RAF signal vehicle types.

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Trux, Jul 23, 2011.

  1. lesfreathy

    lesfreathy Member

    Mike
    Is this your elusive RN trailer built i would think on a Eagle chassis, the trailer number is RN 21725 and the Ford 10054 RN. The towing vehicle is a Crossley Q with office body and lurking behind appears a civilian model Bedford or Morris Commercial, you can just see some of the wire stays leading to the mast which is out of site on the right
     

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  2. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    Here are a couple of photos of the container type bodies - taken fron Mike Connifords "Focus on Allied Softskins" articles from Battle magazine of 1976.
    A WOT6 with 386A container in Mickey Mouse Ear scheme and a K6 with 394 Mk1 looking to me like a post war paint job and a different style of container construction.
    Noel
     

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  3. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    Thanks Noel, I don't have any info on the RVT 386A; I have info on the 394 Mk 1, it was a 4 channel HF receiving station, the MK 1 was mounted on either K6 or WOT1, the MK1A on the post was Ford Thames Sussex, the MK1 B was mounted on the Bedford RL using the container MK 5. THere were equivalent transmitters on the RVT 393 series but it was only twin channel.

    Les, cracking shot of the salty seadogs' that one in the background is a real mystery ??

    TED
    WW2: memoirs
    http://landinginnormandy.com/omw/Hinton.pdf
     
  4. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Some thoughts while resting from taming the garden.

    Teds link is a fascinating insight into preparing vehicles for service. It certainly seems that in January 1945 the container body was common. There is no clue as to where the vehicles were going: UK, 2TAF, Pacific? It would make sense for all vehicles being prepared to go overseas would be the same to avoid duplication of effort etc.

    It says they only fitted containers to three chassis types. Which ones?

    Les's photo is very interesting. Certainly the RN used an odd assortment of vehicles. The trailer is not the right dimensions for the Radar trailer but the Crossley is as described and listed for RN on D Day. Whatever unit this is seems to be operating high powered transmitters. The guy ropes suggest tall aerial masts with a wire aerial between them The feeder for this can be seen going to the trailer. White markings on the wings suggest the UK. Any clue as to date?

    Seems I was mistaken in thinking that the suffix MkI etc identified containers. The suffix indicates a modified or improved fit of wireless equipment. So House bodies and containers could have the same Type Number.

    The WOT6 in Noels photo has a full set of stencilled markings usually found post war. Could have been added later. If the Micky Mouse scheme indicates a vehicle issued before mid 1944 containers could have been used on D day.

    Finally there was an RAF Vehicle Data Book on the same lines as the Army Data Book, which has been available for many years as a reprint from HMSO. Any ideas where a copy of the RAF Data Book would be hiding?

    Mike
     
  5. lesfreathy

    lesfreathy Member

    This image is very useful as it shows the base framework used on the K6 for various radar fittings
     

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  6. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    Mike- Hendon will have the data book, trouble is the RAF data book became a loose leaf affair , leaves were added and removed as required. So a visit would be the only way . There was also a seperate data book of RVT which went into more detail. There is a data book on RVT dated 1970 at Kew but how much of the WW2 era is in it ???
    there is also photo collections at IWM london but the online list doesn't give contents.

    Les, I have seen that shot before but that is a real gem in such hi resolution what a selection of stuff in the background ,

    If the 3 vehicles the chap in the link mentions. one has to be the K6, possibly the Matador ???

    TED
     
  7. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Ted,

    I have looked at the Hendon catalogue on line. There are several Data Books. The 1945 edition has no RVTs that are not already well known. The 1967 edition still contains several WW2 RVTs, although in MkI, MII oe even MkIII versions. I have looked again at the Data Book of Army Vehicles and note that it gives no details of classified vehicles and equipment. For example it has pictures of radar trailer chassis without any body or equipment. I suppose most RVTs were just too secret.

    I am making some progress in cross referencing vehicle types using information from such sources as we have. I have identified nearly all the vehicles in my original enquiry. Only leaves a hundred or so on Noels list about which we have no idea. The dimensions are so eccentric that we can just about sort them into 15cwt, 3ton and semi trailers.

    I think that Les's photo is of the chassis for radar turntables (Types 13, 14 and 15). Ordinary K6 chassis plus Crossleys in the background. Frustratingly a whole section of 3 tonners show only the tailboards. Could be any.

    Mike.
     
  8. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    Mike you say you looked at Hendon catalogue online ?? did you mean Kew ??

    I played around with the picture I think they are Crossleys with their cabs removed ?
    TED
     
  9. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Ted,

    I was playing with the Hendon website when like Alice I fell into a catalogue which listed six RAF Vehicle Data Books. Each had a list of contents. I did not bookmark it but I dare say I can find it again.

    Mike.

    Yes. Go to Archives. Quick Search. Type in RAF Vehicle Data Book. Details of six books with contents. I will try to obtain one.
     
  10. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    One I missed, or did not recognise, or it is too small.

    530 Mobile Signals Unit Type 'J' for 5053 FDP.
    1 Signals Type 383. 15cwt Bedford MW, 'E' body for cipher.
    1 Tender 30cwt.
    4 men.

    That is the total establishment.

    Mike
     
  11. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    First here are two taken from the "Canadians on Radar" book & website I mentioned earlier - a mobile Oboe unit (for guiding bombers to thier targets) showing a couple of trailer types the a "Eureka H" van (another guidance system IIRC)
    Noel
     

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  12. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    These were sent to me by one of the contributors to "Canadians on Radar" Alfred Cassidy, Looks like a type 456 generator lorry or two in there and noyice the fuel cans on the "running boards" where the overchains would normally go.
    These always reming me of the TV shoys of trucks queing for the Channel Tunnel during a strike.
    Noel

    EDIT REPOSTED MISSING PICTURE 18/4/14
     

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  13. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    The first trailer in the second picture of Post 92 is the same as the RN trailer in Les's Post 81. In Les's photo it is with an RAF type Crossley and almost certainly carrying a RN wireless 89, which is a slightly modified RAF T1179. I knew that the RN shore based sets were 'borrowed' from the RAF. It seems most of their wireless vehicles were as well.

    The 89 set was the only one needing the tall aerial masts and array that Les's photo suggests. Set 86 was the RAF short range TR1143 with a simple rod aerial. Set 87 was T1131 and used 32 foot masts without stays.

    Mike.
     
  14. lesfreathy

    lesfreathy Member

    I hope this is readable and i might be repeating here but i some odd bits from data books passed on to me long ago including these two which may help with I.D
    cheers
    Les
     

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  15. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    Ted,

    I was playing with the Hendon website when like Alice I fell into a catalogue which listed six RAF Vehicle Data Books. Each had a list of contents. I did not bookmark it but I dare say I can find it again.

    Mike.

    Yes. Go to Archives. Quick Search. Type in RAF Vehicle Data Book. Details of six books with contents. I will try to obtain one.

    Thanks Mike found them.. have copied & paste the list of item 2 will possibly request copies of WW2 stuff I don't have

    regards TED
     
  16. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    I hope this is readable and i might be repeating here but i some odd bits from data books passed on to me long ago including these two which may help with I.D
    cheers
    Les


    Les I hear a very loud MORE PLEASE !!!
    regards TED
     
  17. lesfreathy

    lesfreathy Member

    Okey dokey Ted i will see whats there although its not all signal stuff, meantime another view of the K6 cab chassis with subframe
    cheers
    Les
     

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  18. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    Thanks Les, Am I right in saying that it is the original Data book published for the Air Min by the MoS, in a similar format toi the Army one that was republished as a hardback book some years ago ??

    regards TEd
     
  19. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Noel's Eureka H van, which I have heard of but never seen before, has the Type Number 440. This agrees with the list, the dimensions being correct for a Fordson 15cwt.

    Who knows what the letters RAS stand for, as in
    No 1 LAA Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment. For 1 RAS.

    Mike
     
  20. ted angus

    ted angus Senior Member

    Mike never heard of that but a thought is : it describes an area of responsibility ??

    TED
     

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