[MRCA] Tubular Cable Driven Mobile Tower

[Ken Downs]

Back in the late 1980's when I retired from the U.S. Army we were phasing out the Hawk air defense missile system and moving to the Patriot system. The Hawk and its predecessors used lots and lots of cables to link the various radars and missile launchers with the control van. With Patriot, all the cables disappeared, replaced by RF data links. The various launchers, control van, and radar were all linked wirelessly, and each of these had a vehicle-mounted mast to support the data antenna. I believe our masts were pneumatic, but I may be wrong. Anyway, Germany and other NATO countries now have Patriot systems too, built somewhat differently from ours, using military vehicles of their design. Perhaps that is where your mast originated. Just an educated guess. Look for the word "Luftwaffe" on the mast. The Germans put their air defense missiles in their air force; ours are in the army. "FlAb" ("Flug Abwehr" - air defense) might be there too. These markings might not make it down to an antenna support system, but it's worth a look.
Ken, W1KRT
On Nov 3, 2013, at 11:22 PM, J.Gordon Beattie, Jr., W2TTT wrote:

Hi Folks!

I have a cable-driven military tower that is 20+ feet in length when extended, but it has no markings except in German.  They are purely directional labels with words like, “Auf” stamped on the side of the drive mechanism.  
 
The tower has an internal cable drive system and a gearbox that was originally motorized.  When I got it, I had a ½ ratchet drive welded onto the shaft.  It is really cool, to be able to raise and lower a tower in about two minutes of easy ratcheting!
 
It seems that it was mounted through a roof.  There is a mounting ring at the top of the base section where there are the remains of a rubber gasket.
 
I have never been able to find another one and would love to see what it will cost me if I ever want to have another on a vehicle.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what it is and where it was used?   
 
Thanks & 73,
Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
201.314.6964
 
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