Production and Length of Service

1942

1942 - 1960

Frequency range

 2 - 8MHz. MO control

Transmitter RF output 

1.5W. R/T, CW

The WS22 was a general purpose low powered HF transmitter receiver intended for use by the British Army in non-armoured vehicles.  It could also be configured as a 3-man-pack load or for animal-pack use, and was also used on a transportable hand cart.

Similar in many ways to the WS19; the WS22 had an internal roller-coaster aerial tuner mounted where the WS19 had the VHF "B" set and intercom amplifier.  The front panel layout of WS22 was very similar to the original prototype WS19 MKI.   It used an external vibrator power supply to generate about 300 Volts dc from a 12 Volt battery source.

Royal Corps of Signals records show that a total of 55,000 units were manufactured by both Pye Ltd and the Mitcham Works factory of Philips Lamps during World War Two.

For certain applications requiring either moisture proofing or Airborne operation, the WS22 was replaced by the WS62.  Although it remained in service until 1960.

Following recent contact from Keith Watt RN (Rtd.) ( Call Sign : G4MSF ) I am pleased to provide a link to his fantastic web site which details his WS22 set and ancillery equipment.  Keith's set has got to be the most complete and fully operational WS22's in the UK and possibly Europe.

Many thanks indeed Keith for providing your details and permitting others to view your collection from this site.

Keith Watt's WS22 Set & Collection

Longest distance ever recorded for communications between a WS22 and WS19 Set  (Courtesy Keith Watt)