Polish Radio Technology and Equipment?

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ArmchairSamurai
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Polish Radio Technology and Equipment?

#1

Post by ArmchairSamurai » 12 Oct 2019, 05:52

Hello all. The thought just occurred to me: What radios were available to Poland in its brief skirmishes against the Germans and Soviets in 1939? I know Poland is to be credited for such things as the mine detector, walkie talkie, bomb slip and the huff duff among other things, but never have I seen or read about polish-made radio transceivers/receivers, or for that matter, polish-made cipher machines. (Yes, I am aware the Polish were the first to break the Enigma) That being said, did Poland buy its radios from other countries like France? If so, why? I have located a few publications on Polish equipment during the war, yet any mention of radios is absent. Is it that obscure a topic that is only rarely covered in the States or am I missing something? I appreciate any insight you all may offer me. Much obliged.
There are three sorts of people; those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea.

gebhk
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Re: Polish Radio Technology and Equipment?

#2

Post by gebhk » 12 Oct 2019, 08:31

Dear Armchair Samurai

A huge topic - alas radios are not airplanes or tanks or big guns (etc and in that order) so despite their significance to modern warfare, get little shrift in any army's history. I will not even try to give an in-depth answer and limit my comments to the situation in 1939. It is probably fair to say that the new-generation radios designed and produced in Poland were among the best in the world. In the opinion of many professional users, they could have quite comfortably soldiered on into the 60s before they became obsolete. However, without going into the politics of it, 'radiofication' of the army had been delayed and the Polish army was playing a desperate game of catch-up in this field from approximately 1935-36.

Broadly, radios were divided into two main categories - W (for wyzsza - higher) at the strategic and operational level and N (nizsza - lower) for the tactical level. The two classes were further subdivided into W1 (Commander in Chief); W2 (army and division); N1 (division and regiment); N2 (battalion); N3 (patrol); NS (company). It is important to understand that these are categories and not, as many people assume, the names of specific pieces of kit. The reason for this confusion is that, at least in the ground forces, there was only one type of radio in each category. Further suffixes were added depending on the mode of transport and other factors.

W1 - the production of this equipment was significantly delayed. Attempts to order abroad failed, as the major international players declined to take this project on as too advanced. The military then turned to the Polish state manufacturer PZTiR who managed to produce two prototypes - a stationary one in Warsaw and a mobile unit on 6 trucks. It had a range of functions including sound, telegraphy, teletype and B&W picture up to A5 size. It had a normal range of 500km and, depending on conditions, up to 1500km for telegraphy. Both sets were used in 1939.

W2 - none were produced due to the delays in getting the W project under way. They were substituted in armies, operational groups and divisions by older (ok ancient) sets such as the RKA (a Marconi radio modernized in Poland in a 6 horse-drawn limber and trailer configuration) of the early 20s, the RKD (a Polish-designed and built divisional radio, 6-horse drawn as above or motorised) designed at the end of the 20s or the mid-twenties RKG/A (each carried on 3 Renault MH2 trucks with specialised van bodies). All this equipment was dated and, perhaps more importantly, often unreliable due to wear and tear.

N1 - in the first phase of roll-out. Primarily designed for communication at the regiment to division level, it was also planned for other applications where a longer range was required such as cavalry, heavy artillery, motorised troops etc. Range up to 50km telegraphy and 30km sound. There were two versions: N1T (T = taczanka) and N2S (S = samochod - motorised). The N1T was transported in a two-horse limber and trailer vehicle. There were 2 versions: an early open one based on the wz 36 machine gun taczanka which was found unasatisfactory and replaced with a vehicle based on the advanced wz 37L signals chassis with enclosed cabs. The Polski Fiat 618 light truck with specialised van body was eventually chosen as motorised transport for the set, but some experimental sets mounted on the small Polski Fiat 508/518 vans were still around in 1939. Frustratingly while production of the radio equipment itself was going to plan, there were ongoing teething problems with the horse-drawn transport vehicles, so that around a 100m sets were still lying in store awaiting their vehicles when the war broke out. Only a fraction of the intended distribution was achieved and N2 radio sets were substituted in the cavalry and heavy artillery while the armour often retained its old RKD/S sets (RKD radio mounted on Polski Fiat 508 vans of various types). In the armoured units, battalion and independent company HQs were to be equipped with N1S but in the event mainly retained their old RKD/S due to shortages.

N2 - in the final stages of roll-out. Primarily designed for communication between battalion and regiment and down to company and patrol. Range up to 25 km telegraphy and 10 km sound. Various versions, including N2B (B = biedka - a one-horse, wheeled, small cart) for infantry battalions; N2T (T = taczanka, as above for N1. Virtually all were fitted to open bodies on the taczanka wz 36 chassis, but the decision had been made to mount all future production on the same vehicle as the N1 enclosed body on wz 37L chassis. A few prototypes had been built in 1939) intended for cavalry and artillery applications and N2S (vehicle mounted on Pilski Fiat 508/518 cars with specialised bodies) for motorised troops of all kinds. Virtually all infantry battalions had been issued with N2 radios (except in reserve divisions). Due to shortages of N1 sets, N2S sets were issued to the cavalry (2 per regiment), heavy artillery etc. It is reasonable to assume that this substitution delayed deliveries to the light artillery regiments (as usual, the artillery were the Cinderlella branch of the Polish military). The artillery did not receive their intended quotas (typically only 2 sets per artillery battalion received out of the 8 intended). 38 N2C (C = czolg - tank) were fitted to light tank (ie 7TP and Vickers) company and platoon commander's vehicles. A few were fitted to TKS scout tanks attached to armoured trains. Scout tank company HQs were supposed to be equipped with N2S but in the main still had their old RKD/S sets in 1939. Regardless of transportation mode, the set could be detached and carried/operated by three men. In could receive when transported in this manner but not send.

N3 - backpack radio intended for infantry patrols and a pack horse carried version for cavalry patrols. A small batch undergoing trials in 1939.

S - (S = ? specjalna - special). A backpack, single operator set for company HQs. A small batch undergoing trials in 1939. A tank version (NSC) intended for individual tanks was in preparation for going into production.


gebhk
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Re: Polish Radio Technology and Equipment?

#3

Post by gebhk » 13 Oct 2019, 15:49

Even if you don't read Polish, a visit to the rkd.prv.pl website would be useful for the pictures and diagrams

ArmchairSamurai
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Joined: 24 May 2016, 02:31
Location: Norway

Re: Polish Radio Technology and Equipment?

#4

Post by ArmchairSamurai » 14 Oct 2019, 19:44

gebhk wrote:
13 Oct 2019, 15:49
Even if you don't read Polish, a visit to the rkd.prv.pl website would be useful for the pictures and diagrams
Aha! Thank you gebhk! I am most grateful for the information you have given me. That site was most helpful too. I am trying to translate the text now.
There are three sorts of people; those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea.

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