Holly Roller - general appearance during wartime?

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Jack Geratic

Being an RHQ vehicle, what sort of antenna array would it have, specifically aerial lengths and locations?

Assuming it's a standard radio fit (and not a "command tank" with multiple sets (2 x WS19 and possibly a WS38 fitted for infantry comms), the it would have a single WS19 fitted in the turret bustle, with the 'A' set (HF) aerial on the left hand side rear of the turret, (to the operator's right) and the 'B' set (VHF) aerial on the right hand side rear.

The 'A' set aerial fit would be a vertically mounted variometer in the turret, fitted with aerial feeder No.4, Aerial Base No.8 Mounting No.1, and Aerial Base No.8 (or No.10) on top of that with two or possibly 3 aerial rods "F" giving an 8 or 12-ft aerial. The aerial feeder is a plate with a length of steel tubeon the back that goes through a hole drilled in the turret roof; the aerial base mounting fits over the end of the tube and is secured with a lock washer and a fine threaded nut. The aerial base itself is connected to the central contact of the aerial feeder (using a "pigtail" lead) and then fastened to the mounting with six 1/4" BSF bolts (the mounting has tapped holes for this).

The 'B' set aerial fit uses Aerial Base No.9 Mounting No.1, a steel tube on a square base which is bolted into 4 tapped holes in the turret roof. This takes Aerial Base No.9, (and probably the "halo" Protector, Aerial Base No.9 to stop the base being ripped off by branches) and the 20-inch "Aerial Rod 'G'. Connection between the set and aerial base os through the hollow mounting tube using Leads, Aerial, No.2 (a tuned length of coaxial cable with one straight and one elbow socket fitted - the straight one connects to the base).

For "command" tanks with more radios, additional HF aerial bases would be fitted (No.8 or No.10) to the turret roof, but there would only be a single 'B' set used for inter-tank short range communication.

Chris.