Funkwagen Kfz 17 with FU 11 SE 100

[Funksammler]

Here is Sd.Ah.25 that has been for sale for a while: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1940s-WWII-G.../170925794878?

regards,

Funksammler

[F.Knieriemen]

Thanks! While searching I found this one earlier on their web page, wasn't aware it's for sale - but, the price is too high especially as I've to consider to get it over to Europe... My wife would kill me...
Anyway I gonna drop the guy a note if he's willing to negotiate a bit

[Funksammler]

Kfz 17 with FU19SE15

One equipment variety used in the Kfz 17 which I forgot to mention earlier was the FU19SE15 using the15 W.S.E.a or b.

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/?action=view&amp;current=307M.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/307M.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The 15 W.S.E.b works on higher frequencies (3 - 7.5 Mhz) than the usual Long wave equipment. Still the "Long Wave" antenna configuration of the Kfz 17 was used. Instead of a top loaded "star" antenne, they would place a 1.5 meter rod antenna on top of the Kurbelmast. Together with the feeding wire this would form a rod antenna sticking up into the air. The following picture shows the use of a slightly shorter feed wire (6 meter), but for the lower frequencies the longer 7.5 m feedwire would be used:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/?action=view&amp;current=B6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/B6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The 15 W.S.E.b uses a rather complicated power supply setup in vehicle configuration. The receiver is fed by a E.W.e vibrating power supply while the transmitter is fed from a U15. The two cables from the two power supplies are combined using the K.V.15 "Kabelverteiler":

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/?action=view&amp;current=307K.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/307K.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

An interesting detail is that the U15 is placed on a special bracket so that it can use the same fixing points as the U100 under the table in the vehicle. (the same was done with the U20 in the Kfz 17/1):

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03980.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC03980.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

On the move using the roof antenna, the FU19SE15 would have a range of 10 km using voice, 30 to 40 km using morse. In fixed position using the Kurbelmast, the range for voice was 25 to 30 km while with morse the range was extended to 40 to 60 km. All these figures apply to the groundwave.

For these higher frequencies the signal bounces off layers in the upper atmosphere so the so-called skywave can reach much further. On voice this skywave can reach between 300 and 1000 km while morse can reach between 150 to 1500 km! (The range between the maximum groundwave and the minimum skywave distance is called the "skip zone" in which no signal can be received).

With due consideration of the particularities of shortwave communication, the FU19SE15 provided a very flexible communication system. The high range of the skywave however required the operators to heed the "Feind hoert mit!" warning at all times.

regards,

Funksammler

[Yuri D.]

Indeed an excellent explanation. Looks like the U15 and U20 share the same base. Does it also fit the U10 base or is that smaller?

[Funksammler]

The bracket will fit the baseplate for the U15, U20 and U30. I also have a different addaptor plate for the U5. I think the U80 has the same footprint as the U100, so it should fit under the table without bracket.

Possibly there was a different bracket for the U10, but I have not encountered it (either in literature or in the fliesh). There wasn't an official version of the Kfz 17 carrying the Fu5 set so I suspect that it would have been field made if it existed.

regards,

Funksammler

[Oscha]

Funksammler,

Amazing! Thank you for showing it.

Brad

[cTapocTa]

What is Kfz 17 weight and max load?

[Olivier V.]

Beautifull Kfz 17 Funksammler, congratulations and good luck on finding any missing bits remaining!
Amazing thread, thank you for sharing.

Regards, Olivier..

[Funksammler]

What is Kfz 17 weight and max load?

Empty Weight: 2,8 Ton
Max load: 970 Kg
Max total weight: 3750 Kg

Not a ligthweight exactly!

Once I get Photobucket to work again I will post a nice picture of an original railway weight label for the Kfz 17.

regards,

Funksammler

[Funksammler]

Here is an relic doorskin with an example of the weight label for the kfz 17 (I picked up this photo somewhere on the internet):

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/?action=view&amp;current=7funkwagen.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/7funkwagen.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

As typical, this label was stenciled on the left front door. Interestingly you can see an earlier stencil (in white) which was probably applied on top of the original grey colour. After the vehicle had been overpainted in tan camouflage they re-applied the label in black.

Also note the 50 Km maximum speed label. I was told that this font is typically French, so chances are that the doorskin came from a vehicle involved in the Normandy battles. I can attest to the 50 kmh maximum speed, above about 50 kmh the high profile tires cause significant oscillations in the steering wheel. Hopefully increasing the tire pressure will suppress this somewhat, but I don't think it is ever going to be a fast vehicle!

regards,

Funksammler

[anders1940]

wow

Agree with all the rest.,amasing

[cTapocTa]

Thank you very much for sharing this information!

[charly]

wONDERFUL vehicle Funksammler!!

And a very very very long and quiet researchs to find many originals parts or information!

at see your pictures "poses"(shoot) i suppose your a modeller kit too,no?

i never see your vehicle in france in exhibits,
i know only the opel blitz radio and his kubel radio of René L. (good friend of me)

I restore actually a kubelwagen Kfz 2/2 Na Fernsprechwagen with some help of René L./René D and Robert S. (3 "olds" frenchs collectors vehicles owners)

Traduction Francaise (sry i'm better in my language)

Ta restauration est absolument superbe!!!!!!!! et exactement comme je les aimes,c'est-à-dire que ton véhicule est aussi garni de ses accessoires!!!
Un véhicule rare dans cette version de nos jours!!

Je regrette de ne l'avoir jamais vu dans un rassemblement
Les seuls vehicules radios interressant que je connaisse sont l'Opel blitz et la Kubelwagen de René L.(un tres bon copain)

Pour ma part, je restaure actuellement un kubel fernsprechwagen,la version "pose de lignes téléphonique" avec l'aide et les conseils avisés de 3 "anciens" collectionneurs:René L./René D. et Robert S. qui m'ont beaucoup aidés dans la recherche de certaines pieces et de leurs conseils.

Peut etre aurons nous le plaisir de se rencontrer
Charly

[roger_m]

Funksammler, I am speachless, what a beauty. And the attention to detail is incredible. Amazing. No words.

Where did you found it? And how was she when found? In what condition? Thanks.

[Funksammler]

When I found the car, it was mechanically complete and more or less in running condition, but the body needed a lot of work. I have no early history but typically surviving Kfz 17's were used in the early postwar years as emergency response vehicles or fire trucks, so the body was probably modified for this purpose at that time. It was first restored in Germany in the 1980's after which it was sold to a large French collector who kept it unchanged until I bought it five years ago.

This is the car with a partly restored body and the chassis/bonnet in as-found condition:

<a href="http://s672.beta.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC01308_zpscc4957ba.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC01308_zpscc4957ba.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>

I had a good collection of original body parts and interior parts which we could use in the restoration of the body and interior, sometimes the condition of the wood was poor but we could use it as patterns. A lot of these parts come from a vehicle that was left behind in the Falaise pocket so at least there is some Normandy history in my car.....

Fortunately all the metal work on the car was in good condition and mechanically very little had to be done.

regards,

Funksammler