The wireless Set No. 19 was a Second World War mobile radio transceiver designed for armored troops. Canadian-built No. 19’s saw continued service for many years with a variety of users.
Purpose: Designed for tanks and armored vehicles, the radio provided three communication channels:
The A set provided longer range communication within the squadron or regiment.
The B set or “troop set” provided short range communication between tanks in a troop.
The IC channel provided internal communication between crewmembers inside the tank.
History: Wireless Set No. 19 MK III
The Wireless Set No. 19 was developed in 1940 by Pye Radio. The sets proved valuable for armored fighting in the North African Western Desert.
In 1942, the No. 19 Mk II was produced in Canada by Northern Electric, Canadian Marconi and RCA Victor. A majority of Canadian sets used English/Cyrillic front panel lettering, the result of a Lend-Lease contract to the Soviet Red Army. (See labels on the radio set).
Post-war, forward area battle group radio traffic carried by Wireless Set No. 19 nets was progressively migrated to low-band VHF known as Larkspur. Post-war, the Canadian No. 19 MK II and III was used in the Danish and Italian Army, and some Canadian No. 19 MK III sets were used by the British Army.
Dimensions: (l × d × w): Mk II and Mk III complete – 27×10×13.25 in (69×25×33.7 cm)
Weight: Mk III complete – 88.25 lb. (40.03 kg)