Wireless Set No. 19

The Wireless Set No. 19 was a World War II mobile radio transceiver designed for the British Army to give armoured troops reliable communications.

History

Wireless Set No. 19 was developed in 1940 by the British War Office's Signals Experimental Establishment and by Pye Radio. The Pye model was adopted then very quickly replaced with a MK II model to bring it up to required specifications in 1941, and then by the more efficient MK III model in 1942. These improved sets were particularly significant in the fast-moving armoured fighting in the Western Desert.

The set provides HF inter-tank and tank-to-HQ radiotelephone, CW and MCW communications, VHF inter-tank communications and an intercom facility for a tank’s crew. The HF part, the ‘A’ set, is tuned to receive and transmit with a single dial and has a ‘flick’ switch for rapidly changing between two frequencies, a device still used in aircraft today.

The set had an HF range of 10 miles, 15 miles CW and a VHF range of 1000 yards. 17.5" x 8.5" x 2.5", it weighed 40 lb. Frequency range 'A' set 2-8 MHz; 'B' set 229-241 MHz. MO control. R/T, MCW, CW. RF output 'A' set 2.5-9 watts. Range 'A' set up to 15 miles; 'B' set 3/4mile.

The VHF part, the ‘B’ set, was phased out in the 1950s as the Larkspur range of VHF FM equipment came into service. The Royal Armoured Corps replaced their thus modified No 19 Sets with the very similar C12 in the mid-50s, and this in turn was replaced by the C13 when it was developed and produced. RF Amplifier No. 2 increased the range to 45 miles. Wireless Set No. 19 TH was an experimental trials model for the Dutch Army, developed after World War II. Based on the British 19 Set MK III, with IC and B set removed, it had an extra frequency range extending the coverage up to 12 MHz.

After World War II, the Wireless Set No. 19 was adopted in other countries, for example the Canadian No. 19 MK II used in the Swedish Army and the refurbished Canadian No. 19 MK III used in the Italian Army. Also after World War II a number of Canadian No. 19 MK III sets were refurbished for use in the British Army. Today the Wireless Set No. 19 is collected, restored and operated by vintage amateur radio enthusiasts. [http://www2.army.mod.uk/royalsignalsmuseum/equipment/wireless_set_no_19.htm British Army, Royal Corps Of Signals ] [http://www.qsl.net/ve3bdb/index.html Wireless Set No. 19 Group] [http://www.vmars.org.uk/wsn19.html Vintage Military Amateur Radio Society]

Notes

ee also

*ART 13 transmitter
*ARC-5
*BC-348
*SCR-536
*Vintage amateur radio