Wireless of the Week - week 11

[Bruce MacMillan]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

we may have the largest collection of surviving 43 set bits out there.

You are probably right. There weren't that many made, in the low hundreds.

The earliest mention I can find on this set is 23Jul42 if the date on the first memo is correct. Brigadier Genet is ordering 100 sets for the Canadian Army Overseas (CAO).

It's not until a year later in July 1943 that the equipment scales are amended to use this set to replace the C33 (Maple Leaf set). By this time 69 of the original (not MK II) sets were already in the UK. The CAO though had not accepted the set for use in the ETO.

By August 1943 both SRDE and First Canadian Army Signals had tested the C43 and found the power output lacking. It delivered only 80 watts, not 250 as the spec had required. The interim subs were the RCA 4332, WS12HP & the C33.

By October 1943 the CAO still did not accept the unit but it was released to the British. It wasn't until May 1944 that the production of the MK II sets became available. To modify the early sets for the Brits it was requested to ship them back to Canada.

With so much delay I think both the CAO and the Brits gave up on using it.