[Milsurplus] Research Help Requested

[Joe Connor]

Guys, I need some help on a research project I'm doing on the Goettge patrol, a 25-man Marine patrol that was slaughtered on Guadalcanal on August 12-13, 1942.
One curious and unexplained issue is why the patrol did not bring a radio with them. Because of that, when they needed help, they had to send a guy to swim back to the Marine perimeter, about four miles away.
Can you think of any reason why they wouldn't bring a transmitter/receiver? Size? Weight? Bulk? Lack of availability in the shoestring days of the Guadalcanal campaign? This was before the advent of the BC-611 walkie-talkies, right? In August 1942, what type of small transmitters/receivers (if any) would have been available to a 25-man Marine patrol on Guadalcanal?
As always, thank you for your help.
                        Joe Connor
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