101 Electronic Warfare Interceptor

[peterb110]

Recently acquired 71FL01, a 101 Radio van, 24v, LHD with about 8,100 miles on the clock. Thought I'd got a mint Radio van but now I'm beginning to wonder. Curator at Royal Signals Museum, Blandford ( having seen some photographs) thinks it could be an "extremely rare" Electronic Warfare Interceptor vehicle, "one of a handful" from 14 Sigs Rgt. The Museum has 72FL01 a 101 EWI van on display. I'm spending the weekend at Blandford 23 & 24/02, the Curator has given me permission to "crawl over" and photo the exhibit. In the meantime, can anybody help out wth any info and possibly throw some light on the possible role this vehicle undertook?
Cheers
Peter

[Mark Charnley]

If you can hang on a couple of days, Bob will be back who i'm sure will be able to help.

[Bob]

Presume it's a Vampire. They were very nervous about letting me photograph these when they were in-service I'm afraid. Their paranoia dates back to the time that I surprised them while static in a wood in the Einbeck Bowl by taking a 90 where they assumed no vehicle could go. Oh, for the good old Cold War days when we knew who the enemy was!!!
Bob

[peterb110]

Hi Bob
Pretty sure it is not a Vampire, body is "bog" standard radio van shape. It hasn't got the protrusion across and above the full width of the windscreen and no "cowling" to store the large antenna / aerial array.
It has three equipment racks in the rear compartment that can be accessed from both the side and the rear door. The racking that fits along the bulkhead between the rear compartment and the cab is mounted on four dampers, two on the bulkhead and two on the floor that creates a "floating" frame that the equipment is mounted on to reduce vibration. It has been suggested that this equipment was used to jam enemy radio whilst the vehicle was on the move. It also has a double rear bumper and the spare wheel is mounted in front of the radiator grille on a purpose built "A" frame. Either side of the spare a square section extension to the bumper lines up with the front face of the spare wheel. Any further thoughts?
I plan to get it onto the EMLRA display circuit when the season gets under way.
Cheers
Peter

[Great Pebble]

Be interested to hear if you find out any more on this one.
Also be interested if anyone could shed light on the purpose of the 109 CL hardtops used by some sigs. units, seen in pics. with a roof mounted whip and a short mast on the back supporting a discone of sorts.

Nick in Belfast

[Jon V]

Look forward to seeing it as the shows. I love the 101's and my favorite is the Radio body. Spent ages drooling at the one in the carpark at Donington.
Let us know what you find out.:)

[peterb110]

Hi all
MMI print out confirms 71FL01 as "Intercept Complex Electronic Warfare Truck mounted on 1 tonne Rover (Link with E5757301300)" Anybody any idea what that last code means?
I believe the role of the 101 is as follows;
Initial intercept and analysis of enemy target nets, prioritising of them and passing them to the Intercept Operators for cover.
Query for Rex?
I believe the 101 was fitted with 1 x Watkins Johnson 8716A Receiver and 2 x Racal RS2090 Receivers, one of the RS2090's is fitted with a tape recorder. Are these available out in civvy street?
Anybody know where 14 Sigs Regt (EW) was based between 22/09/86 and 14/09/92?
Cheers
Peter

[Bob]

I believe they were based in Germany during this period, possibly in the Hameln area, though I suspect that a lot of the personnel may have been based at Blandford Forum and only moved forward at times of crisis or during the big exercises. While on this subject, if anybody has current contact details for Bob Brannigan, R Sigs (last believed to have held the rank of Colonel), I'd be grateful for info.
Bob

[peterb110]

Hi Bob
Thanks for the info on 14 Sigs. I've put out some feelers for Colonel? Bob Brannigan. Don't know how succesful I will be. Do you know of a good book dealing with BAOR?
Cheers
Peter

[Great Pebble]

There's an Ian Allen book published in the early '80s titled something like "Infantry Regiments Of The Line" which is very detailed on the teeth units of BAOR. Also has one of my favourite pics in it, lightweight and a fox patroling the Berlin Wall in the snow. Keep an eye out for it in the bargain boxes at militaria and vehicle fairs, I certainly saw a few copies of it at the last Belters.


Nick in Belfast

[peterb110]

Thanks Nick
I'll add the book to my ever increasing list of things to look for when i visit the various Fairs and Shows
Cheers
Peter

[peterb110]

I'm slowly unpicking the history of my 101 EW truck and would appreciate some further help with the following.
It left 14 Sigs Regt (EW) mid '92, on 14/09/92 it went to "12 AD Regt" until 01/06/93. Does AD stand for Air Defence? If so does that imply RAF service?? and if so where?? If it doesn't stand for Air defence what does AD mean?
01/06/93 "16 AD Regt Workshops" until 02/94 - same queries as above!
15/02/94 "16 Regt RA Workshop REME" until it was cast. I'd assumed its EW gear was stripped out here but if it served with the other units above it wouldn't have had an EW role would it?! If it was stripped out before leaving 14 Sigs how come I've still got the EW racking in the Radio body! Confused? So am I - anybody throw any light on the problem?
Cheers
Peter
71FL01
101 EW

[Bob]

Peter,
Go to pages 118/9 of the LAND ROVER MILITARY PORTFOLIO(afraid at this moment I can't be precise about which issue of LRO this came from) for my original article on the Dortmund based 58 (Eyres) Battery of 12 (Air Defence) Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
Next go to pages 62-6 of the September 2000 issue of LRM, for slightly more in-depth coverage of the same unit and its Rapier Tractors. This article will re-appear on pages 72-6 in the forthcoming COMBAT LAND ROVERS PORTFOLIO.
With hindsight it is interesting to see the different approaches taken by the Editors of LRO & LRM.
Sounds like your vehicle has been used by the REME technicians, who (quite logically) prefer nice warm hard tops when repairing electronics components.
Bob

[peterb110]

Bob
Thanks very much indeed for the info, your help is appreciated.
Cheers
Peter 71FL01
101 EW