Members Vehicles

[steve 82]

Hi list,

This is my first post and wanted to introduce myself briefly. Started collecting W. German uniforms and equipment maybe 15 years ago - starting with BGS and more recently focussing on the 1970`s / early 1980`s BW (Heer). This has come about due to my interest in restoring and operating ex-BW radio vehicles which currently include a 1974 VW181 and a Unimog 404 teleprinter station (and also a VW82 - still being worked on). I therefore attach a few pics below for your information

VW181 Radio car


Unimog 404 teleprinter station


Unimog - Radio fit


Always looking for others interested in re-enacting 1970`s BW over in the UK and both at events or for private meets- contact me if your interested.

Cheers

Steve 82

[Hugh Zillmann old]

Hello Steve,

Nice taste in car(s).

I own a 181 as well, which I also use in displays. Would love to join with you, but....the tyranny of distance. There are some pics of mine on another thread in this Forum, together with a 'run-down' of how it came to nestle in Australia.

Cheers,

Hugh

[Gordon Craig]

Steve,

Welcome to the forum. I started a thread a while ago about members who owned BW vehicles and there didn't seem to be many so your thread is very welcome. I would also like to own a BW vehicle but the cost of shipping one to Canada is prohibitive. Looking forward to more pictures from your BRD collection.

Regards,

Gordon

[steve 82]

Hi Hugh and Gordon,

Great to hear from you both. Will post some further pics here to give more of an idea about how I use the vehicles. Unsure where I should post pics of my March 1945 VW82 (Kubelwagen) - is there a WW2 vehicles forum ?

By the way Gordon, I think you may find it possible to locate either a VW181 or the later 4x4 VW183 (Iltis) from one or more of the ex-BW Unimog dealers in the US - possibly a bit closer than Europe !

Cheers

Steve

[Guardian 5]

Steve - Outstanding vehicles!

The Unimog interior is superb

I'm joining Gordon in clamoring for more pictures of your vehicles and 1970s BW gear.

The chaps on the "Achtung Panzer Forum" would love to see pictures of your WW II kubel. Kettenkrads seem to be all the rage over there presently.

Welcome to the BRD forum and thanks for sharing pictures of your wonderful vehicle restorations.

All the best - TJ

[Gordon Craig]

Steve,

Yes a vehicle from the U.S. would certainly be cheaper than shipping one from Europe but I haven't found any dealers there with BW things for sale. I'll probably start looking in earnest later this year. Very interesting to me that you are interested in communications vehicles. I spent 20 years in the Canadian Air Force and at one point was posted as an instructor in the Telecommunications school in Kingston, Ontario. While there I taught some courses to cypher technicians about the installation and maintenance of crypto equipment in telecom vehicles.
There is another vehicle collector who is active on the BRD Forum, Jens, and he will probably add his comments in due time.

Regards,

Gordon

[steve 82]

Unimog 404

Hi,

As promised, here are a few additional shots of the Unimog.

I also attach an extract from one of my articles from my web-page on the truck - which explains a little more background (and saves me haveing to re-gurgitate the same info !). Hope you find it of interest.

__________________________________________________ ________

The HF-Teletype Version of the Unimog 404:

The principal function of the HF/teletype troop was to provide telegraphy, teletype and telephony communications between the front-line NATO units, field Company HQ (CHQ) , and NATO HQ in Brussels between the early 1960`s and the early 1970`s.

Operated by the German, Belgian and Dutch armies, the equipment comprised the s404 Unimog truck with radio equipment, a purpose built 1-tonne trailer carrying a generator and masts, and associated crew of 2 specialists.

With an operating range of between 1.5 and 24 MHz, official figures quote the system as capable of transmitting up to 100W output on teletype (up to 400 km), 100W output on Morse (global) and, 35W on speech (officially about 50 km, but proven to 200km and beyond by the writer in the UK). I also understand that latterly, the Belgian Army also employed a large floor-mounted combined 400W transmitter (SK050 ?) which increased overall performance. During operation of the larger transmitter, I have heard it was possible to light a bulb by standing near the antenna….fried brain comes to mind….


The system was capable of different modes of transmission which included :

A1…………………..CW - Morse
A1 / A2……………..CW - Morse
A3…………………..Speech
F1 / s / D……………RTTY

Basic equipment included the Rohde & Schwarz SK010 100W transmitter and Siemens E309 receiver, which was `married` with the Siemens FSE1300 RTTY modulator/demodulator and Siemens T100 teletype unit. The teletype equipment operated on a frequency shift of 1300Hz which contrasts with the 170-200Hz currently used by most radio amateurs in the UK, and the 850Hz used with some US and French military equipments.

Antennae configurations varied according to tactical requirements. Where circumstances allowed, the preferred option was to use an end-fed long wire antenna (30m) – suspended between a mast and the truck and oriented (angling 30 degrees downwards) towards the desired direction of transmission. This greatly improved the quality and range of telegraphy and teletype transmissions. Otherwise, whip antennae were employed – length varying between 3 and 7m depending upon the selected transmission frequency.

The vehicle was served by a permanent crew of two radio specialists (who acted as driver/co-driver), which after set-up, were joined by an officer (for code handling), and another soldier as a runner / security – as required.

The principal radio equipment required a 220V / 50Hz ac supply, which was delivered from a 2kVa Siemens generator mounted in the trailer. Only the tactical receiver (R77) and main Siemens E309 receiver (through a voltage converter) were capable of operating from the 24V on-board battery supply – which was re-charged from the external 220V supply and not from the vehicles electrical system.

__________________________________________________ _____



I restored this particular 1964 truck around 9 years ago, although the radio-fit took a little longer to complete..... Eventually, I restored the complete system to operational status and have used it since around 2004 to broadcast AM speech, some CW (Morse) and a little RTTY (teletype) to stations all over UK and Europe (in the case of the RTTY).

Being based in Worcestershire, I tend to frequent local military radio meetings and camp-outs. Am aiming to attend some NATO re-enactments this year,but, the vehicle is particularly heavy on fuel - which limits my radius of operation.

Unimog with whip antennae configuration and generator-trailer


Unimog and trailer


Unimog + 80m dipole antenna


1.5T Unimog Trailer


Siemens 2kVa generator in the trailer


Unimog covered with 1970`s cam net during a military radio event


Will dig-out some other pics of my VW181 soon.

Cheers

Steve W

[Gordon Craig]

Steve W,

Impressive photos. Looking forward to the ones on the 181.
Re your story on lighting the light bulb next to the antenna rings a bell. One of the larger radio trucks I worked on, the ANGR 26, had bare lines running along the wall from the transmitter to the the antenna coupler next to the door of the pod. To remind oursleves of the high RF voltage on these lines we used to hang a flourescent tube above the lines. When the transmitter was on the flourescent tube would light!

Regards,

Gordon

[Asbjoern]

Hello Steve! Also my wellcome on the BRD forum !

Nice to see early BW vehicles restored to such a clean and operational condition ! Congratulation for the work you`d carried out. I´m the guy gordon mentioned... owning - beside some BW mototcycles from 1956 to 1970 - also a smaller BW truck, a LKW o,75 ton Borgward B 2000. Somewhere in this forum you can find a picture...not to compare with your cars as it is not restored yet. I´ll hope to get it in the condition of your Mog in the next 10 years ...

For reenacting the early BW it will be hard to find people even here in germany ... during the last years there may be a trend to collect BW stuff, yes, and some Reservisten try to build up displays on several events, but that is far away from reeacting or living history! But I think this will also develop in the next years ... at the moment there are first attemps to reprouce the early stuff so even the first 10 years maybe displayed some days...

Regards,

Jens

[steve 82]

Thank you Jens.

I have made many Dutch and German friends over the years while restoring my vehicles and, we normally meet up each year at Beltring in the UK (July). Your vehicles sound great, and it will be great to see them as they progress. I know what you mean about long term restorations - we only have so much time and money !

If ever you intend coming over to Beltring let me know, and we could meet-up for a beer (or two!)

All the best,

Steve

[Asbjoern]

Yes, some days I´ll come to beltring ... up to now I only managed to join the Battle of Hastings reenactments in 2000 and 2006...but as the ferry tickets where sponsored these visits where even to short to see the bovington museum which is not so far away from battle abbey...

If there is a reasonable progress in the restoration of the B 2000 `ll post pictures...

Regards,

Jens

[Guardian 5]

Steve - Thanks for providing the additional photos. What an education!

Your attention to detail and craftsmanship is beyond compare. When are we going to see a feature article on you in Military Machines or Classic Military Vehicle?

Thanks again - TJ

[steve 82]

1974 VW181 - Radio car

Thanks for all the compliments on the vehicles. Really though, there are many great restorations out there, and I hope others come forward with pics of their work. Its just a shame that more do not restore ex BW vehicles !

Anyhow, here are a few of my 1974 VW181 Radio car. Equipped with the SEM 25, have used it on air for over 10 years. Must get some better pics of the radio fit.

Cheers

Steve W
Kidderminster, UK

side view


side view


top view


Radio fit


VW82 + VW181 race !


VW181 with Anti glare covers


My two Kubels (VW82 just before restoration)

[Hugh Zillmann old]

Hello Steve,

Very impressive.

What condition was it in when you got it? Have you had difficulty getting parts? I'm particularly impressed with the radio. Mine has the set, but it's only a shell.

I'm currently on the 'horns of a dilemna', as mine is in need of some serious rust treatment, which will result in the need for a repaint. Given my location, the prospect of shipping parts and paint from the Northern Hemisphere is not a task I look forward to.

Cheers,

Hugh

[steve 82]

Hi Hugh,

I have always aquired my BW vehicles through German contacts who pre-select them from surplus auctions (VEBEG). This costs a little more at the start, but I end-up with a good base vehicle. Apart from the occasional corrosion (battery area etc) and, where the BW-applied underseal has failed, my VW181 was largely corrosion free. However, a considerable body preparation phase was required and, I then had a friend do a complete respray (the original RAL colour in my opinion is not that difficult to replicate).

I have since then taught myself to spray (purchased my own equipment and set up a simple spray-booth in a barn), and would recommend that route as it is cheaper if you plan on doing it more than once (or possibly cheaper than a pro doing it once in some instances !).

As for sources of parts - generally OK (mechanical beetle, pan- Karmann Ghia), though certain body parts are becoming more difficult (the front grille for instance). Unfortunately, I do not know any dealers in your neck of the woods, but can email you a couple of contacts if you like.

Very reliable and fun cars overall (assuming correct maintenance of course)

Hope that helps,

Steve

p.s. am suprised you have been unable to aquire a working SEM25 - they were all the rage a few years back - probably fetch 80-120 Euros these days (thats the transceiver only)