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LESSON 2
DIVISION COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL
CRITICAL TASKS: S1-5878.04-9001, 01-5704.04-9001, 01-5704.07-0001
OVERVIEW
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
In this lesson you will learn how division communications is structured for command and control including the types of radio networks used at the division level and the types of radios used in each network.
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
| ACTIONS: | a. Describe the basic structure of the division for command and control.
b. Identify the different tactical radio nets, including mobile subscriber equipment (MSE) networks, and their purpose. c. Determine the tactical radio sets that would be assigned to each of the division nets. |
| CONDITION: | You will be given information from this lesson. |
| STANDARD: | To demonstrate competency of the terminal learning objective, you must achieve a minimum score of 70% on the subcourse examination. |
| REFERENCES: | The material contained in this lesson was derived from the following publications: FM 11-30, FM 11-32, FM 11-37, FM 11-50, and FM 24-1. |
You have learned about many different types of radios and antennas and you know how to take advantage of the various features of each of these devices. However, with all the different radio sets operating and all the different communications functions being performed, you can understand that control of communications is of paramount importance if information is to flow smoothly and reach the correct destination in a timely manner.
1. Division Command and Control Structure.
The Division commander is responsible for command and control (C2) of combat, combat support (CS), and combat service support (CSS) units. The medium by which he exercises this C2 function over the divisional area is radio. The command staff, especially the communications personnel, are vital to this function. The commander relies on his subordinate commanders and staff to supervise the wide range of C2 functions required to operate on the modern battlefield. The command staff perform their functions from command posts (CPs) dispersed throughout the division area. CPs are the nerve centers of the division, and the effectiveness of the division as a whole depends directly on how well these CPs perform their functions. Scattering CPs throughout the division area also serves to decentralize the division C2 effort, making the division less vulnerable to a single assault or nuclear attack. The division CPs are further subdivided into three categories: Main CP, Tactical CP, and Division Rear CP/Division Support Command (DISCOM).
a. Division Main CP. If the multiple CPs are the nerve centers of the division, the division main CP is the brain. It is the division's permanent CP and is the clearing house for information in the division. The division main CP staff receives details of combat operations and threat activities and processes all this information to assist the division commander in making command decisions throughout the division. The division commander does not stay at the division main CP all the time, but divides his time between division main CP and division tactical CP. There are seven basic operations that are directed and coordinated from the division main CP. They are:
(1) Operations to disrupt and delay follow-on echelon forces.
(2) Interdiction.
(3) Divisional fire support.
(4) Electronic warfare (EW) operations.
(5) Suppression of threat air defenses.
(6) Mobility, countermobility, and survivability; and general engineering operations.
The division signal officer or assistant division signal officer is located in the division main CP. He is responsible for ensuring proper and effective use of all communications assets.
He also serves as the division battle staff interface with the signal battalion and ensures that battle intelligence is evaluated for signal impact.
b. Division Tactical CP. The division tactical CP is a small, highly mobile package of selected personnel and equipment that provides C2 and communications well forward in the divisional area. This CP is primarily concerned with combat operations and is the location of the assistant division commander (maneuver)(ADC-(M)). The objective of the tactical CP is to place the ADC-M in the most effective position to maneuver the brigades and influence the battle. There is only one group of people comprising the tactical CP, but they maintain communications facilities at several different locations in order to accommodate displacements.
c. Division Rear CP/DISCOM. As you may have surmised, the division rear CP is located near the division rear elements. It performs most of the coordination of CSS for the division. The DISCOM may be collocated with the division rear CP or not, depending on available resources. The assistant division commander (support)(ADC-(S)) is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the division rear CP. There are six main operations that are directed from the division rear CP. They are:
(1) Administration and logistics.
(2) Civil affairs.
(3) Chaplain activities.
(4) Inspector general.
(5) Staff Judge Advocate.
(6) Division Headquarters, Headquarters Company maintenance, mess, and medical operations.
2. Division Radio Net Structure.
Single-channel net radios provide initial command, control, and communications at the division headquarters and throughout the division. Figure 2-1 shows the overall division radio net structure. The basic single-channel radio nets are the command and operations net, the intelligence net, the administrative and logistical net, the fire direction net, the surveillance net, the rear operations net, the HF voice net, and the general purpose (GP) RATT net.
Figure 2-1. Standard division radio net structure
a. Command and Operations Net. The command and operations net has the highest priority of all division radio nets. It is used to pass orders and operational information. The division commander and ADCs use this net for tactical control, combat coordination, and tactical data reporting.
b. Intelligence Net. The intelligence net is the primary backup for the command and operations net and has the second highest priority in the division. It is used to pass intelligence information and spot reports.
c. HF Voice Net. The HF voice net is used as the primary backup to the intelligence net and as the secondary backup to the command and operations net.
d. Fire Direction Net. The fire direction net is primarily a data net and is used to exchange technical and firing data among artillery units.
e. Surveillance Net. The surveillance net is established by the battalion battlefield information control center to coordinate and control ground surveillance radar and unattended ground sensor teams. It is used to pass reports dealing with threat movements and massing.
f. Administrative and Logistical Net. The administrative and logistical net is used to pass personnel and supply traffic. Because this information is not generally of the same gravity as the information on the command and operations and intelligence nets, the administrative and logistical net has a lower priority.
g. Rear Battle Net. The rear battle net is controlled from the division rear CP. It is used to control rear operations. At the division level, this is a separate net. At the brigade level and below, the rear battle net is merged with the command and operations net.
h. GP RATT Net. The GP RATT net passes hard copy radio teletype traffic between the various division headquarters elements. Because of the time-late nature of RATT traffic, this net is not used to pass lengthy or time sensitive information.
3. Combat Net Radio.
The new radio systems being brought into use demand a new structure for communications. The combat net radio (CNR) network was designed to integrate and take full advantage of the enhancements in modern radio technology in support of C2. The CNR net is based around three basic radio systems, each with its own distinctive capabilities and characteristics. The three systems are: improved high frequency radio, single-channel ground and airborne radio system, and single-channel tactical satellite (TACSAT).
a. The Role of CNR. The primary role of the CNR network is voice communications for C2. It also performs a secondary role as a backup for data transmission when requirements exceed the capacity of the Army data distribution system or mobile subscriber equipment services. In CNR networks, voice C2 information has priority except when SINCGARS is used with the tactical fire direction system or advanced field artillery tactical data system.
b. CNR Network Structure. The CNR system generally establishes three categories of VHF-FM networks. They are C2, administrative/logistics, and intelligence. The C2 network (the primary CNR net) is subdivided into functional areas of maneuver, fire support, aviation, air defense artillery (ADA), and engineers. Figure 2-2 shows the typical network structure for the division or brigade level. These nets serve the same functions as their counterparts in the divisional tactical radio network structure and can generally interface with the equipment in those nets.
4. Mobile Subscriber Equipment.
MSE was purchased by the Army to meet the evolving needs of the modern battlefield. It is a largely automatic network system that provides highly mobile, highly decentralized communications from the corps level down. MSE takes advantage of modern computer and other electronic technology; newer, more compact equipment; and ultra high frequency (UHF), VHF, and super high frequency (SHF) frequency management to provide a network system that will allow any subscriber in the corps to communicate with any other subscriber by simply dialing a telephone number.
The MSE system is composed of branching layers of equipment that evolve a few central processing areas into a network capable of providing communications to over 10,000 subscribers. The system control centers (SCCs) are the central points from which the entire MSE system is controlled. The hubs of the MSE system are called node centers (NCs). All NCs are interconnected and communicate with each other. SCCs are responsible for NC operation. NCs are mobile equipment stations and deploy with the division units to ensure that the entire battlefield area is covered. Each NC covers a certain geographical area based on the terrain and its placement and transmitting range. Each NC has several extension nodes branching from it. They are either large extension nodes (LENs) or small extension nodes (SENs). LENs and SENs provide voice, data, and facsimile communications to the division CPs via wire service, and provide automatic switching to all MSE subscribers. NCs, LENs, and SENs are all connected by UHF links. To provide access to mobile subscribers, LENs and SENs are also linked to remote access units (RAUs).
Figure 2-2. Typical CNR network structure for division or brigade level
RAUs are essentially radio transmission sites that receive traffic from one subscriber and route it to the proper destination. RAUs are placed so that their areas of coverage overlap slightly. Thus a subscriber travelling from one RAU's area to another does not have to reestablish communications. The mobile subscriber radiotelephone terminal (MSRT) in the subscriber's vehicle automatically searches for the nearest RAU's beacon signal and shifts communications to that RAU. From this you can see that the MSE system can provide reliable communications even if a large portion of the system is overrun and destroyed. Because of the automatic frequency management and routing features of MSE, a subscriber has only to know the phone number of the party he wishes to speak to in order to communicate with that party. Figure 2-3 illustrates the branching architecture of the MSE system.
Figure 2-3. Branching architecture of MSE system
MSE does not replace the data distribution or CNR systems described above as it provides very limited support for corps and division deep operations. Its main contribution is to corps and division close and rear operations. With advice from the signal staff, the commander is responsible for using communications systems to best support his units. This support maximizes the units' chances for mission success.
5. Tactical Radio Sets.
You have already learned about the division network structure for tactical radio communications. With the advent of CNR, the network structure is essentially the same, but the equipment being used to effect communications is changing. Different tactical radio sets function better at different levels in the command hierarchy. The impact to you as a signal officer is that you must be aware of the equipment used by different units so that you can maintain communications with them on an ongoing basis. If the division was a homogeneous unit that all used the exact same radio configuration, your job would be simple. Your division may in fact be composed of units with a wide variety of equipment. You may need to communicate with units equipped with SINCGARS equipment or units equipped with the very oldest single-channel gear. You need to know what type of equipment to expect for a given unit type so that you can use the appropriate equipment configuration to communicate with that unit.
a. Squad Applications. The squad is the smallest communications unit and the equipment used at this level is mostly low powered. The AN/PRT-4A and AN/PRR-9 are the main means of internal communication. For a squad using SINCGARS, the AN/PRC-119 is the radio you will most likely find. These units will generally operate on low power and be used for short-range communications only.
b. Company Applications. At the company level, the range of equipment broadens, and you may find quite a variety of different configurations. The size of the unit indicates that the range of communications is still short to medium, but wider than the range of squad-level communications. Tactical radios you will likely encounter include the AN/PRC-25 and PRC-77 series in their manpack and vehicular configurations. For companies equipped with SINCGARS you will find the AN/PRC-119 again, and also the short-range vehicular configurations of AN/VRC-87 and VRC-88 .
c. Battalion and Higher Applications. The battalion and above levels expand both the communications range and the range of equipment used. You will need to communicate with all variations of the AN/VRC-12 series of radios as well as the whole range of SINCGARS radios. The battalion and division will also use RATT systems (for the GP RATT net) based on either the AN/GRC-19 or -106 AM radios. Here the type of radio really becomes critical as not all sets will net together. At this level you will also have need of the newer IHFR radios for long-range communications with special forces and surveillance units that are out of LOS range required for FM radios. These radios include the AN/PRC-104, the AN/GRC-213, and AN/GRC-193 IHFR sets. Special forces units may also use the AN/PRC-70 series if they have not yet been updated to IHFR equipment.
6. Summary.
In this lesson you have learned about the communications and C2 structure of the division. You have learned about the tactical radio nets employed by the division and what type of equipment you might find in each of the different nets. The next lesson will teach you the basics of another communications system, the net radio interface.
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