ChiCom North Vietnamese Army Viet Cong Field Telephone with Leatherette Case

Field telephones connected by hard wire were the primary means of reliable communication in the North Vietnamese Army.  Wireless radios were often only issued at Division level.  Sometimes they were issued at Regimental level if available.  Battalions, Companies and platoons used field phones or communication runners. Field phones connected units so that commanders could speak with subordinate and superior commands.   These networks were connected by small portable switchboards. During heavy bombings the wires would be cut making it necessary for lineman to go out and make repairs under fire.