Can someone identify the radios in the Steyr?

[SpookyDad]

Can someone help me identify the radios in the Steyr in the photo?

Is that a Fusprech F sitting on top? Both vehicles seem to have the same radios. Is that correct?

[Funksammler]

It's not very clear, but the unit next to the soldier's arm seems to be a Lautsprechgereate LSG (Fu) b. This, together with the reference to Stug.Brig 236 make it possible that it is the Fu 16 set (10 W.S.h + Ukw.E.h) on the bottom with the LSG and a battery strapped on top. Could be something else though....

regards,

Funksammler

[Yuri D.]

I think you're right Funksammler! The grey wrap-around jacket worn by the soldier in the picture is an assault-gun type or the early Stug wrap-around. What does the flag mean on the fender of the auto?

Yuri

[SpookyDad]

The Tactical symbol is for A StuG III unit. The 2 would indicate 2nd Kompanie

The Centaur on the fender means it is StuG.Abt.236: Formed in May of 43 it served as part of Army Group South in Russia. StuG.Brigade in 04/44 - 08/44 South Ukraine - Romania 44/45

SpookyDad

[SpookyDad]

Does anyone have a picture of the Lautsprechgereate LSG (Fu) b?

We have now pretty much determined that a friend of mine's Steyr was a radio vehicle. I am trying to put together a list of equipment for the vehicle. I am thinking that a standard Kfz 17 radio vehicle listing would be a good place to start.

He would like to set it up as a vehicle attached to a Panzer Recon battalion so the Stug specific radios wouldn't be correct. What would be most likely?

Neil

[Yuri D.]

http://www.battlefrequencies.com/acc.../lsg_fu_b.html

[Funksammler]

The Steyr would be classified as a Kfz 15 Funkkraftwagen. Radio installations would typically be Torn.Fu's but they could be fitted with alternatives by the troops.

Reconaissance units would typically use Fu 8 or Fu 12 sets ,but the antenna requirements for this set make it unlikely that they would have been fitted to the 15. I vagueliy remember seeing a picture of a Kfz 15 with the frame antenna of a reconnaisance car fitted to the top, but this would be exceptional. I have seen pictures of the Fu 5 set used in Kfz 15 attached to armoured units so perhaps that is your best bet.

The Kfz 17 is a more specialised vehicle designed to carry heavier sets like the Fu 9, Fu 11, Fu 24 and as Kfz 17/1 the Fu 6 or 7. Not only was the 17 fitted with larger antennas (frame antenna + Kurbelmast), but it also had a heavy alternator and extra battery to power the sets.

regards,

Funksammler

[SpookyDad]

So would the Steyr have a side mounted antenna? I have seen pictures of an antenna mounted on a Horch and a Kubelwagen.

This body has an access door in the side of the rear stowage area. It is fairly large so my first guess is to allow the easy stowage of a kurbelmast. It would also allow access to the larger and heavier radio cases. The rear stowage area is also about 6" longer than a typical Steyr.

On the dash is the mounting holes for an electrical noise suppression system. I will have to check and see if the batteries and alternator/generator are larger than normal.

Neil

[Funksammler]

The Kfz 15 Funkkraftwagen was fitted with a side mounted antenna base, the same was fitted to the Kfz 2 version of the Kuebelwagen and also to the Kfz 17/1.

I think it is unlikely that they wouold have carried a Kurbelmast stored in the boot, it is a big and heavy item and only has a benefit if it is fitted where it can used immediately. To build antenna's they typically carried Steckmast pipes. In the Kfz 15 Horch these are fitted diagonally under the boot, there is a little hatch on the bottom left to access the antenna storage area. (This feature is present on most Kfz 15 replica bodies you see today as the pattern for the copies was a radio version).

If the Steyr has extra doors at the back, maybe it was a Kfz 23 "Fernsprechkraftwagen". Originally these were build on the chassis of the "Schwere Horch" which was later in the war replaced by the cheaper and simpler Steyr chassis.

Can you post some pictures of the vehicle?

regards,

Funksammler

[SpookyDad]

It definately isn't a Kfz 23. The extra openings are not extra doors. They look like the openings for the steckmast in the Kfz 17 but about 30cm tall.

I am going to try and get a couple of pictures tomorrow.

SpookyDad

[SpookyDad]

Here are the promised photos:



The angled back panel (supporting the rear seatback) is forward of the usual position. Normally you can see part of the rear wheel well. The access to the rear stowage area has a door and all the other doors are present. They are currently being repainted.



The flat opening is large enough to accomodate a spare wheel. Part of it would be under the passenger seat. With the back panel being moved forward, there is no room for a bench seat in the middle like the troop carrier version. It is the perfect size for a radio bench with a fold down shelf.

[SpookyDad]

I have been told via pm that this isn't likely to be a real Steyr body.

I spoke to the owner and he told me it was purchased from a well known Steyr collector and has been authenticated as an original frame. They are 95% certain it is genuine.

The sheetmetal that is on the frame currently is less than 10 years old but the frame itself is of wartime vintage. I am aware that the bodies were made of wood. There are a lot of wood components not shown in the picture that are part of the collection.

So if you have any comments, please feel free to offer them as you won't hurt my feelings if you don't think it is a radio vehicle.

Neil