Location of Variometer on a late Ram Kangaroo?

[Bill Miller]

Okay... I'd been ignoring this thread since I didn't have a ready answer, but since my name came up, I guess I better say something?

I'll give my Dad a call on this but I doubt he'll remember much about the wireless setup. Lt. Don Simpson is really the one to call, he was the signals troop leader (and present at the reunion). I have his personal diary notes and it does mention problems with the variometers getting wet all the time, but not specific location. Perhaps they were mounted above the set on the underside of the hull and exposed to more condensation and run off from the open turret ring??

Also, the wireless set was placed quite far forward in the left sponson, placing the variometer on the right of the set might interfere with the co-driver/bow gun operation. This was a definite problem with the earlier style Rams with the separate MG cuppola. In those models the wireless could not be placed properly in the left sponson as they interfered with the operation of the MG. DDME notes and Simpson's own notes indicate two options for the earlier style Rams. Wireless sets were placed on a plate over the transmission or in the right Sponson, beside and to the rear of the Driver.

I'll try to call Mr. Simpson later in the week.

Does this help?

Bill.