Wireless Set No. 19

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The Wireless Set No. 19 was a Second World War mobile

Wireless Set No. 11. Two modified versions were introduced, Mk. II in 1941 and Mk. III in 1942. An improved version from Canada was introduced in 1942 for use primarily with other forces. In British service, the No. 19 was replaced in the post-war era by the Larkspur radio system
. Canadian-built No. 19s saw continued service for many years with a variety of users.

Purpose

Designed for use in tanks and armoured vehicles, the radio provided three communication channels:

A rear-link tank in the HQ unit would join its A-set to a wider network, and relay relevant messages to the commander on the B set. This would extend a squadron net to the regiment, or a regimental net to the wider brigade/division.[2][3]

Operation

A series of control boxes and junction boxes provided distribution within the vehicle. The wireless operator and commander could select the different sets. The driver and loader were on the IC only.

In normal use the three channels were mixed onto the IC for monitoring. The commander or operator could then select the A or B sets to remove them from the IC and allow push-to-talk. A warning lamp would light if both were on the B set, leaving the A set unmonitored. Later control boxes allowed the commander or operator to rebroadcast A onto B or vice versa for message relay.

The other crew members could only use the IC. The driver's control box incorporated a push button to activate a buzzer, allowing the commander's attention to be brought back to the IC if a situation requiring his attention arose.

A high power version of the 19 set was also developed, allowing longer range use of the A set, liaising with primary command. Command and link/relay vehicles had provision to operate two A sets, one of which could be a high-power variant.

Later in the war, the importance of co-operation with infantry added a Wireless Set No. 38 alongside, with new control boxes to operate both radios together. Initially the standard infantry 38 set was used with its own separate battery and ancillaries, but later the WS 38 AFV was developed specifically to complement the 19 set in a vehicle setup.

Specifications

The set was designed to allow MF and HF communication between tanks.

  • Dimensions (l × d × w):[4][5]

       Mk II and Mk III complete - 27 × 10 × 13.25 in (68.6 × 25.4 × 33.7 cm)
          Sender/receiver - 17.5 × 8.25 × 12.25 in (44.5 × 21.0 × 31.1 cm); supply unit - 6 × 8.25 × 12.5 in (15.2 × 21.0 × 31.8 cm)

  • Weight:

       Mk II complete - 86.25 lb (39.12 kg)[4]
          Sender/receiver - 40.5 lb (18.4 kg); supply unit - 28.5 lb (12.9 kg); carrier no. 1 - 14.75 lb (6.69 kg)

       Mk III complete - 88.25 lb (40.03 kg)[5]
          Sender/receiver - 40.5 lb (18.4 kg); supply unit - 30.5 lb (13.8 kg); carrier no. 1 - 14.75 lb (6.69 kg)

  • Frequency range: 'A' setting 2–8
    MHz
    ; 'B' setting 229–241 MHz. Master Oscillator controlled.
  • Modes: AM voice, MCW, CW.
  • VHF
    inter-tank communications
  • Crew intercom
  • Single dial receive and transmit tuning
  • "Flick" switch for rapid frequency change
  • RF output: 'A' setting 2.5–9 watts.
  • Range: 'A' set 10 miles (16 km); 'B' set 1,000 yards (910 m) (between moving vehicles).[4]

History

Wireless Set No. 19 MK III

The Wireless Set No. 19 was developed in 1940 by the

armoured fighting in the Western Desert.

In 1942, the No. 19 Mk II was produced in Canada by

RCA Victor. The British design was improved and interchangeability of components such as the valves, was instituted.[6] A majority of Canadian sets used English/Cyrillic front panel lettering, the result of a Lend-Lease contract to the Soviet Red Army.[7]

Post-war, forward area battle group radio traffic carried by Wireless Set No. 19 nets was progressively migrated to low-band VHF using a more modern generation of radios known as the New Range, later to become known as

Dutch Army
) featured increased frequency coverage up to 12 MHz.

Post-war, the Canadian No. 19 MK II and III was used in the

Danish and Italian Army, and some Canadian No. 19 MK III sets were used by the British Army.[citation needed
]

The No. 19 Mk III in a simplified configuration was still on issue to British cadet units as an operational training station as late as the mid-1970s.[citation needed]

Today the Wireless Set No. 19 is collected, restored and operated by vintage amateur radio enthusiasts.[8][9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Military Training Pamphlet No.41, July 1940
  2. ^ The Armoured Regiment; Military Training Pamphlet No.41, July 1940
  3. ^ Signal Training (all arms) Pamphlet no.7; RT Procedure Part III - Appendices, 24 May 1945, Appx. B Net Calls in RAC Regiments and A tk batteries (SP) RA.
  4. ^ a b c "The WS#19 MK II Manual". QSL.net. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b "The Wireless Set (Canadian) No. 19 M III Working Instructions". QSL.net. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  6. ^ Bisaillion, Chris. "The 19 Set -- A History". QSL.net. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Wireless Set No.19 Mk III (Mk 3)". RadioMuseum.org. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Wireless Set No 19". Royal Signals Museum. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007.
  9. ^ "Wireless Set No. 19". Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society. Retrieved 20 January 2012.

External links

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