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WW2 aerial kit??


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I am doing a bit of research into what equipment was carried by mobile Special Liaison Units in '44/45. In particular, what radio aerial equipment. I have a description of what they used from a Dodge or Guy 15cwt as follows: "a bag with a sectional mast, aerial wire, guy ropes and mast base". But what exactly would that comprise, so I can try and find this equipment? Thanks!

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I am doing a bit of research into what equipment was carried by mobile Special Liaison Units in '44/45. In particular, what radio aerial equipment. I have a description of what they used from a Dodge or Guy 15cwt as follows: "a bag with a sectional mast, aerial wire, guy ropes and mast base". But what exactly would that comprise, so I can try and find this equipment? Thanks!

 

Probably the general purpose "Aerial, Vertical, 34-ft, Steel" consisting of a canvas bag and a load of Aerial Rods 'D' plus ancillaries. (It could be used to make 2 x 12-ft masts if required, an 18-ft mast or a 34-ft vertical aerial.)

 

See Keith's WS22 page (towards the bottom): http://www.royalsignals.org.uk/photos/ws22/index.htm

 

The "aerial wire" could be any of the ready-made aerials, the 100-ft No.5 (with links to allow pre-set lengths), an 'all-wave' longwire, or packets of copper wire and loose insulators for making up your own aerial to suit requirements.

 

The SLU had specialist signallers so would not be reliant on the usually available wire aerials and could assemble something rather more efficient from available stores if required.

 

Chris.

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Thanks for that, Chris. I am looking at restoring a Dodge WC54 as an SCU/SLU radio truck as deployed in the American sectors of the W European theatre. It seems that there was little outward change to the Dodge which was received by the British in standard US ambulance livery and fittings. I think the red crosses were painted out but the US serial numbers retained. I think an SLU/SCU number was applied to the bumpers. The inside was stripped of stretchers and radio table fitted but it seems that only a free standing aerial was deployed.....unlike the US WC54 radio trucks.

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  • 3 years later...

Ferg...how did this project progress?

The reason I ask is that I have a rare Dodge WC Radio Table with all the pre-drilled holes. Often used in Carryalls but sometimes in other converted WC's.

Would be great to know how much you have found and done over the last few years since your original post?

Gareth

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