British Wireless Systems
The Royal Navy started using wireless telegraphy in a network of land- and ship-based installations starting around 1900. Their hardware evolved rapidly along a number of lines.
Tunes
The earliest sets in 1902 had a fixed single frequency. A second was introduced in 1903 which was dubbed "B" as the first was named "A".
By 1907, the following set of "tunes" was being supported variously by different hardware and doctrine of use:[1]
- "A" (perhaps disused?)
- "B" (perhaps disused?)
- "D", 700 feet
- "Q" (a commercial wave in less general use)
- "R" 2,500 feet
- "S", 3,300 feet
- "T", 4,200 feet
- "U", 5,000 feet
By 1908, the following changes were made:[2]
- "P" 1,000 feet (a commercial wave in general use) was added
- "V" and "W" 6,500 feet waves added, as provided in the International Convention
- "X" ~10,000 feet, "Y" ~13,000 feet and "Z" 14,000 feet for high power stations
Service Gear Mark I
Developed by Captain H. B. Jackson, these early systems were functional but generally regarded as inferior to contemporary systems crafted by Marconi. They were known as "Jackson" equipment before the advent of Service Gear Mark II.
Soon after 1907, improvements allowed these to transmit between 700 and 6,500 feet wavelength, though 1,000 was generally the bottom end used, as the "D" tune at 700 feet required switching in additional condensers by one of two methods. The sets could transmit "Q", "R", "S", "T" and "U" tunes.[3]
Service Gear Mark I*
By 1908, these sets could transmit to the following vessels over the given ranges in miles at day/night:[4]
Receiving Ship Types | "D" tune | "P" tune | "Q" tune | "S", "U", "W" tunes |
---|---|---|---|---|
T.B.D. parent ships, Battleships, 1st class Cruisers |
100/200 | 150/300 | 200/400 | 150/250 |
2nd class Cruisers | 80/160 | 120/240 | 160/320 | 120/200 |
3rd class Cruisers | 70/140 | 105/210 | 140/280 | 105/175 |
Scout Cruisers | 60/120 | 90/180 | 120/240 | 90/150 |
Between 27 April and 8 May, 1909, Furious and Vernon tested and achived 300 miles by day and 500 by night on tunes "Q" to "W" at 2.4 Kw power. It was thought that small ships would do 200/400 miles.[5]
Marconi Gear
Signor Marconi's equipment was developed in a collegial competition alongside the early Jackson gear. When the two systems did not prove identical, the Marconi systems almost always proved superior.
Service Gear Mark II
By 1901, the early Jackson gear was refined in Vernon into a "Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus, Mark II" thought to be more nearly equal to the Marconi design. Fifty-two such sets were ordered, and known by their serial numbers.[6]
By 1908, these sets could transmit to the following vessels over the given ranges in miles at day/night:[7]
Receiving Ship Types | "P" tune | "Q" tune | "S", "U", "W" tunes |
---|---|---|---|
Battleships, 1st class Cruisers | 200/400 | 400/800 | 500/800 |
2nd class Cruisers | 160/320 | 320/640 | 400/640 |
3rd class Cruisers | 140/280 | 280/560 | 350/560 |
Scout Cruisers | 120/240 | 240/480 | 300/480 |
The great virtue of the system was thought to be how easily its musical note overcame atmospheric interference. Indomitable steamed to Quebec soon after completion and this provided a good opportunity to test her radio communication to the matching Mark II set in Vernon. The longest ranges at night were 1,400 miles on "Q", "R" and "S", while by day "S", "T" and "U" delivered 730 miles. "S", "T", "U", "V" and "W" gave consistently greater ranges than "Q" and "R" by day, but by night "Q" and "R" carried further than the longer wave lengths. No tuning did as well during the day as the worst tuning did at night. The general conclusion was that 100 miles by night and 500 by day was assured.[8]
In 1909, ideas were being bandied about to try to afford a reduced range mode of use for the transmitters. The best solution found was to employ a "Full"/"Reduced" switch to introduce an additional impedance coil.[9]
"C" Tune Gear
The "C Tune Sets" are mentioned in the Wireless Appendix of Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1906. They shared some common traits with Service Mark II sets, but the name itself did not refer to a particular frequency.[10][11]
In 1906, these could transmit only on "S", "T" and "U" tunes. It appears that "W" became feasible later, and "T" support may have been withdrawn. Ten ships and two shore stations were slated to receive these in 1906:[12]
- Exmouth
- Albemarle
- King Edward VII
- Hindustan
- Dreadnought
- Good Hope
- Drake
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Devonshire
- Argyll
- Angle
- Scilly
By 1908, these sets could transmit to the following vessels over the given ranges in miles at day/night:[13]
Receiving Ship Types | "S", "U", "W" tunes |
---|---|
Battleships, 1st class Cruisers | 250/500 |
2nd class Cruisers | 200/400 |
3rd class Cruisers | 175/350 |
Scout Cruisers | 150/300 |
By 1908, the equipment was still in most of the 10 ships listed in 1906. Albemarle seems to have lost hers:[14]
All nine were replaced by Service Mark II systems in 1909, or were to be when they next came in "for large refit".[15] They could transmit on "S", "U" and "W" tunes at least.[16]
Destroyer Set
These generally could transmit on "D" (700 feet) and monitor "D" and other wavelengths up to 6,500 feet (through "U", at least).
By 1908, these were judged capable of sending on "D" to any ship over 50 miles by day and 60 by night.[17]
By the end of 1909, all new destroyers were being fitted with these and 45 sets were at sea.[18]
By the end of 1909, 43 destroyers were fitted. Those equipped in 1909 were Kale, Ghurka, Crusader, Colne, Amazon, Nubian, Coassack, Saracen, Mohawk, Tartar and Maori.[19]
Short Distance Set
A low-power short distance set was desired to supplant flag signalling. By the end of 1909, 11 sets had been purchased for installation and trial.[20]
They were to be allocated to Dreadnought, Bulwark, Africa, Bellerophon, King Edward VII, Vernon, Lord Nelson, Hibernia, Agamemnon, and Dominion with one set in reserve, to be installed behind armour and near the fore bridge when next the ships came in for refit.[21]
Airship Wireless Set
It was designed in 1909[22] to the design criteria of lightness, safety of operation near explosive gases and a range of 300 miles. It weighed in at 500 pounds.[23]
Telephony
A De Forest Wireless Telephone Set was purchased and tried in Vernon in 1909. Success did not come quickly or easily. Long waves of 20,000 feet were needed, and though 10 miles was achieved, reliability proved elusive even at short ranges. A Poulsen system was also abandoned. A Service set in Good Hope was adapted to employ some De Forest principles over the "S" tune. Atmospherics less than feeble easily overwhelmed its signal.[24][25]
An American system invented by a Francis Joseph McCarthy was reported on from the United States. It was observed to work clearly at 1,200 yards, and was covered by U.K. patents 8,324 of 1906 and 5,532 of 1907.It was noted as bearing some similarity to a system previously offered by Lieutenant Crauford.[26]
Royal Navy pursuit of wireless telephony by arc transmitters was abandoned in 1909.[27]
Portable Set
The portable (or Type P.) set was described in 1909 and nine were to be available for issue by May 1910. They were to be allocated two sets to the Senior Flagships of the Mediterranean Fleet and the First Division and Second Division, Home Fleet. A 1.5 H.P. engine drove a 0.5 Kw alternator to make 7 amps at 70 volts and 70 cycles, stepped up to 5,000 volts, transmitting on a wavelength of 1,000 feet, the same as the "P" tune.[28]
Harbour Defence Set
The harbour defence (or Type H.D.) set was also described in 1909 and eleven were to be available for issue by May 1910, sharing much gear with the portable set. They were to be allocated three to Sheerness, four to Portsmouth, three to Devonport and one to Vernon. A 1.5 H.P. engine drove a 0.5 Kw alternator to make 7 amps at 70 volts and 70 cycles, stepped up to 10,000 volts, transmitting on a wavelength of 500 feet.[29]
Redesignation of Sets
In 1913, it was determined that radio equipment should be given distinguishing Type numbers in place of earlier appellations. The new Type Numbers were to be:[30]
- Mark II sets
- Mark I* sets
- Battleship Auxiliary (late short distance)
- Destroyer
- Portable
- Harbour Defence
- Shore Stations
- High Power Stations
- Cruiser Auxiliary
- Submarine
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907, Wireless Appendix pp. 34-41, 44.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, pp. 6, 13.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907, Wireless Appendix pp. 36-7, 57-8.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 21.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1901, pp. 105-6.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 14.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1906. Wireless Appendix, p. 15.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907. Wireless Appendix pp. 41-42.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1906. Wireless Appendix, p. 15.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1908. Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1908. p. 13.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 2.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 25.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 2.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 25.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 3.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 27.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 38.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, pp. 39-40.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, pp. 40-1.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 54.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 27.
- ↑ ARTS 1909 Wireless Appendix, p. 27.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. "306.—Wireless Telegraphy.—Type Numbers assigned to the several Installations." (N.S. 4646/13—20.6.13.) The National Archives. ADM 182/4.
Bibliography