Funker displays - Heavy weapons HQ, Normandy 1944

[Funksammler]

Funker Displays - Normandy 1944 US 101st Airborne Division radioman

Relatively light and with a range of about 3-5 kilometers, the SCR-300 “Walky-Talky” was ideally suited for use by the Airborne forces. In the early stage of the operation, the SCR-300 was the main type of radio available at regimental and battalion level, even the Divisional commander had and SCR-300 radio man with him.

Various means to deliver the radio had been devised by the Airborne troops. The riggers had made a harness to attach the set to the T-5 parachute harness during the jump, while the British made “leg-bag” was also used to jump with the heavy load. The set could also be delivered by drop container.

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Our radioman dropped last night with his “Walky-Talky” strapped to his body. He jumped with the stick of the company company commander landing in an unknown area miles from their intended DropZone. His choice to jump with the set strapped to his body had paid off as he was one of the few with a working radio, most of the leg-bags were ripped off and lost during the jump, and few of the drop containers had been recovered.

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Now he is moving carefully with some of his stick and other stragglers, trying to get towards his original DZ area. His company commander is still missing, the group is being led by a sergeant from another company. Whenever the group stops, he searches all channels, and puts out a call on the channel assigned to his company, but he has not been able to make contact yet.

Jumping with the heavy radio meant that he is only armed lightly, an M-1 folding stock carbine as a weapon for personal defence, he will have to rely on the firepower of the others in his group if they get into trouble. Now the group is on the move again, carefully moving from hedge to hedge, nerves on edge. Our radioman is using the short antenna during the march, keeping the receiver on receive on his company channel. He would need to get to open and high ground to deploy his longer whip antenna, that would increase his chances of hearing anything, but would also mean exposing himself to possible enemy observation…

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The sound of firing in the distance… the group goes to ground, peering through the hedges on both sides of the road to spot movement. Nothing… but at least somewhere ahead there are others out there… “Move out” orders the Sergeant and the group forms a single file to move along the hedge. Further west; hoping to find their division….

regards,

Funksammler

[Funksammler]

Funker Displays - Sturmgeschütz troop commander

The Sturmgeschütze were originally conceived as mobile support artillery for the infantry. As the war progressed, the Sturmgeschütze developed more towards the anti-tank role and was fitted with a long 7.5 cm gun. To not completely loose the original“soft target” capabilities, the Sturmhaubitze fitted with a 10.5 cm Howitzer remained into production alongside the Sturmgeschütze.

Operating in small groups to provide close support to the infantry, the Sturmgeschütze retained their indirect firing capability and were typically operated by the artillery arm. They were fitted with a Fu 16 VHF radio set, consisting of the Ukw.E.h and 10 W.S.h. These were similar to the standard set used in tanks, however operated on a different VHF frequency band.

Our Sturmgeschütz commander commands a section of three “Stugs” supporting the defense of a small town on the eastern front. Normally our commander is using a halftrack as an observation vehicle but now he is moving to the forward edge of the town with an infantry unit to recce on foot and find a clear observation point from where he can direct his Stugs following several hundred meters behind.

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He has decided to carry the portable Feldfu.h set himself. The Feldfu.h was a sturdier replacement for the Torn.Fu.h and like it, was designed to work on the same channels as the Fu 16 fitted in the Stugs. The Feldfu.h was developed from the Feldfu.b and c models, but working on a significantly lower frequency. This required a longer antenna which was angled backwards to reduce the overall height. The “Bandantenne 1.20 meter” could no longer be folded and stored inside a casing of the Feldfunksprecher, so a special faux-leather antenna pouch could be clipped to the D-rings of the radio.

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To protect himself, he has also taken the MP 40 from his halftrack, other than that he wears his standard “Stug” outfit. “Hier Pauke eins, Pauke zwei bitte kommen” speaks the officer… …” Hier Pauke zwei, Pauke eins kommen”… crackles the answer in his Feldfunksprecher. “Hier Pauke eins, Strasse frei, vierhunderd meter voraus”… “Hier Pauke zwie, fahren vierhunderd voraus”…. …”Pauke eins, aus”. The sound of revving engines can be heard in the distance behind. The infantrymen around him smile, they feel safe knowing they have support…..

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regards,

Funksammler

[Funksammler]

Funker displays - Normandy 1944 ,British W.S. 18 operator

The Wireless Set nr. 18 was developed in 1940 as a short range man-pack radio set with a range of about 16 km. The “18 Set” was typically used to communicate between Battalion and Company HQ. Part of the frequency spectrum of the 18 set overlaps that of the 38 set, so if need be the 18 Set can communicate directly with the platoons within the company.

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Our radio man is part of a Company HQ troop in the 6th Duke of Wellingtons, part of the 49th (Polar Bear) infantry Division. He is responsible for maintaining radio contact with Batallion HQ. He will stay close to the company commander who will use the microphone of his radio to communicate directly with Voice communication. If the radio voice radio link fails, the operator can connect his morse key and continue the transmission using Morse code. The troop is moving up to a park area near Fontenay le Pesnel behind a terrific rolling artillery barrage. Our radio man can just make out the man in front through the choking dust….

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They are fighting the fanatic “Hitlerjugend” Division and despite the British barrage, German mortar fire keeps coming in. Crashing, dust, screaming. “The old man has had it!” screams a soldier to his right. Confused and bewilered, our radio man goes to ground, what now…..

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The 6th Duke of Wellingtons were to suffer grievous losses in the Park de Boislonde area at the hands of the reconnaissance battalion of the 12th SS Division. Ultimately morale and leadership collapsed and the unit was no longer fit to fight. When this news reached Montgomery ears he was incensed, and took the unusual step of disbanding the formation.

regards,

Funksammler

[Etienne B.]

Oh boy...It keeps coming

Thanks for sharing!

Etienne

[Val]

Without words - splendid!

But next you have to get a horse

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-ph...ith-pack-horse

[oberst40]

The best collection I have ever seen!
Eye for detail

Thanks for sharing.

[Funksammler]

Funker Displays - Summer 1943, Panzergrenadier NCO with Feldfu.f

The Feldfu.f was a development of the Feldfu.h, working on the wavelength of the FU 5 tank set. As the war progressed, tank-infantry cooperation became more important, so a direct means of communication between the tanks and the accompanying infantry became an urgent requirement. Development started in 1942. Although some sources indicate that the Feldfu.f was only introduced in 1944, a number of 1943 dated Feldfu.f’s have been encountered. The one and only period photograph I have found to date of a Feldfu.f in use was taken during the “Zitadel” offensive at Kursk in the summer of 1943. It stands to reason that the Feldfu.f was first pressed into service specifically for the Kursk offensive together with other new weapons like the Panther tank.

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Also as the war progressed, it became more common for field commanders to carry and operate the Feldfunksprechers themselves. Our NCO is commanding a platoon riding into battle on the back of the tanks they support. They have been preparing and training for several weeks for this offensive and they have been issued new and powerful weapons.

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The new Panther tanks that they are riding on are formidable, but one in their group has already broken down and they have not even reached the start line yet... He has been issued a brand new Feldfunksprecher that allows him to communicate directly with the tanks. Due to the strict radio silence before their offensive they have not been able to try their radios, but he has been training with the tank crews using mock radio traffic. Apart from protecting the tanks against enemy infantry, he has to be the eyes and ears of the tanks especially keeping an eye on the flanks. He has been taught not to use the radio closer than 100 meters to the tanks, as it may cause interference with the tank’s radios.

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The NCO is carrying his full assault gear with his radio. His A-frame is clipped to the back of the radio. With his MP-40 pouches there is not enough room to clip the remote control unit of the radio to his belt, so he has attached it to his y-strap instead. As they move closer to the start line everybody checks their gear and weapons again. He wonders how well his radio will work, soon it will be time to use it in anger…..

regards,

Funksammler

[Funksammler]

Funker Displays - Normandy July 44, Flak gun rangefinder

Maybe not quite a radio operator but communication was important in the Flak batteries so crewmembers would connect their headsets to the gun's intercom system.

On 18 July 1944 Montgomery launched the massive Goodwood offensive on the eastern flank of Caen. The German defences were organised in depth, with the 88mm Flak guns placed to protect the rear lines. Our Flak gunner is part of a battery of four guns placed in a small town called Cagny.

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Today our Flak gunner has witnessed a massive bombardment with an awe-inspiring stream of heavy bombers coming over. All around him the bombs rained down, throwing up the dust. They opened fire on the aircraft but they kept coming wave after wave. How they survived this onslaught he does not know, but somehow the bombs missed their position. They wanted to withdraw but a furious army officer had told them to stay put and train their gun on the tank attack soon expected. The battery’s commander had protested but the army officer pulled his gun threatening to shoot him so he had given in.

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Now he is watching movement on the horizon through his rangefinder. “Panzer, Entfernung 2400!” he reports. He is wearing a Flak headset connected to the intercom box on his 88 mm Flak gun. At least he can hear his crewmenbers clearly over the din of battle and during the firing of his gun.

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He watches through his rangefinder as the tanks move closer “Entfernung 2000!” he reports. A crack and a flash of light as his gun fires. He watches as the leading tank is hit. It shudders to a halt and black smoke start billowing from the commander’s hatch. A second tank moves into view… “Panzer links, Entfernung 1900”. Another crack and another tank shudders to a halt… Still they keep coming, how will they survive this?.....

regards,

Funksammler

[PanzerElite]

i have a funker who got dkig, and document showing interesting things.

[Rogerd]

Wonderfull collection!
And nice writing, you should write a book

[la5he@yahoo.no]

I thought you had an impressive collection when I visited you some years ago, but this is in a different "League" !
Congratulations
rgds Ragnar