You must agree that communication-system between HQ and tanks/commander to commander at Front line, was very poor,comparing todays'.You also admit that such communication wasn't rare even. A good number of stuffs are available for air and navy communication systems;the same relatively scarce,particularly for the TANKS .... of War 2 .. !! Was not it important then? How was the actual scenario in the battlefield [obviously I'm not asking for Flag/Hand signals]for the internal [presence of motor/gun noise] and external ? How HQ call to a commander/How a commander communicate another? Or at lest what type of Radio been used [in general,because it varied from model to model/countries etc...]Was it only fixed two-ways or some other types of ?? ........ any kind information ??
The No 19 radio was used by British tanks from about 1942 0nwards. It had a low and high power settings. At low power it had a range of about 2-3km and at high power, a range of about 15-20km I believe. The smallest unit was a "troop" of tanks, 3 or 4 vehicles. The Troop leader would issue orders to the troop, and he would have a second radio linked to his boss, the Squadron Leader. At the start of World War II. the number 11 set (below) was the main radio in use.
This is an interesting topic that I hadn't thought about before. I found this link that you might find interesting. It shows many types of communication devices from the WWII era: http://www.radioblvd.com/WWII-PostWar Hamgear.htm
I really thankful to both of you. The Information and guidance enable me get a good stuff regarding the tank/mobile communication systems of those days. Not only this,I just have come across the Historic Pye Telecom alongwith its productions during W2. Primarily I had hardly any idea of no 19 and its other variations. I know that a very few keeps interests on the History as well as the Significance of WC during War 2. If you consider or eble to spare a couple of moments , may visit :: ** http://churchilltank.com/electrical-systems/ ** http://www.accionunoseis.org/viewtopic.php?t=11778 ** http://www.pyetelecomhistory.org/prodhist/prodinfo/pt hc-ws19.pdf ** http://nigelef.tripod.com/anti-tank.htm
The Photographs in this link http://www.accionunoseis.org/viewtopic.php?t=11778 given by Diptangshu are too good and great collection... The communication devices are un-comparable to present day devices in size and functionality. are there any such antic devices still in use ?
[quote The communicationdevices are un-comparable to present day devices in size and functionality. are there any such antic devices still in use ?[/quote] Not by any modern countries. In British service, the WWII No19 set was replaced in the 1950's by the "Larkspur"series of radios, which in turn were replaced by the Clansman series in the mid 1970's. Clansman has now been replaced by "Bowman" .
Yes, I have been looking form past one hour.. whether there are such antic devices still in use or being still manufactured. and came across though few more articles and Images of WWII Communications Equipment.
It's also a pretty good site for WC, W2-era,but mostly of marine-air WCs. For W2 - Tanks , really scarce. Thanks a lot for showing interest.You must admit that without These,any engagement there,would have been chaotic. May visit for W2 British Army Battlefield for Wireless Communications Equipment :: Very informative~ **http://www.async.org.uk/Tony.Davies/pubs/HISTELCON-ACDavies.pdf For Military Radio Equipments-Allied & Others :: **http://wftw.nl/gallery/gallery.html And for the Wehrmacht :: **http://www.agder.net/la8ak/ew.htm May be you like it here...// No 19 MK II
No 11 :: '40~'43 A few interesting things I've noted that I want to share. Once , it was the master of desert [LRP &LRDG] during Africa-campaign[notably in Operation Caravan]. New Zealanders were in major in LRP/Long Range Patrol]while LRDG [Long Range Desert Group] mainly formed by the personnels from Royal Corps Of Signals.They had done their best in the Operation Caravan. Capt Easonsmith They remained active till the Axis surrendered at Tunisia'43. The set usually carried by patrolling 2 wheel drives/trucks with special compartment for the set. The set was capable to operate upto 20 miles.It was unique as enable to operate remotely.
Fu 5 :: Panzer Tank-radio set ~ '42-'45 It was the most common tank-radio set of the Panzers'. Note that its receiver[Ukw.E.e] at the left to the transmitter[10 W. s.c] along with transformer. Connected cables are running from right to left side,ie.,receiver to transmitter. Earphones at the bottom left, mic. is at bottom center . The set is weighed only 20lbs. ** http://panzerfaust.ca/AFV%20interiors/germrads.html Panther A inside :: Platoon Commander radio setup .. ....... Love been high and hate been low ......
As I understand it the Russian tanks had some sort of radio in some command tanks but most tanks communicated only via FLAGs. I used to read old US Amateur Radio magazines. From them I gleened that there was a ban on most amateur radio during the 1942-45 era. After all it was for national security.
SCR 508/528 (BC 603) : The most common light/med AFV W/C set :: '42 ~ '45 The set been widely used by M5 Stuart, M4 Sherman, M7 Priest, M26 Pershing, M10 Patton etc. The set mainly consists of Radio Transmitter BC 604 and two Receivers BC 603/604 along with 10 preset channels for FM voice with as good as a power output of 30w. The average range of the set was 5 - 20 miles / 33 Kms., also pretty good! Some interesting links are as : http://panzerfaust.ca/AFV interiors/usrads.html Sgt Childres with his head gears : 2nd Armd Dv. Here for the W/c enthusiasts : http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/military_bc_603.html A brief demo of SCR 508 :
TMs (Technical Manuals USA - Radios: http://www.scribd.com/search-documents?query=TM Radios Sets British/Canadian Manuals No 11 - No19 etc : http://www.vmarsmanuals.co.uk/archive/files_index.htm TM German Radio 1945: http://www.radionerds.com/images/8/8e/TME_11-227.pdf http://www.scribd.com/doc/203955032/Directory-of-German- Japanese Radio: https://archive.org/stream/TME11-227A#page/n1/mode/2up
Note Sgt. Childres is wearing a throat microphone. This improved clarity as the pickup was tight to the skin and this blocked out extraneous noise, like that big engine a few feet away, and that noisy thing the loader liked so much.
The lack of communications equipment seriously hampered soviet tanks performance. Often overlooked fact is that better german communication proved decisive advantage. Also interesting fact is that germans used several converted and outdated tanks to provide command the ability to better keep in touch with the actual combat vehicles. Simply an old tank like pz2. was stripped and cleared with maps and better radio brought in. Theres no doubt in my mind that working communications were important many times over in the backround of succesfull operations trough out the war.
