Low-tech signaling (militia, etc.)

[atiff]

Hi all,

Was writing up some stuff tonight on a militia, and started wondering what the patrols would signal to home base with, if they don't have radios. That got me thinking about low-tech signaling in general.

Here's some methods I thought of:

- signal fires / smoke
- flags (only if LOS exists)
- whistles (fairly short-range), bugles, or drums
- signal rockets (e.g., fireworks)
- flares (how much harder are these to make than fireworks?)
- runners / riders

Some seems a bit funny, but I'm thinking of the situation where a militia patrol, in friendly country, wants to attract the attention and help of nearby militia (e.g., if they run into a fight with marauders, etc.).

What else could we add to the list?

[oldschoolgm]

Depending upon the distances that needed to be covered.

During the daytime:

Mirrors
Marking the terrain

Nighttime:

Hooded Lanterns

[Webstral]

By the 1980's, the Soviets had an extensive backup signal system because they were forced to recognize Western superiority in EW. They assumed that electronic communications would be made a hash--for themselves at least. Since you can't run an offensive without commo, they wisely included low-tech backups. I've seen an FM (or its equivalent) on the subject, but that book probably is collecting dust back on a shelf at Fort Huachuca. After I got back from Iraq, I was unable to attend my last drill for reasons I can't remember, so I came in for two days during the week to make up the time. I spent most of that time cleaning out the company's library of field manuals, etc. I don't remember seeing anything on Soviet signals, so that book must be either very rare, discarded, or both. Still, maybe one has made it into the electronic realm.

Webstral

[dragoon500ly]

Looking at it from a what is available or what we can make standpoint...

Fireworks are available, or can be made from surprisingly common material so an audio or light signal could be made.

Flare pistols actually date back to 1790s or so, and if community is near a lake or river, then there is a chance of a boat flares or signal whistles.

Local band may have access to a trumpet, I checked with a Civil War re-enactor buddy and he states that bugle calls could be heard 2-3 miles in still air.

[atiff]

FYI, I had also thought of crystal sets for receiving signals, but you can't reply with them. As they are simple to make from scavenged parts, I can imagine militia using these if home base has a transmitter in operation. Militia could pick up signals on these, to get information from base, but as mentioned above could not reply.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

Local band may have access to a trumpet, I checked with a Civil War re-enactor buddy and he states that bugle calls could be heard 2-3 miles in still air.

Drums were used to the same effect in a similar time frame.

Something else that comes to mind are firecrackers (particularly to initiate ambushes), smoke bombs (both can be whipped up by many high school students), or even things that cause a certain smell (again, to initiate ambushes, particularly if its a bad smell). Or with things that cause a smell, things that imitate the smell of chemical agents (apple blossom smell and almond smell come to mind).

It would be rare in most places to have one, but conch shells, if properly worked, can also be heard for miles.

Another thing that can be heard for many miles, if done properly, is yodeling.

[pmulcahy11b]

I apologize; someone already brought up firecrackers.

[rcaf_777]

The Swiss Army had trained carrier pigons

[pmulcahy11b]

How about just banging trash can lids or other junk together?

[TiggerCCW UK]

Paul, that was a very common tactic here in Northern Ireland, especially early in the troubles. As soon as a patrol entered a hardline area the local women would be out blattering their bin lids off the pavement, to let 'the boys' know the 'Brits' were on the ground.

[WallShadow]

While not a communication device per se, one could use a bullroarer (wooden noise generator whirled around on a rope) to alert one's compatriots to unwelcome guests in the zone of control.

Hmmm... I wonder how a laser designator could be adapted to the task of communications?

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

Hmmm... I wonder how a laser designator could be adapted to the task of communications?

You'd need something that can detect the laser beam, as it is normally eye-safe and not in a visible light spectrum. Perhaps you could pull such a detector off of a guided weapon, or from a disabled vehicle equipped with a laser warning device.