Scaleys

I can't find a previous thread on this subject, my apologies if there is.

The recent visit we had from a couple of ex-scaleys, to install our broadband reminded me. Thinking back to '72, when we first arrived in Andersonstown, our patrols had to take a manpack radio with them, (31 set ? 32 set ?, can't remember).
After a few weeks a team of R Sigs descended on us and a couple of them would come out with us. At a series of pre arranged points they would call in to one of their mates back in the police station and the signal strengths would be recorded.
They were quite happy sitting there totally ignoring the bedlam that was going on. around them.
Not long after they'd folded their tents and gone the RE turned up to erect a radio mast and before you knew it we had radio contact with our base via a civilian system, wherever we were, even out at Aldergrove.
What unit would the R Sigs blokes be from ? We just assumed HQ NI but they must've had a parent unit.

Sorry mate, after my time..and,I never served in NI

Was it the A41 Manpack? Rubbish set if so! Didn't get there either so not sure who they would be.

Just us then, Brum?

Shelldrake wrote:

Just us then, Brum?

Our lot tended to do two year tours unless you worked with Felix. I did hear that this was a plum job, hero worship, a bit of looting etc but purely alleged of course.

Shelldrake wrote:

Just us then, Brum?

Doubt it mate, doubt it very much !

With you pair there who else was needed???

Teabag wrote:

Was it the A41 Manpack? Rubbish set if so! Didn't get there either so not sure who they would be.

A41 and they had a huge battery inside. They were bloody rubbish too !

I can remember using our C42s when going out on mobile patrol checking our radios with Slieve Croob rebro station on a regular basis.

Was that the Larkspur Pete?

Gordon. wrote:

Was that the Larkspur Pete?

Yep that's the one Gordon. We used to pick up East German taxis when around Hohne.

brum wrote:

I can't find a previous thread on this subject, my apologies if there is.

The recent visit we had from a couple of ex-scaleys, to install our broadband reminded me. Thinking back to '72, when we first arrived in Andersonstown, our patrols had to take a manpack radio with them, (31 set ? 32 set ?, can't remember).
After a few weeks a team of R Sigs descended on us and a couple of them would come out with us. At a series of pre arranged points they would call in to one of their mates back in the police station and the signal strengths would be recorded.
They were quite happy sitting there totally ignoring the bedlam that was going on. around them.
Not long after they'd folded their tents and gone the RE turned up to erect a radio mast and before you knew it we had radio contact with our base via a civilian system, wherever we were, even out at Aldergrove.
What unit would the R Sigs blokes be from ? We just assumed HQ NI but they must've had a parent unit.

Hi Brum
The system was a PYE 3 channel talk through system as clearly the A41 was not up to the job in the urban areas first in Londonderry (8 Bde Sig Sqn) a mate of mine did the trials there and Belfast (39 Bde Sig Sqn) what you saw then later province wide with a 6 channel system ran by 233 Sig Sqn HQNI Lisburn used the system myself Portadown/Newry 1978 in the infantry role very good hope this helps...beam me up Scottie
Steve

Good on yer Steve..It`s a relief someone knew.Even if you were only half a Scaley.

pete26 wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Was that the Larkspur Pete?

Yep that's the one Gordon. We used to pick up East German taxis when around Hohne.

Larkspur covered C42's C45's, C11's and probably much more. Heavy buggers.

Teabag wrote:

pete26 wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Was that the Larkspur Pete?

Yep that's the one Gordon. We used to pick up East German taxis when around Hohne.

Larkspur covered C42's C45's, C11's and probably much more. Heavy buggers.

B47/B48 too.

steve wrote:

brum wrote:

I can't find a previous thread on this subject, my apologies if there is.

The recent visit we had from a couple of ex-scaleys, to install our broadband reminded me. Thinking back to '72, when we first arrived in Andersonstown, our patrols had to take a manpack radio with them, (31 set ? 32 set ?, can't remember).
After a few weeks a team of R Sigs descended on us and a couple of them would come out with us. At a series of pre arranged points they would call in to one of their mates back in the police station and the signal strengths would be recorded.
They were quite happy sitting there totally ignoring the bedlam that was going on. around them.
Not long after they'd folded their tents and gone the RE turned up to erect a radio mast and before you knew it we had radio contact with our base via a civilian system, wherever we were, even out at Aldergrove.
What unit would the R Sigs blokes be from ? We just assumed HQ NI but they must've had a parent unit.

Hi Brum
The system was a PYE 3 channel talk through system as clearly the A41 was not up to the job in the urban areas first in Londonderry (8 Bde Sig Sqn) a mate of mine did the trials there and Belfast (39 Bde Sig Sqn) what you saw then later province wide with a 6 channel system ran by 233 Sig Sqn HQNI Lisburn used the system myself Portadown/Newry 1978 in the infantry role very good hope this helps...beam me up Scottie
Steve

That fills a few gaps !
Cheers Steve.

Gordon. wrote:

Was that the Larkspur Pete?

Around the time LARKSPUR came in we also had some kit that came under the name FLAXTON.
Can't remember what it actually was but rebro kit for OPs sticks in my mind.
Got to be around 1961

God, we were still having to change batteries every couple of hours in those days !

Never heard of that one Brum..But then,i was not involved with radio.

Very good Teabag ,Now,what about Flaxton

Gordon. wrote:

Good on yer Steve..It`s a relief someone knew.Even if you were only half a Scaley.

Thanks Gordon glad to be of help
http://tinyurl.com/77ntzvr
Cheers
Steve half a Scaley

OMG....The dark ages

Why two chairs???

Thought you might have noticed the C11 Set not the chairs...September 1964 bullsh1t photo showing 15 year old Nigs joining the Royal Signals...told to "twiddle the knobs"...

steve wrote:

Thought you might have noticed the C11 Set not the chairs...September 1964 bullsh1t photo showing 15 year old Nigs joining the Royal Signals...told to "twiddle the knobs"...

I was told to twiddle the knobs once. C50 I think? Never did see that photo! Noisy set the C11, especially on transmit. D11 was the beast although I never saw one outside of Catterick.

Quote :

I never saw one outside of Catterick.

That quote got me thinking..

At Harrogate i trained on Creed 7B WD teleprinters auto transmitters, reperforators.etc
Various PABXs and telephones
3 channel and S+Dx VF gear

On posting to Germany
The printers were Siemans T100r
The PBX was a German DE TE WE
and the VF gear was 1+4

I never came across any kit that i had trained on as an apprentice untill i went to Singapore,where we had a Creed printer for testing only and three channel gear that was being removed.(obsolete)

When i returned to the UK School of Signals.Bruin had just been introduced which i knew sod all about.

reperforators.


[/quote]




???? WTFIT.