HistoryPhD | 23 Apr 2014 3:55 p.m. PST |
A little advice in this British AFV please. Was this communications vehicle deployed at the brigade level? Divisional? What was it's exact function? The Internet yields only the general "communications" label. Thanks everyone. |
nickinsomerset | 23 Apr 2014 11:34 p.m. PST |
Wavell was a battlefield computer system "laptop" that was definitely squaddie proof. We used the system for the production of Int Reports, INTSUMs etc and after typing a few pages ones fingers were like Popeyes biceps! Found at Corps, Div and Bde HQs in the 80s, not sure how long it lasted but certainly gone by Telic 1. Perhaps give these chaps a shout – link It could also be used for chocking panzers on rail flats! Tally Ho! |
nickinsomerset | 24 Apr 2014 2:24 a.m. PST |
Also: link If I remember the Wavell panzer had a huge great box on the back over the morter hatches, Tally Ho! |
HistoryPhD | 24 Apr 2014 5:52 a.m. PST |
Thanks very much! How many would be deployed together? Were they deployed as a troop? |
Fatman | 24 Apr 2014 7:20 a.m. PST |
As far as I am aware at least one of the FV432's employed in the HQ of units of Brigade or higher would have an FV 435 computer system fitted. FV435 is not the designation for a vehicle it is for the actual system fitted in the vehicle it could also be fitted to other command vehicle, soft skins and Saxons for instance. Of course if a designation system wasn't supposed to cause confusion they wouldn't leave it up to the Ministry of Defence. Fatman |
HistoryPhD | 24 Apr 2014 7:32 a.m. PST |
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Cambria5622 | 26 Apr 2014 3:43 a.m. PST |
Mmm
We always referred to our FV43 variants as FV436. I've always assumed that the FV436 was the purpose built C2 variant which was supplemented by others that were converted from FV432s. As Nick says, the Wavell was a robust battlefield computer system that was networked within the HQ complex and linked to other HQs to form a transportable battlefield WAN. There were approximately a dozen FV436 in a Div HQ provided by a R Sigs Sqn. (And another Sqn fm the Div Sig Regt provided another mirror-image alternate HQ.) |
nickinsomerset | 26 Apr 2014 1:10 p.m. PST |
[/URL] The panzers at the front are the complex panzers that form the HQ complex (As Cambria says this will be mirrored in another Sqn) Those at the back will be the "comms" with Ptarmagon, a Wavell truck etc. Tally Ho! |
HistoryPhD | 26 Apr 2014 6:19 p.m. PST |
Very cool photo!! Thanks!! |
Formerly 298TYR | 27 Apr 2014 11:14 a.m. PST |
Nice picture Nick – I was a member of 3 Div Sigs myself for a while but was down at Paderborn with TFE / 33 Armd Bde. No "Swingers" at this time then ? |
nickinsomerset | 27 Apr 2014 2:39 p.m. PST |
I moved to Paderborn from Soest in 86 looking splendid in my green beret! Tally Ho! |