From the S&S archives: Searchlight unit is on the beam

To help the 7th Inf. DivArty see in the dark, the 7th FA Searchlight Platoon is always ready to throw some light on the situation.

The platoon has a lot of light to throw, too. The giant 60-inch searchlights, mounted on 2½-ton trucks, are rated at eight million candlepower.

At pencil beam, they can throw a shaft of light 20,000 yards and burn steadily for an hour and 45 minutes before their carbon arcs sputter out. They can be replaced in three to four minutes.

The platoon has a variety of jobs — it may be assigned the tactical mission of general support, director support or a combination of the two. It may be attached by platoon, or any of the six individual sections may be attached to another unit or assigned an illumination mission.

The 7th FA Searchlight Platoon was organized in March, 1955.


A searchlight mounted on a 2½-ton truck is tested near Camp Casey, South Korea.



Pvt. Wanden L. Wallace fits a new carbon electrode into the 60-inch searchlight. Lamps this size are rated at 8 million candlepower and can throw a beam of light 20,000 yards.



A surprising relection of Wallace is mirrored in the inner surface of the searchlight drum. The reflected image comes not from Wanden himself, but from another reflection on the other side of the cylinder.



Chief of Section Sgt. Merlin C. Tubbs sets elevation on the huge searchlight. The lights can burn for 1 hour and 45 minutes before their carbon sputters out. The carbon electrode can be replaced in 3 to 4 minutes.



Standing beside a searchlight as is flashed on near camp is Pfc Elias M. Negron of the searchlight platoon.



A brilliant beam of light from a searchlight operated by the 7th FA Searchlight Platoon, attached to the 7th Inf. DivArty to help it see in the dark, illuminates the Korean countryside north of the capital city of Seoul.