On 07/02/15 11:14, FranK Turner-Smith G3VKI wrote:
"Spike" wrote in message
...

There was an adaptation of the WS19 (I think it was the WS32) that
used FM instead of AM, to test the use of FM on the battlefield. I
guess it was unsuccessful or other considerations mitigated against
it, because it wasn't adopted in that form, but some manpack sets and
WS19 candidate replacements were FM. I think that only about 100 WS32
were made.

To ensure compatibility it would have been necessary to swap all the
military AM radios to FM at the same time.
The middle of a global war is not the time to make changes on that
scale, especially as the advantages of doing so seem minimal.

I'm not sure that would have been a problem. New units would equip and
train with the new equipment, and then be sent to the front, replacing
those with older gear who would be retrofitted during their rest and
refit time. Units operated tactically, individual tanks talking to each
other and back to their own HQ. Comms between HQs (Company to Battalion
to Division, etc) would have been a simpler affair as far less radio
sets were involved.

And! Don't forget even the 32 set included CW, Signaller/Gunners were
trained in the mode, so there was interoperability built into the
system. Also, the 32 set RT was was AM/FM selectable, and physically and
electrically compatible - a line-replaceable unit.


--
Spike

"Hard cases, it has frequently been observed, are apt to introduce bad
law". Judge Rolfe