6-KW charging and 6-KVA generating sets - when in service?
 

I'm trying to make sense of when the 6-KW charging set began issue to units, specifically Divisional Signals Units.

Director Signals Monthly Liaison Notes No.1, July 1943, outlined future policy was for 1260-watt and 6-KW charging sets to be used for low and high power charging duties respectively. As I understand it, the 6-KW was still on the drawing board at this time, as too was the 6-KVA generating set. It was noted that both were likely to be trailer borne. Until these became available, 4-KW charging sets (I think the Lister?) and either 9-KVA (Meadows) or PE-95 (US eqpt) sets would be issued in lieu.

The same publication, No.12 of June 1944, gave an update on generating sets, and listed the SR (?) engine 6-KVA 50 c/s as 'under development'.

Final thing I can find is from the same series, No.22 of April 1945, which noted that the 'considerable delays in the start of production' of the 6-KW set had been offset by the use of 4-6 KW sets from RE (presumably Royal Engineers) and circa 500 US 5-KW Wisconsin sets were expected in 1945. The 6-KW charging set was not expected to begin shipment before July 1945. Delays with the 6-KW had impacted the 6-KVA, which was not expected to enter production until several months after the 6-KW, and noted the PE-95 would continue in use as a result.

British and Canadian WE Tables for various formation Signal Units show the 6-KW charging set from late 1943 onwards. The note on alternative sets is included in a major items of equipment list in Liaison Notes No.14 of February 1944, which is the closest to an AFG.1098 I've seen. It's not unusual for WEs to give alternative types of vehicles to be issued in lieu of those authorised but neither Br/Cdn WEs mention anything re the 6-KW or 6-KVA sets.

Given all the above then, am I right to conclude that neither the 6-KW charging or 6-KVA generating sets entered service with Br/Cdn units until some time after the end of the war in Europe? And as a result, it was the 4-KW charging set and PE-95 generating set that units such as Divisional Signals used in Italy and Northwest Europe?

Also, is there a photo of the 4-KW Lister charging set mentioned as the in lieu for the 6-KW? I've been trying to find one online without success and I just don't know if it was trailer mounted or could be stowed in a lorry.

Cheers

Gary

Hi Gary.

Not sure if it helps much but the March, 1944 Vehicle Data Book published by the Canadian Army Overseas, notes both these items were in prototype development at the time of publication. The image printed with the specifications is a photo of a Data Plate.

The 6-KVA alternator trailer was intended to supply alternating current, 80 and 120 volts for a group of Command Vehicles in a Wireless Camp, and the 6-KW Generator Trailer was intended to supply direct current for battery charging.

Specifications for the trailers were not available at the time of publication and I would be quite surprised if these trailers were on hand by D-Day.


David