The Wireless Set No. 62, usually known as the WS62, was a British Army shortwave radio transmitter and receiver developed by Pye Ltd of Cambridge towards the end of the Second World War. This is another set that I admired but never owned.
Introduced in 1944–45, it was designed to provide reliable short-range radio communication between military units, particularly infantry, vehicles and airborne forces. Although originally intended as a temporary replacement for the older Wireless Set No. 22, it proved so successful that it remained in military service until the late 1960s.
It was used during the final stages of the Second World War, the Korean War and post-war operations, including service in Malaya.
Technical specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Pye Ltd, Cambridge |
| Introduced | 1944–1945 |
| Frequency coverage | 1.6–10 MHz |
| Band 1 | 1.6–4 MHz |
| Band 2 | 4–10 MHz |
| Operating modes | AM speech (R/T) and CW Morse |
| Transmitter power | Approximately 0.5–1 watt |
Military use
The WS62 was particularly versatile because the same basic radio could be employed in several ways.
- Vehicle station: Installed in Jeeps and other military vehicles.
- Ground station: Operated from a fixed position using a suitable aerial.
- Manpack: Carried by soldiers using a special harness.
- Animal pack: Transported by pack animals in difficult terrain.
- Airborne: Used by parachute troops and in certain military aircraft.
The Mk II version incorporated improvements to withstand parachute dropping. One particularly interesting feature was the waterproof construction. The radio was designed to resist brief immersion, and its lightweight construction made it considerably more practical than some earlier Army wireless sets.
The WS62 was an entirely valve-operated transceiver, with 11 valves performing the transmitting and receiving functions. One of its clever design features was that several circuit stages were shared between the transmitter and receiver, reducing weight and complexity.
Unlike some earlier Army radios, the WS62 incorporated both its high-voltage power supply and aerial tuning arrangements within the set itself. The original power supply used a rotary transformer (dynamotor). This converted the 12-volt battery supply into approximately 340 volts HT for the valves. Later versions and modifications sometimes employed transistorised inverters instead of the rotary transformer.
WS62 Mk I and Mk II
The Mk I was the original wartime version, while the Mk II featured improvements to its mechanical construction and electrical arrangements.
The Mk II was especially suitable for airborne operations, having been strengthened to withstand parachute dropping. Its carrying harness also differed from that of the Mk I.
Does anyone have any photos of the WS62 set that I could use on my website?