How did the walkie talkie help with combat in World War 2?

Answer 1

First of all let's agree on what a Walkie-Talkie is. The World War Two Walkie-Talkie was a large backpack unit, with an aerial sticking up, that you talked into and listened using a hand-held telephone-like device. It weighed 40 pounds and operated on FM frequencies. (1944 and beyond. Before that it was AM))It could operate in an area up to 10-20 miles. The smaller "Spam Can" unit (SCR-536)-- which most people mistakenly identify as a Walkie-Talkie -- was a hand-held unit that you talked into on one end and listened on the other. It was shaped like a large cardboard milk carton (Or the tin can that the GI's SPAM came in -- hense the name) It weighed about 9 pounds or so (I can't remember exactly) and operated on FM. The Walkie-Talkie was mostly used for longer distance taffic -- ship to shore, air to ground, headquarters to headquarters, etc. The Spam Can was used for shorter distances -- front line traffic ... platoons, companies, battalions, observers, etc. Both units allowed you to walk and talk at the same time -- or remain stationary. In a way they could be likened to the modern day cell phone. In heavy combat they were the only electronic means of communication on the front lines --until the Signal Corps people could lay and string wire for telephone communication. Hope all this answers your question. If not, come back. vcs