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160th Signal Brigade (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 160th Signal Brigade is a communications formation of the United States Army
, currently based at Camp Arifjan
, Kuwait. It traces its history back to the end of the Second World War.
On 3 December 1954, the 3160th Signal Services Battalion was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 160th Signal Group. Allotted to the Regular Army, the unit was reactivated in Germany on 28 January 1955, with the mission of providing fixed station communications throughout Germany. It was subsequently deactivated on 1 October 1961.
On 25 March 1963, the 160th Signal Group was reactivated again and assigned to the 13th Support Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. Destined for the Vietnam War
, the 160th Signal Group arrived in Vietnam on 20 April 1967, and provided headquarters support in the Saigon and Long Binh area. The 160th Signal Group also provided cable construction, photographic, and communications security logistics support throughout the country. The unit received eight Battle Streamers for its participation in 14 campaigns including Counteroffensive, Phases II through VII, the Tet Counteroffensive, Consolidation and the Cease-fire. The 160th Signal Group returned to the United States, where it was deactivated on 3 June 1972 at Oakland, California.
The 160th Signal Group was reactivated for the third time on 1 July 1974, at Karlsruhe Germany and re-designated on 1 October 1979, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 160th Signal Brigade, part of United States Army Europe
. Its mission was to provide information mission area services, command, control and support of fixed station communications throughout Southern Germany and the United Kingdom. On 15 April 1991, the reorganization of the 5th Signal Command began with the brigade assuming the strategic communications mission for the entire theater. On 23 August 1991, the brigade was inactivated and its mission was assumed by the 302nd Signal Battalion.
The Headquarters 160th Signal Brigade was re-activated for the fourth time on 3 September 2003, at Camp Arifjan
, Kuwait with two battalions: the 25th and 54th Signal Battalions. The Headquarters 160th Signal Brigade continues to provide the United States Army Central Command and Third United States Army with enterprise communications capabilities necessary to accomplish missions throughout Southwest Asia and the United States Central Command area of responsibility.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, currently based at Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is an Army installation located in the State of Kuwait which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. The camp was funded and built by the government of Kuwait. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania and Poland are...
, Kuwait. It traces its history back to the end of the Second World War.
Mission
The 160th Strategic Signal Brigade is formally tasked to 'provide the United States Army Central Command and Third United States Army with enterprise communications capabilities necessary to accomplish missions throughout the Southwest Asia and the United States Central Command area of responsibility.'Brigade History
The history of the Headquarters 160th Signal Brigade dates back to World War II. On 6 March 1945, the 3160th Signal Services Battalion was activated in France, under the 12th Army Group. The unit's mission was to provide radio and wire communications, and messenger service. For its participation in the Europe and Rhineland campaigns, the unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation with Battle Streamer. The 3160th Signal Services Battalion was deactivated in Germany on 20 June 1947.On 3 December 1954, the 3160th Signal Services Battalion was re-designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 160th Signal Group. Allotted to the Regular Army, the unit was reactivated in Germany on 28 January 1955, with the mission of providing fixed station communications throughout Germany. It was subsequently deactivated on 1 October 1961.
On 25 March 1963, the 160th Signal Group was reactivated again and assigned to the 13th Support Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. Destined for the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the 160th Signal Group arrived in Vietnam on 20 April 1967, and provided headquarters support in the Saigon and Long Binh area. The 160th Signal Group also provided cable construction, photographic, and communications security logistics support throughout the country. The unit received eight Battle Streamers for its participation in 14 campaigns including Counteroffensive, Phases II through VII, the Tet Counteroffensive, Consolidation and the Cease-fire. The 160th Signal Group returned to the United States, where it was deactivated on 3 June 1972 at Oakland, California.
The 160th Signal Group was reactivated for the third time on 1 July 1974, at Karlsruhe Germany and re-designated on 1 October 1979, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 160th Signal Brigade, part of United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe
United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and the land component of United States European Command. It is the largest American formation in Europe.-Invasion of Sicily:...
. Its mission was to provide information mission area services, command, control and support of fixed station communications throughout Southern Germany and the United Kingdom. On 15 April 1991, the reorganization of the 5th Signal Command began with the brigade assuming the strategic communications mission for the entire theater. On 23 August 1991, the brigade was inactivated and its mission was assumed by the 302nd Signal Battalion.
The Headquarters 160th Signal Brigade was re-activated for the fourth time on 3 September 2003, at Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is an Army installation located in the State of Kuwait which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. The camp was funded and built by the government of Kuwait. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania and Poland are...
, Kuwait with two battalions: the 25th and 54th Signal Battalions. The Headquarters 160th Signal Brigade continues to provide the United States Army Central Command and Third United States Army with enterprise communications capabilities necessary to accomplish missions throughout Southwest Asia and the United States Central Command area of responsibility.
Subordinate units
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 160th Signal Brigade
- S1 – Personnel
- S2 – Intelligence & Security
- S3 – Operations
- S4 – Logistics
- 25th Signal Battalion25th Signal Battalion (United States)The 25th Signal Battalion of the United States Army was an equipped signal battalion. The battalion was one of three that made up the 35th Signal Brigade....
- HHD 25th Signal Battalion
- 518th Signal Company
- 550th Signal Company
- 580th Signal Company
- 278th Signal Company
- 54th Signal Battalion
- HHD 54th Signal Battalion
- 56th Signal Company
- 228th Signal Company
- 519th Signal Company
- 581st Signal Company
Former Commanders
- Colonel Ronald R. Stimeare
- Colonel John M. Schleifer
- Colonel William J. Scott
- Colonel John A. Wilcox
- Colonel John M. Blaine III