Reeves AN/MSQ-51 Aerial Target Control Central
The Reeves AN/MSQ-51 Aerial Target Control Central (ATCC) was a combination radar/computer/communications system ("Q" system") developed 1961-3 for
Single Sideband Transceiver (SST) with Control Unit 714E-2 for 28,000 channels (400 watts PEP, 100 w AM). The 1000 watt voice radio system had 2 UHF AN/GRC-27 sets "with Control-Indicator 6-806/GR" for 1750 channels (consoles had headsets, footpedals, and crew intercommunications.)[1]
Configuration
Similar to the USMC's
electric heating system, and interior operator equipment:[1]
- Tracking Console with and for the surveillance antenna signal, "Acquisition Receiver Control" panel.
- Tactical Control Console, a "Modified M33 Unit", with vertical 30" plotting board, command signal Transmitter Control C-2802/SRW-4, Thirty Channel Event Recorder ("on-off"/"Beep" type) and an additional PPI.
- Computer cabinet with vacuum tube amplifiers for analog summing, Horizontal Range Servo for trigonometric, and mounted on the right cabinet door a Command Monitor Display Panel along with Telemetry Indicators (if equipped).
As with the M-33's computation of an enemy aircraft location, the AN/MSQ-51 computer derived "target altitude" from the elevation resolver, timed the "rate of change of altitude" using a differentiating amplifier, and "resolved horizontal plane coordinates" from the antenna's azimuth orientation.[1]
Personnel
To "permit one man [tracking] operation instead of three", the M-33 tracking console was modified[HVAC, generators, and accessories.[1]
At the China Lake "Target Radar Site",[3] Reeves Instrument Corporation representative was an AN/MSQ-51 civilian contractor until ~1968.[4]
References
- ^ Naval Air Development Center: Engineering Development Laboratory. 3 June 1963. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
- ^ "Volume 1 Section 1: AN/TPA-3" (MIL-HDBK-162A). [Decoder Group AN/TPA-3] (Report). United States Navy. April 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
...accepts video pulses received from the IFF receiver, and, upon receipt of a properly coded pulse sequence, produces an output pulse for display on associated equipment. This unit provides SIF video decoding facilities. Formerly identified as Decoder Group OA1134( )[specify]/ TPX, the AN/TPA-3 is part of Interrogator Sets AN/TPX-26 and AN/TPX-27. [The TPA-3 includes] Video Decoder, MX-1995/TPA-3 [and] Remote Switching Control…C-1903/TPA-3
- ^ "1969 China Lake Photo Gallery". chinalakealumni.org. 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- ^ "George Mullett is now associate head of, new NAF Targets Dept" (PDF). NWC Rocketeer. Vol. XXXI, no. 2. China Lake, CA. 1976-01-16. p. 7.