Wireless of the Week - week 10

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

The poor guy with that 38 set has faded away to nothing, a case of massive neglect or lack of food .

Was there a 38AFV set ??? I seem to recall seeing some over here

Yes indeed! Intended for AFV communication with supporting infantry. The original approach was a standard WS38 and batteries connected to a Control Unit No.12 that "sort of" worked with the existing WS19 wiring harness.

Later there was the WS38AFV and its Supply Unit & LF amplifier which saw the WS19 Control Units 1 & 2 replaced by 17 (for 1) and 16 (for 2) giving full intercom and rebroadcast facilities.

Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

...post WW2 the WS38AFV was replaced by the WS88AFV and WS31AFV for infantry liaison, again they needed power supplies and LF amplifiers to match the set to the vehicle and control harness audio levels, and the WS31AFV supply was available in 12 and 24V versions (by replacing the power supply subchassis in the PSU/LF Amplifier unit).

The Canadians did something similar using the CPRC26, and I think the Australians used the A510 - someone on here had a control unit with "510" on the switch!

Chris.

[Bruce MacMillan]

The Canadian Army Overseas showed interest in the WS38 in early 1943. A request of 9 April 1943 for 20 sets for training purposes was placed with the UK.
Besides the infantry the set was adopted for armoured regiments. It was accepted on British scales and could be requested on a 1098.

Initially only the battery version was available (Plan A) and was fitted to purpose. The later AFV version (Plan B) replaced these. The set remained in use through the end of the war.

Here are some reports on the set.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

The Canadian Army Overseas showed interest in the WS38 in early 1943. A request of 9 April 1943 for 20 sets for training purposes was placed with the UK.
Besides the infantry the set was adopted for armoured regiments. It was accepted on British scales and could be requested on a 1098.

Initially only the battery version was available (Plan A) and was fitted to purpose. The later AFV version (Plan B) replaced these. The set remained in use through the end of the war.

Here are some reports on the set.

Thanks Bruce, great info. I plan on doing the 38 AFV soon. One question: on the middle document, paragraph (f) it talks about a future man pack working with the 29 B set. That set works on 235 MHz and 245 MHz and I know of no man pack set produced or in development that worked on those frequencies. Do you have any idea what they were talking about?

[David Dunlop]

Bruce P.

Not sure, but when I read that comment regarding the 29-Set, I read it as being an interchangeable module was to be developed such that some tanks would have the standard B-Set removed and the Infantry capable 38-Set module slid into the empty B-Set case, ready to go.

David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Bruce P.

Not sure, but when I read that comment regarding the 29-Set, I read it as being an interchangeable module was to be developed such that some tanks would have the standard B-Set removed and the Infantry capable 38-Set module slid into the empty B-Set case, ready to go.

David

I read it to mean that the 29 B set (not unlike a 19 'B set') would communicate with a 'future' infantry man pack operating on the same frequency. I'm fairly certain nothing ever came of of it.

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

That set works on 235 MHz and 245 MHz and I know of no man pack set produced or in development that worked on those frequencies. Do you have any idea what they were talking about?

I read that paragraph over & over and it was a bit of a mystery. It could be a new manpack itself or as suggested a replacement module for the C29. Must do some more research.

[Jordan Baker]

Here is my WS38. Mine has the neck strap for holding the set centred on the chest. The operator cards are ones I made using a scan from an original from David Gordon.

[Mike K]

Here , 38 set

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WWII-Wire...cAAOSwKfVXIcI~