List of British Army radio sets

A List of British Army radio equipment.

Tactical systems

Infantrymen of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment operating a No. 18 wireless set outside Regimental Headquarters, Ortona, Italy, December 21, 1943

• W/T Set 120 Watt
• W/T Set "A"
• W/T Sets "C"
• No. 1 Wireless Set - Short range radio developed in 1933.
• Wireless Set No. 3
• Wireless Set No. 8 - Replaced by WS18.
• Wireless Set No. 9
• Wireless Set No. 10 - 8 channel multiplexed microwave transmitter/receiver.^[1]
• Wireless Set No. 11 - Used by the likes of the Long Range Desert Group during WW2.
• Wireless Set No. 12 - Static or vehicle mounted transmitter station, range about 60 miles (~96.6 km).
• Wireless Set No. 17 - 2-valves, 44 – 61 MHz Used by Searchlight Units.
• Wireless Set No. 18 - Manpack set, used for "short range telephony and C/W working in forward areas", about 5 miles (8 km) maximum, Bn HQ to Company HQ, 6 – 9 MHz^[2]
• Wireless Set No. 19 - Standard WW2 Tank set. Used in every theater of operation. HF, 2 – 8 MHz, AM or Morse Code.
• Wireless Set No. 21
• Wireless Set No. 22 - General purpose low power vehicle and ground station with facilities for man pack. Frequency range 2 – 8 MHz. MO control. RF output 1.5 W. R/T, CW. Range up to 20 miles (~ 32 kilometers). Used by Airborne troops ^[3] and antiaircraft units.^[4]
• Wireless Set No. 31 - Manpack radio set^[5] The US SCR-300 design adopted for British use.
• Wireless Set No. 33
• Wireless Set No. 37 - Short range lightweight transmitter/receiver for use by paratroops. Some components used in S-Phone.
• Wireless Set No. 38 - Manpack radio set, also produced as an AFV version for use in armoured vehicles to allow direct communication with infantry.
• Wireless Set No. 38 Mk. III - Late WWII infantry radio.^[6]
• Wireless Set No. 42 - Experimental general purpose vehicle/manpack HF set, tropicalised, 10W, 1.6 – 12.8 MHz. Project abandoned after field trials.
• Wireless Set No. 46 - Manpack radio set, used by beach landing troops, waterproof, 1W output AM or MCW.
• Wireless Set No. 48 - US made version of WS18. Manpack HF AM or Morse Code.^[7]
• Wireless Set No. 52 - Canadian made Remote Receiver.
• Wireless Set No. 58 - Canadian made version of WS18.^[8]
• Wireless Set No. 62 - Short range vehicle mounted HF set, 1.6 – 10.0 MHz, CW & RT (AM) ^[9]
• Wireless Set No. 68 - Similar to No. 18 set, lower frequency range.
• Wireless Set No. 88 - VHF manpack set from 1947.
• Wireless Set No. 108

• Larkspur radio system
  • Station Radio A13 - HF manpack transceiver.
  • Station Radio A40 - Based on the Canadian C/PRC-26.
  • Station Radio A41 - British copy of the US PRC-10. Replaced the WS No. 31 Set.
  • Station Radio A42 - British copy of the US PRC-9.
  • Station Radio B44 - Short range duplex AM set for artillery and anti-aircraft batteries.
  • Station Radio B45
  • Station Radio B47 - VHF transceiver, 38 to 56MHz
  • Station Radio B48 - VHF transceiver, 26 to 38MHz
  • Station Radio C12 - Interim HF AM/CW set designed by Pye.
  • Station Radio C13 - AM, NB-PhM & CW. Forward area HF set used where VHF was not appropriate.
  • Station Radio C42 - VHF transceiver, 36 to 60 MHz, for mobile communication in the forward battle area.
  • Station Radio C45 - VHF transceiver, 23 to 38 MHz.

• Clansman
• Bowman (communications system)
• Personal Role Radio
• High-capacity data radio

See also

• Army Communications and Information Systems (United Kingdom)

Notes

References

• http://wftw.nl/wireless/wireless.html
• http://qsl.net/g4bxd/uk.htm
• http://www.keithwatt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/museum/ws22.htm
• http://www.royalsignals.org.uk/photos/ws38mk3.htm