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Forums - Research / Post-WW2 |
This Post WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to any time after WW2 (1945+) subjects. |
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| Messages | 5135 |
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| Subject: | Re: Ferret Mk2/2 |  |
| Date: | Nov 11, 2007 |
| From: | Chris Oldfield | |
Mike,
This is only a guess & a hypothesis, but could it be an antenna mount for a Larkspur C42 radio or even bigger, a C11 radio?
I'm guessing at this because of the conning-tower type structure on which the turret is mounted. This indicates to me a command vehicle with a powerful transceiver fitted (I've never seen a picture of a Ferret with this fitment before) & the C11 was a huge beast. It was normally fitted in Austin wireless trucks, & I remember seeing one demonstrated when I was on my B2/B3 regimental signals course in 1981. It had such a huge power output that it had to be switched off to tune it, & when the antenna had been tuned to match it, a large metal cage had to be closed over the radio before it could be switched on again. This was because if the set was touched by the unwary whilst it was transmitting, it would deliver a fatal electric shock.
The massive power output was illustrated to us students by one of the instructors holding a flourescent light tube 6 inches away from the C11, & the mike pressel switch being depressed. The tube lit up in his hand! Health & Safety would never allow that today....
Cheers,
Chris. |
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