissions across the battlefield.
Despite the early challenges faced in terms of performance and reliability, improvements were made to enhance the tuning capabilities of the spark sets, making them more effective in transmitting crucial information.
The wireless telegraphy trench set emerged as a critical component primarily designated for artillery purposes, also serving as the essential link between forward observation posts and battery positions.
[55] While this analysis focuses on the British Army, it is relevant to note that the versatility of this technology also extended to the Air Force, where it functioned as a mobile forward communications system, proving its worth in dynamic combat environments.
[59] The initial low priority given to military wireless communication changed drastically as the war progressed, reflecting the evolving demands and experiences on the battlefield.
During the latter part of 1916, wireless communication emerged as a highly effective means of maintaining contact between battalion, brigade, and division headquarters, serving as a valuable accompaniment to traditional telephone and telegraph systems.
