Wireless of the Week - week 10

[Johnny Canuck]

Hello Chris
"According to the manuals, it is supposed to be possible to run the set from the 162V/3V battery used by the WS18 & 46, but that either requires an adapter that I've never seen (5 pin plug to 4 pin socket), or a modified junction box with the 5 pin plug fitted."

Like this?



Geoff

[Chris Suslowicz]

Hi Geoff,

I've got one of those, and think it's from the Supply Unit No.5 (the hand generator, 3 lead-acid cells, and vibrator pack all in a WS18-sized case) intended for the WS18 or WS38 (the latter may have been an afterthought since the supply unit is several times the size and weight of the WS38). Also that cable is far too long to be a battery adapter (if such a thing actually existed in the first place). It's UX5 (807 valve base) to B4 socket, and the WS18 battery socket is rather smaller than a UX5 base.

Most likely explanation is that if/when they ran out of the correct batteries for the set, they'd get a shipment of WS18 batteries and the radio mechanics would have to swap the battery plugs from 4 to 5 pin as necessary. (The obvious method would be to make up replacement junction boxes from stuff held in stores and issue those.)

Chris.
(I'm expecting to find all kinds of things that I thought were lost for ever while I'm busy moving house - there's an entire loft full of clutter for a start!)

[Mike K]

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

[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?