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by John Blaxland (Author)
In the heat of battle, a commander's greatest weapon isn't just firepower-it's information.
Signals: Swift and Sure is the definitive account of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals during its most transformative era: 1947-1972.
This book uncovers the hidden technological revolution that redefined how the Australian Army fought in the post-WWII landscapes of Japan, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, and Vietnam.
While traditional histories focus on the "sharp end" of the bayonet, Signals: Swift and Sure reveals the digital and electronic nerves that made those operations possible.
From the first use of transistors to the high-stakes world of signals intelligence (SIGINT) in the jungles of Vietnam, this book tells the story of how Australian Signalmen turned emerging technology into a "combat power multiplier".
Signals: Swift and Sure isn't just a history of equipment; it's the story of the men and women who ensured that, no matter the distance or the danger, the message always got through.
Key Selling Points:
The Technology Gap: The first comprehensive analysis of how communications technology shifted from British standards to US systems, forever altering Australia's strategic orientation.
The Evolution of Command: Discover how better range and reliability gave commanders unprecedented control over "fleeting opportunities," while simultaneously introducing the modern peril of "information overload".
Jungle Secrets: Detailed insights into the role of SIGINT in Borneo and Vietnam, and how the "Electronic War" became as critical as the ground war.
Human Stories: Beyond the wires and radios, Blaxland captures the "anecdotal expression of life in the Corps"-from the rigours of the School of Signals at Balcombe to the "stuff that dreams are made of" courier runs across Japan and Korea.
The Foundation of Today: Explains how the peacetime strategic networks established in the 1950s provided the blueprint for the secure, nationwide communications systems used by the Australian Defence Force today.
