Wireless Set Number 11: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|British Army radio set}}

The '''No. 11 wireless set''' was a [[wireless]] [[radio]] used by the [[British Army]], during [[World War II]], having been designed in 1938 to replace the 1933 No. 1 unit. The unit had an operational voice range of 15 miles, although the [[Long Range Desert Group]] used the radio to transmit [[Morse code|Morse]] in excess of 1,500 miles (a feat which was only possible at certain times of the day).

[[Image:Wireless set no.11.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Wireless set No. 11]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

The '''Wireless Set Number 11''', or '''WS No. 11''', was a radio set designed for the [[British Army]] in 1938. It was designed to replace the 1933 [[Wireless Set No. 1]] which had been found inadequate for a number of reasons. Like the No. 1, it was designed to be used in fixed locations like regimental field headquarters, as well as in vehicles and [[tanks]].

Some No. 11s were produced between 1938 and 1940 before they, too, were considered inadequate. A smaller production run in Canada was also completed by [[Canadian Marconi]] and used both by Canadian and British forces. The No. 11 was replaced in tanks by the significantly more capable [[Wireless Set No. 19]], while the No. 11 went on to be used by many others, notably the [[Long Range Desert Group]].

==History==

The No. 11 set, a radio [[transceiver]] featuring a single tuning unit, was designed in 1938 to replace the 1933 [[Wireless Set No. 1]]. Originally designed to be used in [[tank]]s for short- and medium-range communications, it was later used by the [[Long Range Desert Group]] in Libya and Tunisia for long-range communications while deep behind enemy lines. The [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Germans]] reportedly captured several sets in France and put them to use for their own communication needs.<ref name="army.mod.uk">{{cite web |url= http://www2.armynet.mod.uk/museums/royalsignals/wirelesssetno11.htm |title= Royal Signals Museum – Equipment – Wireless Set No 11 | date = 29 August 2009 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090829221533/http://www2.armynet.mod.uk/museums/royalsignals/wirelesssetno11.htm | archivedate = 29 August 2009 | accessdate= 15 April 2016 |publisher= Army Net UK}}</ref> The set was also manufactured in Australia by [[AWA Technology Services|AWA]] with different [[Vacuum tubes|valves]] and alterations to its circuitry.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.vk2bv.org/museum/ws11.htm |title= Wireless Set No 11 (Aust) | date = 30 August 2007 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150118215223/http://www.vk2bv.org/museum/ws11.htm | archivedate = 18 January 2015 | accessdate= 15 April 2016 |publisher= Waverley Amateur Radio Society}}</ref>

==Specifications==

*Power: Batteries or 6 V or 12 V mains supply

*RF output: 0.6 W to 4.5 W

*Communication range: Approximately {{convert|3|to|20|mi|km|0}} using {{convert|6|ft|adj=on}} or {{convert|9|ft|adj=on}} aerials.

*Dimensions: {{convert|8.5|x|19.5|x|12|in|cm}}

*Weight: {{convert|43|lb}}; complete low and high power stations weigh {{convert|180|lb}} and {{convert|216|lb}}.

*Control: Direct or remote, enabling operation at {{convert|400|m|yd|abbr=on}} and a remote aerial at up to {{convert|10|m|yd|abbr=on}}<ref name="army.mod.uk" />

* Frequency range: 4.5 to 7.1&nbsp;MHz

==See also==

*[[BC-348]]

*[[SCR-284]]

*[[Wireless Set No. 19]]

*[[Vintage amateur radio]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:British military radio]]

[[Category:Amateur radio transceivers]]

[[Category:World War II British electronics]]

[[Category:World War II Australian electronics]]

[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1930s]]