Hi Guys
As there seems to be some controversy over the positioning of command tank antennas I thought I would post what I have found. Now I am no expert and there may be others with more knowledge on this than me. For my research on parts I make I first use scaled drawings in 1.35 scale as I feel these have been around for a while and a lot of research has been done to create them. I then try to cross reference them with period pictures, I tend not to use museum samples as these are often rebuilt and may not be correct. Unfortunately I have not found many period pictures showing the command tank antenna array, but I think I have enough to prove a point.
Having spent 2 years as a Regimental Signal Warrant Officer in the British Army Mechanized Battalion I know the basic radio distribution.
Platoon/Troop APC's/Tanks would have one radio on a Company/Squadron net. Hence one antenna.
Company/Squadron Command APC's/Tanks would have two radios, one on the Company/Squadron net and one on the Battalion net.
Battalion Command APC's/Tanks may have three or maybe more radios. One on the Battalion net, one on the Regiment net and a third for other uses such as contact with recon units, Division, supply, support and such. Quartermaster AFV's would also have two radios, one on the Battalion net and one on a supply net to keep none battle traffic off the fighting troops net. Now this is just the basic set up and many units will have different configurations.
I do not know to much about the German radios as I only researched the antennas as a visual look from the outside. This is how I see a Tiger Battalion antenna set up to be.
Troop Tanks had one radio and one antenna which I think we all agree was mounted behind the turret on the right side.
Squadron Command tanks had two radios and antennas. A Sternantenna D was mounted in the place of the basic antenna mount, this mount was moved to either of two places, the turret roof or on the left side behind the turret. Either place is correct. See drawings and pictures below.
Drawing showing Sternattenna D (mast) and turret mounted antenna.
Period picture showing Sternattenna D and turret mounted antenna. Note no antenna to the left rear of the turret.
Drawing showing Sternattenna D and a antenna mounted on the left rear of the turret. No antenna mounted on the turret. I have not found a period picture of this set up.
The Battalion Command Tank had three radios and three antennas. The Sternantenna D mount to the right rear of the turret, a 1.4 meter antenna mounted on the turret and a 2 meter antenna mount on the left rear of the turret. See drawing and pictures below.
Drawing showing Sternattenna D and antenna mounted on the right rear of the turret. A antenna mounted to the left rear of the turret and another mounted on the turret. I have not found a period picture of this
Here is a picture of a 1.35 scale model of the Wittman (007) Tiger as a Battalion Commander, this clearly shows three antennas and I am sure it was well researched to be published in The Modeler's Guide to the Tiger Tank.
I have found a picture of a Panther with the three antenna set up, this I believe is a Battalion level Command Tank. Basic antenna in the same position, Sternantenna mounted center rear of the engine deck and the third antenna mounted on the turret roof.
This is the best I can come up with from the research I have done. If anyone has better references please post here as I for one would be interested to know more.
If the Bovington Tiger was a command tank it is likely the Sternantenna never survived, only close inspection of the areas where the brackets for the mast and extension rod stowage canister was fitted to see if there are any signs of the brackets being fitted would tell. But with restoration these are likely long gone.
Mike
! Can anyone help me with where on the turret the command antenna should go, or did it go on the turret at all? 
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. Photo of him on exercises in Germany I think, I won’t tell you what he is doing though 
, and if you don’t want it to it falls out 
!!!