[Milsurplus] tank radio skip?

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <WA5CAB at cs.com>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] tank radio skip?


> In the reference that I cited (TM-E 30-451), as well as the earlier 1943 
> edition which I also have the standard antenna listed for most of the German 
> vehicular sets other than the low VHF sets used in the tanks is described as "roof 
> antenna".  Some also list a vertical, with the note "when stopped".  FWIW.

One might wonder, if the "roof antenna"  ( or  maybe call it a "pipe rack" antenna-
-thanks, Geoff ) was used for NVIS, why the German forces later abandoned it in
favor of top-loaded vertical masts. If on the other hand, it was simply a ground
wave type antenna, when stationary, cranking up the mast would give an increase
in range with the SAME propagation mode.
I recall reading some account of German WW2 tank combat, and i was struck by
how fragile the normal (vhf) antenna was, how easily busted off or often blasted off
by shrapnel.  A mast antenna ( this for the LF/MF and low HF, i mean ) would certainly 
be easier to stock as spares, and  faster to replace in the field.
I was thinking about the genesis of the pipe rack antenna,  i don't know if this is
how it came about, but i recalled that car radio antennas from the earliest days
kinda followed this kind of configuration - curved or folded back wires quite close
to the vehicle's body surface. -Hue