Radio - FOO

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by HMSCalcutta, Mar 11, 2021.

  1. HMSCalcutta

    HMSCalcutta Member

    Hi,

    Attached is my great, great uncle’s MM citation. He won the medal at Flushing on 1st November 1944. Could someone post a link to the type of radio that was involved and the handcart. I’d love to find a picture of the type involved.

    Many thanks,

    Steve G
     

    Attached Files:

    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  2. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    The RA normally used three different types of wireless sets in their Field, Medium and Heavy Regiments, which had been gradually introduced during the early war years.

    No.18 set - This was the usual Infantry Battalion set, introduced from around 1941. It was a backpack type and used to maintain links between the Battalion commander and his various Company commanders. RA forward observers also had an 18 set so they could net in with the infantry units they were supporting.

    No.19 set - This was a vehicle set and primarily used in all types of AFVs. They were also fitted in the armoured OP vehicles used by forward observers, which were normally Universal carriers.

    No.22 set - This was a large set that could be vehicle mounted or disassembled and carried by a team of three men. It had a remote control facility and shared the same frequency range of the No.19 set.

    Given the mention of the remote control, and the fact the wireless was being moved by handcart I'd say the No.22 set is the most likely candidate.

    Wireless Set No 22, WS22, WS 22, 22 Set, 22set, famously used at Arnham.

    I've not got a clue about the handcart! Possibly it was locally acquired?

    Gary
     
  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Maybe this helps

    WW2 british no.22 set radio and MkIV handcart | #1410838978

    We are selling a W.S. no.22 in need of a full restoration along with a power-supply unit no.4 which is complete. Along with these are 2 Wireless Remote-Control Unit F's , Wavemeter class D no.1 MkII, spare valve box, no.25 radio carrier and most of the parts to rebuild the 22 set . Rebuild parts include earth connectors, power plug power lead, 2 drop leads and some of the rollercoaster parts (sorry, the platinum wire is missing from the roll)The handcart is as complete as most others we have seen for sale, i.e., one set of handles have been removed. It does have its data plate and both wheels have been sandblasted and etch primed ready for colour and tyres.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    TD
     
    timuk and HMSCalcutta like this.
  4. HMSCalcutta

    HMSCalcutta Member

    Gary and Tricky,

    That is amazing, thankyou. It makes the citation make a lot more sense in that clearly he had a lot of kit to retrieve and put together under fire.

    Sorry for a possibly silly question but how did the remote control work? Also, what would each of the three man team do?

    Many thanks,

    Steve G
     
  5. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    I am very gradually improving my familiarity with various types of wireless equipment from the war years, though I will confess to being often swamped by the tech speak in the period manuals. The below is gleaned from the various manuals available on the wonderful VMARS Manuals : Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society website.

    There was always an issue with the need for physically large wireless set to be deployed quite close to the frontline while maintaining concealment of both the set and operators. Re the No.22 set the short aerial was 16-ft and the long range one 34-ft, so it was effectively sticking a flagpole in the ground adjacent to the set. Remote control units were available for a number of British and US sets. My admittedly rough understanding is that the set proper would be set up some distance behind the actual observation post being used. Two additional pieces of equipment were required for the No.22 set to be used remotely, unit F No.1 and F No.2. No.1 unit was kept with the No.22 set proper, and linked to it by a short line. No.2 unit was kept with the operating team, and was linked back to the No.1 unit by cable, ideally D3, which was also used for field telephones.

    The team with the F2 unit now had a smaller, though not insubstantial piece of equipment, that linked them with a wireless set that was itself separate from their position. My understanding is that a wireless operator still needed to be stationed at the No.22 set, but would control it via the No.1 unit. The operator of the No.2 unit could then keep in touch with the operator of the No.1 unit, who could be a half mile away. There was also a remote connection that could be used from the No.22 set to the 16 or 34 foot aerial, so the aerial could be situated a distance away from the set. I couldn't see a distance quoted for that in the manuals.

    If I'd have remembered VMARS before I could have helped a bit on the handcart, as they have a manual on it as well;

    http://www.vmarsmanuals.co.uk/archive/1255_WS22 in handcarts.pdf

    http://www.vmarsmanuals.co.uk/archive/470_WS22_Working_instructions.pdf

    http://www.vmarsmanuals.co.uk/archive/904_WS22_EMER_F282.pdf

    All accessible from the main archive page at;

    VMARS

    The three man team was effectively the number of personnel required to carry the loads of the No.22 set when broken down for manual transport. An armoured OP normally consisted of the officer acting as the FOO, a driver for the carrier (or tank OP in some unit types) and two other men.

    Gary
     
    Sheldrake and HMSCalcutta like this.
  6. HMSCalcutta

    HMSCalcutta Member

    Gary,

    This is brilliant, thankyou. The technical stuff would be way over my head but clearly a lot of work was required to get the radio operating. Total conjecture but I wonder if he went back to get the remote as they were advancing further into Flushing. Your post gives a clear impression of how the radio worked. Lots more to delve into, including War Diaries and Service Records!

    Many thanks,

    Steve G
     
  7. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Gunners did not use the No18 set in 1944. The other wireless used by FO parties was the No 38 set, a short range manpack radio only operating in R/T mode and used mainly within infantry companies and by artillery FOs. Each OP party received one in 1943 for FOO use, tank OPs used them to communicate with infantry.

    The mention of hand cart suggests No 22 set, which would have the range to communicate with the guns.
     
    HMSCalcutta likes this.
  8. HMSCalcutta

    HMSCalcutta Member

    Hi,

    Thankyou Sheldrake. Looks like te No 22 set is looking the best bet. It seems a formidable piece of equipment. Also, looks like your book may be getting another purchase given both William (above) and his brother, my great-grandfather, were in the artillery in Normandy.

    Many thanks,

    Steve G
     
  9. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    I had a check back through my sources for the No.18 set in RA use as I was sure I'd seen it confirmed in a few places.

    Royal Signals Pocket Book Part II (Wireless Diagrams) 1945; shows each AOP or Tank OP with a No.18 set, in addition to at least one No.19 set, in the Field Regiment, Medium Regiment and SP Field Regiment.

    Stowage scheme for the carrier in the armoured OP role (found via an old query I raised on the forum);

    WikiAlbums: Stowage Diagrams

    Image 77 shows the layout for January 1944, with both the No.18 and No.19 being carried.

    I never did manage to find any G.1098 forms for RA units, the closest being the Canadian War Equipment Tables. A British amendment looks to have snuck in re the G.1098 in use in 1941 that does at least mention the addition of the No.18 sets;

    Department of National Defence : subject files,... - Image 261 - Héritage (canadiana.ca)

    Signal Training (All Arms), Pamphlet 7, Part III of May 1945, notes that a Battery has three No.18 sets for netting with the Infantry Battalion sets.

    The RA WE tables don't unfortunately specify the type of wireless, just the number issued to the unit type concerned.


    Gary
     
  10. IanTurnbull

    IanTurnbull Well-Known Member

    Hi Sheldrake
    I had always thought that RA FOOs embedded with infantry battalions used the No 68 Set, a derivative of the No 18 manpack but with a longer range. There is evidence from Captain Cook of the 90th Field that this was the case here
    upload_2021-4-21_8-6-46.png
    Ian
     
  11. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    #
    Checking what I wrote in Gunners in Normandy. The No 18 set was for talking to the infantry. - (Frequency range 6-9 MHz) This was supplemented or replaced by the lighter No 38 set from 1943. The No 68 Set was a modified version of a No 18 set with a lower frequency range for communications with ships and issued to FOBs.

    This is from Wireless Set No.68 R / T Military MILITARY U.K. different ma

    The No 68 set operates at a lower frequency (3-5.2 MHz). I think this is consistent with Cook's account which refers to D Day, an amphibious operation
     

Share This Page