RAAF First Series (1950)
Mark XI 6B/346 — RAAF First Series (1950)
1950
First Australian order, issued from August 1950. Caseback reads “G.6B/346” (with a dot) under a broad arrow and a serial of up to three digits with no year. No broad arrow on the dial.
420 pieces; highest known number 420.
No verified image of this watch yet
Identifying details
- Military caseback engraving
Issue markings on the caseback, e.g. stock number, broad arrow, issue number and year.
- Military issue
Issued to armed forces.
- Soft-iron inner case
Soft-iron inner case and dial forming a cage that shields the movement from magnetic fields.
Variants of 6B/346
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| RAF Issue | 1948–1953 |
| RAAF First Series (1950)Current | 1950 |
| RAAF Second Series (1953) | 1953 |
Case & movement
- Reference
- 6B/346
- Production
- 1950
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case diameter
- 35.3 mm
- Movement
- Manual winding
- Date
- No
- Caliber
- Jaeger-LeCoultre 488/SBr
Dial, bezel & hands
Unknown attributes are left out rather than guessed.
Movement
Jaeger-LeCoultre 488/SBr
Chronometer-grade hand-wound calibre with hacking seconds, made in small runs only for the Mark XI and never used in civilian watches. Lacked shock protection. Its design led to the P478/BWSbr of the 1958 Geophysic.
Read more
- ‘Man is Not Lost’ – an Account of the Mk 11 Navigational WristwatchRead more at Horological Journal (British Horological Institute) (opens in a new tab)
- The Story Behind A Special Royal Australian Air Force IWC TimepieceRead more at Fratello (opens in a new tab)
- Wrist Watch Mk 11, G6B/346 in the Royal Australian Air ForceRead more at gregsteer.net (opens in a new tab)