Radio Battalion

Radio Battalions are tactical electronic warfare units of the United States Marine Corps. There are currently three operational Radio Battalions in the Marine Corps organization: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. In fleet operations, teams from Radio Battalions are most often attached to the command element of Marine expeditionary units.

Concept

A Radio Battalion consists mainly of signals intelligence and electronic intelligence operators organized into smaller tactical units with different roles. Basic collection teams consist of 4-6 operators using specialized equipment based in HMMWVs. A variation on this is the MEWSS (Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System), which is an amphibious light armored vehicle equipped with similar electronic warfare equipment. MEWSS crews serve dual roles as electronic warfare operators and LAV crewmen. Radio Reconnaissance Platoons serve in a special operations role where the use of standard collection teams is not possible, such as covert infiltrations or tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP).

History

In June 1943, 2nd Radio Intelligence Platoon was activated at Camp Elliott, California. The unit took part in the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Battle of Peleliu. From World War II until the early 1960s, various units performed radio intercepts, growing from platoon to company and, in 1964, to 1st Radio Battalion. Sub-units of the battalion were deployed to Vietnam from 1967 to 1975, including participation in evacuation efforts during the Fall of Saigon. In the early 1980s, 2nd Radio Battalion was part of the multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon. More recently, Radio Battalions served in Operation Desert Storm, Somalia, Kosovo, the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, and the 2004 Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah. Radio Battalions also send detachments to augment intelligence efforts at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and at other bases throughout the world. In 2001, a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft with a crew of 23 Navy ELINT operators and one Radio Battalion Marine collided with a Chinese J-8 fighter and was brought down on the island of Hainan, sparking an international incident.

Organization

1st Radio Battalion

1st Radio Battalion, reformed in August 2004, is based at Camp Pendleton, California, and supports the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). The battalion consists of three companies: Alpha Company, made up of basic collection teams and MEWSS crews, Bravo Company, with more basic teams and Radio Recon, and a Headquarters and Support company. 1st Radio Battalion was first based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, and operated out of there for several decades until it moved to Camp Pendleton.

2nd Radio Battalion

2nd Radio Battalion, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, supports the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The battalion consists of three operations companies and a Headquarters and Support company. Alpha Company includes MEWSS teams and the Radio Recon Platoon is part of Bravo Company. Charlie Company was formed in 2006 as part of the battalion's reorganization & then disbanded in 2007 upon its return from Iraq. Most recently, a detachment of Marines from 2nd Radio Battalion are assigned to the 24th MEU, which is currently in Afghanistan.

3rd Radio Battalion

3rd Radio Battalion (formerly 1st Radio Battalion), is based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kāne'ohe Bay. From their inception in August 2003, they have served a dual support role of both the 1st and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. Following the units return from Iraq in February 2006, 3rd Radio Battalion now focuses on supporting the Global War on Terrorism.

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps battalions

External links

* [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/msc/Radio_Battalion/index.htm 1st Radio Battalion Home Page]
* [http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/iimefpublic.nsf/sites/2ndradiobn/ 2nd Radio Battalion Home Page]
* [http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/3rdRadioBn/main.asp 3rd Radio Battalion Home Page]
* [http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/news/Aug8A3.pdf Story on 1st Bn's redesignation as 3rd Bn]
* [http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/p&r/concepts/2001/PDF/C&I%202001%20chapt%204%20part%201%20Intelligence%20MEWSS.pdf MEWSS information]