FuG III - The first Luftwaffe radio system

Dieter Beikirch presents the FuG III radio system, designed by Telefunken mbH Berlin for radiotelephony (voice) transmissions and wireless telegraphy (or Morse code) communications for Germany's new Luftwaffe air force in 1933. This video was recorded at one of Europe's finest private collections of German avionics equipment, covering the early days of military radio communication and radar to the end of the vacuum tube era.
Developed in 1933, the standard FuG III (or FuG 3) system, comprising one transmitter and one receiver, was based on an earlier set used on sea-going ships.
Power source: G 3 Air-driven generator and two - 90-volt dry cells. The FuG III operated in the 1250 to 1400 kHz frequency range
FuG III was the standard receiver/transmitter set used in twin-engined and larger Luftwaffe aircraft for 5 years.
At the end of WW1, Germany's airforce had been seized by the Allies, and under the terms of the Versailles Treaty, Germany was forbidden to have a motorised air force of any kind. But in the 1920s, Germany began to defy the harsh terms of the treaty and secretly began training pilots and forming glider flying clubs for teenagers to prepare the way for a state airforce.
And the civilian airline Lufthansa, ostensibly a private commercial operation - developed aircraft useful for an airforce at the Wiemer governments request - under the cover of aircraft for general cargo or transport.
So when the Nazis came to power in 1933, much groundwork had already been done. The German Military high command began almost immediately, in May 1933, to organise an airforce as quickly as possible. And a modern airforce needs modern radio communications.
For years Germany had been without the need for radio systems for military aircraft, so nothing was available on the shelf. But the navy did have radios - only they were big and heavy. But that's where they started. They took a standard navy radio and adapted it, made it as small as possible and made as much use of aluminium in the chassis and case as they could to make it lighter. The result was the FuG III.
So essentially, the FuG III is a stop-gap, a radio system to get the German air force going until they can develop something better, designed from scratch and dealing with the specific demands of a modern airforce.
Although for new airborne installations, the FuG III was phased out after 1939, favouring the FuG 10. However, it survived on larger transport aircraft until the end of the war. It also continued to be used in ground installations where its size, weight, and power needs didn't pose a problem.
And the system was used for ground to air communications until the end of the war.
Presented by Dieter Beikirch
Additional narration: Robert J Dalby
Video produced by Astronomy and Nature TV

[@pabloalaro8545]

One of the awesomest videos that I´ve ever see about German radios.

[@MilBard]

Thank you for the video and the education on German radios. It's obviously a labor of love for the subject.

[@smalcolmbrown]

Thanks :)

[@basgordijn9722]

Do you perhaps know the dimensions of the transmitter and receiver? I try to make a mock up of them. Thanks.

[@graemeallan54]

is that the V2 bloke off to the side?

[@deutscheavionik7211]

Hi Graeme, yes it's Robert Dalby from www.v2rockethistory.com. KR DA

[@graemeallan54]

@@deutscheavionik7211thanks,you must have been helping him with the part about the guidance system?