Alongside the standard PLCE webbing sets were a number of specialist rucksacks and carriers for particular pieces of equipment. Radios were one of those items that needed specialist carriers and tonight we have an example of the rucksack issued for use with the 320, 350, 351, 352 and Cougar radio systems:
This large pack is made of DPM infra-red resistant Cordua nylon and is fitted with a pair of padded shoulder straps, a padded backrest and a waist belt to help support the weight of the radio:
Zips are provided to allow two 10 litre PLCE bergan side pouches to be attached to the pack to increase capacity, and a further small pocket for a spare battery on the bottom of the front piece. This is secured with a black plastic nexus fastener and Velcro to secure the pocket flap:
The main compartment of the pack opens with a long single zip that allows the whole pack to open up into two parts. The main, padded, part has a selection of securing straps to allow the different radios to be secured inside:
With the 320 set, the radio sits above, with the battery stowed beneath:
The lid portion has a small pocket to allow a folding aerial to be stored here:
A single label is sewn inside with NSN number and details, sadly badly faded in this example:
Of all the radios carried in this rucksack, the 320 is probably the best known- part of the Clansman family of high frequency radios introduced in the mid-1970s that lasted in service until the 2000s. The 320 could be carried with a (not very) light metal frame carrier or in a rucksack such as this one which was presumably much more flexible and comfortable for use in the field. The metal GS pack frame weighed 3.5kg, this rucksack just 0.5kg so there was a clear advantage in the field to using the lighter fabric rucksack.
DPM Radio Carrier Backpack
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The valve is made of glass, silvered and painted black, with a large plastic socket on its base to allow it to be plugged into whatever electronic device it was designed for:
A /|\ mark indicates its British Army ownership and a stores code is also printed on the outside of ‘ZF8B’:
A metal spike is attached to the top of the valve, although I am unsure what its purpose would have been:
Chris Foulkes was a developer of military valves in World War Two, this is his story:
This pack features many similarities with the 44 pattern jungle webbing in use at the period, including the colour of the webbing fabric and the style of the ironmongery attached to it. The complete pack with radio looked like this example:
My thanks go to Michael Whittaker of Grandad’s Kitbag for permission to use this photograph. The front of the pack has a series of loops and buckles. Two sets of straps and buckles are fitted to the top part of the pack:
These undo and allow both sides of the top portion to open giving access to the radio itself (obviously missing here):
The back of one of these side opening flaps has a leather and celluloid pocket sewn to it, presumably for a card containing important information needed by the radio operator.
Beneath this part of the pack is another compartment:
This opens downwards and outwards to allow access:
This compartment was used to store the headsets, handsets and their associated cables needed to operate the radio. A separate aerial case was often slung over the rear to carry these components. To the rear of the pack are a pair of adjustable shoulder straps:
The weight of the radio was clearly quite considerable so a number of padded supports are sewn on to increase the operators comfort:
The only markings on the pack are a maker’s initials of ‘BLG’ and a date of 1964:
This pack is superbly well made and very complicated in design. This is the second Larkspur component I have picked up and I can see this being another radio set I will end up collecting as we go forward. I am a big fan of British military radios, unfortunately they are large and expensive so as with so many areas of my collection, this is a back burner project!
The 349 was a component of the Clansman radio system used by the British Army from the 1970s until 2010. This particular radio was for intra section communication and was a small personal radio worn in this holster on either the chest or back:
The holster is made of a dark green butyl-nylon fabric, very similar to that used on the 72 pattern webbing set. The main section of the holster is a simple square pouch that the radio slips into:
There would have originally been an elasticated cord and tab which fitted over the radio and attached to the Velcro at the top but this has been removed. The rear of the holster has a cut out to allow the user to reach the controls of the radio and a couple of pieces of padding to help cushion the wearer’s body from the corners of the radio:
Sadly this particular cover has suffered a bit over the years and the buckle for securing the chest strap has been removed, where this strap joined the rest of the cross straps a reinforced triangle of material is sewn, but the fastening strap which would have been to the right is cut off:
This originally had a tongue to go through the metal staple here:
The height of the pouch on the body is determined by a metal slide buckle:
The markings on this pouch have almost completely worn off, the fabric not holding the ink very well. You can however just make out the faint traces of an NSN number:
With Clansman being in service for so long there are a number of pouches available for the 349 radio and I have seen some DPM examples available online. With this being the case, I would guess that this is an earlier design of holster, but it seems to have remained in service alongside the radio throughout its service history.
The Army’s website describes Bowman as:
This is made of DPM camouflaged Cordua nylon, and is fitted with a large belt loop on the rear to allow it to be attached to a webbing set:
A small handle is fitted to the top of the case:
A heavy duty shoulder strap is fitted, securing at two points on each side of the case:
A heavily padded section is attached to make the LMDT more comfortable to carry (presumably it is a fairly heavy bit of kit!):
The front of the case opens up, it is secured with two black plastic Fastex fasteners:
Underneath this are a further pair of velcroed flaps that add protection to the screen of the LMDT when it is stowed away:
Finally when the case is fully opened up it looks like this:
Two elasticated straps help hold the LMDT secure, even when the case is open. NSN details are printed on the underside of the top flap:
This is a beautifully well made case, and clearly very carefully designed, with openings and flap[s all over to protect the instrument, whilst still allowing it to be easily used. At this stage it seems unlikely I will find an LMDT to fit inside the case any time soon, but these things have a habit of appearing on the surplus market in due course as equipment is upgraded so perhaps something for the future…
This pouch is made of a lightweight, but very strong Cordua nylon. Down the side of the pouch are a pair of openings that allow manipulation of the radio’s controls:
An elasticated strap is fitted to the top, with a press stud, to secure the PRR into the pouch so it does not risk bouncing out when the soldier runs:
A pair of adjustable straps with Fastex fasteners are fitted to one side of the pouch:
In service these are passed around the back of the pouch, around the shoulder strap of the soldier’s webbing and back to the front to fasten and secure the radio pouch:
The label on this pouch is very small and has no more information than an NSN number and the pouch’s use:
These radios are part of the troubled ‘Bowman’ system and the MOD ordered 45,000 of them in the late 1990s/ early 2000s. The British Army website gives the official position:
These little keys were used by signallers to tap out messages in Morse code and were normally wired up to a wireless set, which then sent out the dots and dashes as a wireless signal. Alternatively the key could be wired to a signal lamp, more on that in a few days! Examples could be made of brass, Bakelite, silver alloy or sometimes a combination of materials. This example is made of very robust brown Bakelite. It consists of a base and a spring loaded rocker arm with a large Bakelite knob at one end:
The base of the key has a stores code marked on it:
In this case it is marked ZA16929, and according to the Imperial War Museum’s online database this indicates the key was used with the Wireless Set Number 19. A second marking at the end of the key reads ‘Key WT 8 Amp No2 MK III’:
The key works by completing or breaking a circuit every time the knob is pressed down. Normally the connectors nearest the knob are broken and the ones furthest away are connected, pressing down on the knob reverses that position:
This gives a great deal of flexibility allowing the key to be used regardless of how a wireless transmitter is wired- just attach the wires from the transmitter to the relevant connectors on the key.