Wireless Set No. 19
Encyclopedia
The Wireless Set No. 19 was a Second World War mobile radio transceiver
designed for the British Army
to give armoured
troops reliable communications.
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 ‘A’ setting was tuned to receive and transmit with a single dial and featured a "flick" switch for rapidly changing between two frequencies, a device still used in aircraft today.
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.
Canadian production of the No. 19 Mk II began in 1942. Improvements were introduced to the British design, but uniformity was maintained to accomplish interchangeability of components, especially the valves. Three Canadian companies manufactured the main No. 19 transceiver: Northern Electric Co., Canadian Marconi Co. and RCA Victor. Most Canadian sets featured English / Cyrillic lettering on the front panel as they were produced under a Lend-Lease
contract to supply the Soviet Red Army.
The VHF ‘B’ setting was phased out in the 1950s as the Larkspur
range of VHF FM
equipment came into service. The Royal Armoured Corps
replaced their 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 the Second World War the Wireless Set No. 19 was adopted by other countries: the Canadian No. 19 MK II was used in the Swedish Army
and the refurbished Canadian No. 19 MK III by the Italian Army
. A number of Canadian No. 19 MK III sets were also refurbished for use in the British Army. Today the Wireless Set No. 19 is collected, restored and operated by vintage amateur radio
enthusiasts.
Transceiver
A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
designed for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to give armoured
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
troops reliable communications.
Specifications
The set provided HFHigh frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
inter-tank and tank-to-HQ radiotelephone, CW and MCW
Modulated continuous wave
Modulated continuous wave is defined by the Federal Communications Commission in 47 CFR §97.3 as "Tone-modulated international Morse code telegraphy emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G, H or R as the first symbol; 2 as the second symbol; A or B as the third symbol." See Types of radio...
communications, VHF inter-tank communications, and an intercom facility for a tank’s crew. The HF ‘A’ setting was tuned to receive and transmit with a single dial and featured a "flick" switch for rapidly changing between two frequencies, a device still used in aircraft today.
- Dimensions: 17.5" x 8.5" x 2.5"
- Weight: 40 lb.
- Frequency range: 'A' setting 2–8 MHz; 'B' setting 229–241 MHz. Master Oscillator controlled.
- Modes: AMAmplitude modulationAmplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
, MCWModulated continuous waveModulated continuous wave is defined by the Federal Communications Commission in 47 CFR §97.3 as "Tone-modulated international Morse code telegraphy emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G, H or R as the first symbol; 2 as the second symbol; A or B as the third symbol." See Types of radio...
, CWContinuous waveA continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off...
. - RFRadio frequencyRadio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
output: 'A' setting 2.5–9 wattsWattThe watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
. - Range: 'A' setting up to 15 miles; 'B' setting 1000 yards – 3/4mile.
History
Wireless Set No. 19 was developed in 1940 by the BritishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
'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.
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
Canadian production of the No. 19 Mk II began in 1942. Improvements were introduced to the British design, but uniformity was maintained to accomplish interchangeability of components, especially the valves. Three Canadian companies manufactured the main No. 19 transceiver: Northern Electric Co., Canadian Marconi Co. and RCA Victor. Most Canadian sets featured English / Cyrillic lettering on the front panel as they were produced under a Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
contract to supply the Soviet Red Army.
The VHF ‘B’ setting was phased out in the 1950s as the Larkspur
Larkspur radio system
Larkspur was the name of a tactical radio system used by the British Army. Its development started in the late 1940s with the first equipments being issued in the mid-1950s. It remained in service until replaced by Clansman in the late-1970s although some elements of Larkspur were still in service...
range of VHF FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
equipment came into service. The Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
replaced their 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
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
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 the Second World War the Wireless Set No. 19 was adopted by other countries: the Canadian No. 19 MK II was used in the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
and the refurbished Canadian No. 19 MK III by the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
. A number of Canadian No. 19 MK III sets were also refurbished for use in the British Army. Today the Wireless Set No. 19 is collected, restored and operated by vintage amateur radio
Vintage amateur radio
Vintage amateur radio is a subset of the amateur radio hobby, considered a form of nostalgia much like antique car collecting, where enthusiasts collect, restore, preserve, build, and operate amateur radio equipment from bygone years, most notably those using vacuum tube technology.Popular modes of...
enthusiasts.