List of World War II British naval radar
This page is a List of World War II British naval radar.
Nomenclature
These sets were initially numbered as
Suffixing letters indicated the following;
- B - conversion of sets with separate receiving (Rx) antennasto single antenna operation.
- M, P, Q - major set modifications
- R - addition of range-taking panel
- U - modification to suit coastal operations
- W - modification to submarine use
- X, Y, Z - experimental modifications
Sets
ASV II
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak kW )
|
MHz )
|
Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASV Mark I /Mark II
|
7 | 176 | 1700 | 1940 |
The first successful
ASV III
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak kW )
|
MHz )
|
Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASV III /XI
|
50 | 3000 | 100 | 1943 |
The first successful airborne microwave radar. Used on FAA Swordfish and Barracuda aircraft, and many RAF Coastal Command aircraft. High-resolution centimetric radar could detect even small objects, such as the periscope or snorkel of a submerged submarine, making it a highly efficient tool for Anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The Mk XI was a further development exclusively for the FAA.[2]
Type 79
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak kW )
|
MHz )
|
Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
79 | 70 | 42.8 | 7,000 | 1938 |
Based on the Type 79 w/t, first fitted to Sheffield then Rodney and later Curlew; (40 sets ordered)[3]
Type 86
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
86M | APH | 1962 |
Fore-runner to Type 286.[citation needed]
Type 262
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
262 | APE | 30 | 9,670 | 31 |
Centimetric fire-control set for
Type 267
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
267 | APT | 100 | 214 | 1,400 |
Air warning set for submarines replacing Type 291W.[citation needed]
Type 268
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
268 | AQN | 40 | 9,386 | 32 |
First X band naval radar. Used on small vessels for target indication and navigation.
Type 271
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
271 | 5 | 2,997 | 100 | March 1941 | |
271P | 90 | 2,997 | 100 | 1943 | |
271Q | 90 | 2,997 | 100 | 1943 |
Type 271 was the original naval centimetric target indication radar, later fitted with a plan position indicator. Type 271 had separate transmit and receive aerials, small "cheese" antennas stacked on top of each other. The antenna array was carried in a distinctive protective perspex "lantern", and initially had to be fitted directly onto the radar office roof due to limitations in coaxial cabling (until suitable waveguides had been developed). The Type 271 was a vitally important war weapon, as for the first time it allowed escort ships to reliably detect surfaced U-boats or even just their periscopes. It was first fitted in HMS Orchis. 350 sets were ordered. Modification Q was much more powerful and known as the "Centimetric Mark IV". Mark V was even more powerful and later renamed Type 277.[4] Type 271 was fitted widely to escort vessels of corvette and frigate size, with the unsuccessful Type 272 intended for destroyers and the Type 273 for cruisers and battleships.
Type 272
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
272 | 90 | 2,997 | 100 | 1941 |
A version of the Type 271 with a cable-drive and more powerful receiver allowing the antenna to be mounted remotely from the radar office. Was not considered successful and not widely used.
Type 273
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
273 | AQN | 90 | 2,997 | 100 | 1941 |
A version of the 271 with a much larger 3 foot (0.91 m) diameter full-parabolic antennas instead of the smaller clipped "cheese" antennas of the 271. The antennas were mounted on a stabilized mounting and placed high on the mast on cruiser and battleship sized ships. The larger antennas more than made up for the wiring losses seen in the 272, and the resulting system was even more powerful than the original 271. Upgrades followed those of the original 271 series. In the Battle of the North Cape, HMS Duke of York identified the target of Scharnhorst at 45,000 yards (41,000 m) using her Type 273 set, receiving a solid signal on the Scharnhorst's mast while the ship was still well below the radar horizon.[5] Replaced by the Type 276.
Type 274
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
274 | AUM | 500 | 3,294 | 91 | 1944 |
Centimetric replacement for Type 284. Main armament ranging and shot-spotting set for
Type 275
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
275 | 400 | 3,526 | 85 | 1944 |
Centimetric replacement for Type 285. Destroyer main armament and capital ship secondary fire control set. Fitted to directors HACS Mark VI and Mark 6M and modified American Mark 37. Separate Tx and Rx dishes.
Type 276
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
276 | AUS / AUJ | 500 | 2,997 | 100 | 1944 |
Combined the electronics of the Type 277 and the stabilized mounting of the Type 273. Reduced 4-foot (1.2 m) antennas in aerial outfit AUS.
Type 277
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
277P | AUK | 400 | 2,997 | 100 | 1943 |
277Q | ANU | 500 | 2,997 | 100 | 1944 |
Originally known as Type 271 Mark V, this was a significant improvement on the original design and was later renamed to make this clear. Used a single transmit/receive antenna, waveguides instead of coaxial cables and a much more powerful magnetron that considerably improved all-around performance. Aerial Outfit AUK was a parabolic dish, ANU was a cropped paraboloid. Fitted on a "nodding" mount, often used as a height finding set. Superseded in service by Type 278 height finder in County-class destroyers.
Type 279
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
279 | 70 | 39.9 | 7,450 | 1940 | |
279M | 70 | 39.9 | 7,450 | 1941 |
Follow on from Type 79, metric air warning set. Had separate Tx and Rx antennas, combined in Type 279M to single antenna operation. This set also had a secondary surface search with surface and aerial gunnery capability and used a Precision Ranging Panel, which passed accurate radar ranges directly to the HACS table (analogue computer).[6][7]
Type 280
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
280 | 25 | 85 | 3,500 | 1940 |
Metric air warning set with separate Tx / Rx antennas. Based upon Army GL Mark I set, fitted to C-class cruisers converted to anti-aircraft ships. This set used a Precision Ranging Panel, which passed accurate radar ranges directly to the HACZ table (analogue computer).[8]
Type 281
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
281 | AQB | 350 | 85 | 3,500 | 1940 |
Metric air warning set with separate Tx / Rx antennas. Type 281B had combined Tx / Rx antenna. First fitted to HMS Dido then HMS Prince of Wales[3] This set also had a secondary surface search function along with aerial and surface gunnery capability and used a Precision Ranging Panel.[6] The Type 281 ranging system allowed the user to select either a 2,000 to 14,000 yd (1,800 to 12,800 m) or a 2,000 to 25,000 yd (1,800 to 22,900 m) range display with range accuracies of 50 or 75 yd (46 or 69 m) RMS, respectively. Aerial target ranges were passed directly to the HACS table (fire control computer).[9]
Type 282
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (cm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
282 | 25 | 600 | 50 | 1941 |
Decimetric (50 cm) ranging set for Bofors 40 mm and "multiple pom-pom" fire control. Fitted on Bofors mounting Mark IV "Hazemeyer" and
Type 283
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (cm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
283 | 25 | 600 | 50 | 1942 |
Main armament anti-aircraft barrage fire control set fitted to "barrage director" for cruiser 6-inch (150 mm) and battleship guns. This set used a Precision Ranging Panel and was used to fire the guns automatically using the Automatic Barrage Unit.[8]
Type 284
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (cm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
284 | ASF | 25 | 600 | 50 | 1940 |
284M | ASF | 150 | 600 | 50 | 1941 |
284P | ASF | 150 | 600 | 50 | 1942 |
Main armament ranging and shot-spotting set for cruisers and battleships with lobe switching beginning with Type 284M[8] to increase accuracy of bearing readings. Prototype fitted on HMS Sardonyx. HMS Southdown received first production set. Used by HMS Suffolk to shadow Bismarck.[10] Type 284P was instrumental in the Battle of the North Cape allowing Duke of York to attack Scharnhorst blind.[5]
Type 285
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (cm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
285 | 25 | 600 | 50 | 1941 | |
285M | 150 | 600 | 50 | 1941 | |
285P | 150 | 600 | 50 | 1942 |
Ranging set for anti-aircraft fire control, fitted to HACS directors and rangefinder-directors and used ranging panel L12. Type 285 with six element Yagi antenna with separate Tx / Rx. Type 285P with five element Yagi antenna with combined Tx / Rx function. The Type 285M could provide accurate ranges via the mechanical ranging panel, L12, and bearing information using lobe switching, but height finding was primitive and had to be calculated using maximum signal indication. As such it could not achieve a target lock, and could not offer blind fire capability. Type 285P introduced a Precision Ranging Panel and had 25yd RMS range accuracy.[8]
Type 286
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
286M | ATQ | 214 | 1,400 | 1940 |
Metric target indication set based upon
Type 290
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
290 | 100 | 214 | 1,400 |
Metric target indication set, replacement for Type 286.[citation needed]
Type 291
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
291 | 100 | 214 | 1,400 | 1941 |
Metric air warning sets. Original Type 291 had a hand-steered antenna, replaced by Type 291M with power training and plan position indicator. U and W variants for coastal craft and submarines respectively.[citation needed]
Type 293
Type | Aerial outfit | Peak power (kW) | Frequency (MHz) | Wavelength (mm) | In service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
293M | AUR | 500 | 2,997 | 100 | 1945 |
293P | AQR | 500 | 2,997 | 100 | 1945 |
293Q | ANS | 500 | 2,997 | 100 | 1945 |
Based on the same electronics as the Type 277/276, the Type 293 used a new antenna design intended to cover the area above the ship to provide air warning instead of surface search. Stabilised "cheese" antenna, 6 feet (1.8 m) diameter in outfit AUR, upgraded to 8 feet (2.4 m) in Type 293P (replaced all Type 293 and Type 276 sets) and to 12 feet (3.7 m) in Type 293Q.
Precision Ranging Panel
The Precision Ranging Panel (PRP) was an electromechanical transmission and calculating system. The PRP allowed for accurate range determination, range rate determination using radar, and accurate transmission of radar ranges and range rates to
Mechanical Ranging Panel
The Type 282, 282M, 285, and 285M radars used a mechanical ranging panel that used a mechanical cursor placed over the ranging display, to estimate range and automatically transmitted the calculated range to either the
See also
Notes
- ^ Horan, Mark E. "With Gallantry and Determination" The Story of the Torpedoing of the Bismarck Archived 1 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gustin, Emmanuel British ASV Radar
- ^ a b Macintyre, September 1967, p.75
- ^ Macintyre, September 1967, p.80
- ^ ISBN 1-86176-211-9
- ^ a b c Howse, Radar at sea: The Royal Navy in World War II
- ^ "RADAR IN THE RN AT THE END OF WW2" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Pout
- ^ Weapon Control in the Royal Navy 1935–45, Pout, from The Application of Radar and other Electronic Systems in the Royal Navy in WW2 (Kingsley-editor)
- ^ Macintyre, September 1967, p.78
References
- Friedman, Norman (1981). Naval Radar. Conway Maritime Press/Bloomsbury. ISBN 0-85177-238-2.
- Lenton, H. T. (1998). British and Empire Warships of the Second World War. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-277-7.
- Macintyre, Donald (September 1967). "Shipborne Radar". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. ISSN 0041-798X.