United States Navy Destroyers by Michael Green;

United States Navy Destroyers by Michael Green;

Author:Michael Green;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Naval
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2020-12-30T00:00:00+00:00


Air-Search Radar

Located on top of the Fletcher class’s foremast (just above the surface-search radar) was an air-search radar antenna. The radar set itself, depending on the model, received the prefix designation SA, SC or, later in the war, SR, followed by a model number. The air-search radar’s job was to fix a target’s position in two coordinates: range and bearing. There was no height-finding radar initially fitted on the Fletchers.

The primary function of air-search radars was to warn a ship of the presence of aircraft at extreme range, although the radars could also be used to detect surface targets if required. To determine if an approaching plane was friendly or hostile, the air-search radar had an interrogator device that sent out a coded signal. The aircraft’s transponder, if so equipped, sent back an encrypted message to confirm its identity. If not, the plane was considered hostile. That information was then transmitted to the fire-control radar.

From a US Navy report titled ‘Anti-aircraft Summary’ dated April 1945 comes this extract on the various methods that Japanese suicide planes tried to avoid shipborne air-search radar during 1944 and 1945:

The approach of suicide planes is characterized by tactics designed to take advantage of the weaknesses of our search radar equipment. These tactics are in general as follows: flying at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet to make best use of radar null areas, or flying very low over water to avoid early detection. Making a series of dives and climbs, rarely flying a straight course when within 40 miles of the target ships . . . Trailing in the shadow of the IFF of friendly planes returning to their bases . . . Approaching in small groups from different bearings and at different altitudes to increase the radar interception problem.



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