Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject: M38 mobil communications
Thought I'd share these:
The following are pix of my 1952 M38 Willy's jeep in mobil
communications configuration (as best I can remember it). This is a
replication of 82nd A/B plantomic (sp?) organization for rapid
disbursement. IIRC this re-organization was a result of the Ten Days in
Oct. in 1962 or earlier due to cold war.
Joined: Apr 14, 2005 Posts: 196 Location: Van Buren, Arkansas
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:25 am Post subject:
I'm not familiar with "plantomic" but I do recall
something called "Pentomic" which I suppose was
a plan to run in five different directions from an
atomic explosion. Or maybe not.
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:08 am Post subject: M38 mobil commo
Jim,
You are correct, the term is pentomic (poor memory on my part). Again going from memory. I can't remember the exact setup, but it was something like 5 sides to an action outfit. Maybe something along the lines of 3 PIR, one Engineer Regt. and one Abn. Armor Regt. at that level or 3 infantry platoons, an engineer platoon and a heavy weapons or Abn. armor platoon.
Anyway it was what eventually became the transition from a WWII A/B organization to todays Air/Mobil.
Pentomic re-organization of the Army was a result of lessons learned in Korea, Taiwan and Indo-China. The re-organization started around 1956 and ran thru 1960.
The major tactical reorganization to meet the new conditions began in 1956 when the first pentomic divisions and missiles commands were set up to furnish the mobile units and fire support deemed necessary for nuclear war. The old triangular infantry and airborne divisions were replaced by an organization consisting of five battle groups, each a self-contained force capable of independent operations. Manned by 13,500 men instead of about 17,000, the pentomic divisions were directly supported by artillery and missiles that could employ conventional or nuclear warheads, while the heavier long-range missiles were concentrated in the missile commands. The armored divisions required less drastic overhauling, since they were better adapted to the requisite pattern of mobility and dispersion. By 1958 all of the Regular Army divisions had been reorganized; the National Guard and Reserve divisions did not complete their change-over until 1960.
The seven divisions stationed in the United States constituted the strategic reserve. Four of these—two airborne and two infantry—were designated in 1957 the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and were maintained in a high state of readiness for quick deployment in event of an emergency. The other three were earmarked as STRAC reinforcements and as a training base for expansion of Army forces should the crisis become prolonged or develop into a full-scale war.
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