kitplane01
Airman 1st Class
- 132
- Apr 23, 2020
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Others are much more expert than me here but from what I know. As per your link British RADAR (RDF at the time) was part of the Tizzard mission, from 1940 RADAR was developed jointly between the UK and USA much of it produced in the USA so I cant see the British being more advanced. 4.8 miles is actually a long way just not considered so today because of many advances in the technology. The Chain Home system used huge amounts of power flooding the whole area with radio waves. This is because the attenuation (loss of signal strength) is huge. Only a fraction of the power used becomes a signal, that signal disperses with distance in three dimensions, only a fraction of the signal hitting an aeroplane is returned to the transmitter and a fighter is a small "target". This weakened signal the attenuated further by distance and only a fraction of this returned RADAR signal is turned into an electrical signal in the plane for its amplifiers to work on.What was the best air to air radar of WWII, and how good was it, and what airframe carried it?
I did find this resource for just US radars on night fighters, and none of them are able to find a fighter at beyond 8,500 yards which is 4.8 miles. Maybe some of the ASW radars could do better when aimed at fighter altitudes? Or maybe the british/germans had better?
What was the best air to air radar of WWII, and how good was it, and what airframe carried it?
I did find this resource for just US radars on night fighters, and none of them are able to find a fighter at beyond 8,500 yards which is 4.8 miles. Maybe some of the ASW radars could do better when aimed at fighter altitudes? Or maybe the british/germans had better?
Regardless of who answers, or what the answer is, this is probably going to end up being an opinion based answer.
What is your definition of "best"?
Longest range? Range is not everything, and range will depend on the target and specific conditions during detection. Most accurate? Accuracy is going to be a huge factor in a targeting system, less so in a detection / early warning system. Most robust and failure resistant? Even if not very accurate, or long ranged, a system that works dependably might be better than a hyper accurate / long range system that never works. Most used? There is definitely a quality to quantity.
The AN/APG-16 (an X band modification of the AN/APG-2, the APG-2 was originally meant for the P-61) was probably one of the best radars of the war, developed just before the end of the war, but since it was never used in any numbers at all during the war that one obviously should not be in consideration. Similarly, the APG-1 and APG-2 were VERY good, but never got used (regularly) in combat as their capability was less important than the large numbers of less capable radars already in use. A case of more units less capable outperforming a few units more capable.
T!
OK. I agree with everything you wrote.Regardless of who answers, or what the answer is, this is probably going to end up being an opinion based answer.
What is your definition of "best"?
Longest range? Range is not everything, and range will depend on the target and specific conditions during detection. Most accurate? Accuracy is going to be a huge factor in a targeting system, less so in a detection / early warning system. Most robust and failure resistant? Even if not very accurate, or long ranged, a system that works dependably might be better than a hyper accurate / long range system that never works. Most used? There is definitely a quality to quantity.
The AN/APG-16 (an X band modification of the AN/APG-2, the APG-2 was originally meant for the P-61) was probably one of the best radars of the war, developed just before the end of the war, but since it was never used in any numbers at all during the war that one obviously should not be in consideration. Similarly, the APG-1 and APG-2 were VERY good, but never got used (regularly) in combat as their capability was less important than the large numbers of less capable radars already in use. A case of more units less capable outperforming a few units more capable.
T!
Both UK and Germany first developed airborne RADAR for defence and to be used in conjunction with ground based RADAR. Both the UK Chain Home and later GCI and German Freya systems could guide an interceptor to within 5 miles of a target. It became a different issue outside of ground control.OK. I agree with everything you wrote.
How about range? I want the radar with the longest range. But if you have a "radar I think is the best by my criteria" that works too.
What ws the range of an APG-16 or APG-2?
Googling doesn't show me any data about the SCR-720. Can you tell me more about it.The "best" Allied AI radar by the end of WW2 was the SCR-720 or AI.Mk.X in British service. It reached squadron service with the RAF in Jan 1944 and went into Mosquito XVII/XIX/30/36 through into 1946. It also equipped the P-61.
The earlier AI Mk.VIII (introduced from Dec 1942) as fitted to later Beaufighters earlier marks of Mosquito remained in service until the end of the war.
It was 1948 before Britain introduced the AI Mk.IX on the Mosquito NF.38. Development of that set had begun in WW2.
That was super interesting. Much thanksA Wellington was used as an early AWACs type of airborne RADAR, low altitude (return noise signals from the sea) restricted the range to 14 miles. Vickers Wellington bomber – Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft
That must break some forum rule or other.Old radar types never die.
They just phased array.
It is not so much what was "state of the art" at the time it was the state of research development. When you are using civilian technical specialists to operate the equipment you are some years from a production system that can be operated by technicians. The Wellington had many uses because it had useful space inside, that system and technology was years of development away from being installed in any type of fighter.That was super interesting. Much thanks
Was the AN/APG-2 radar a gun laying radar for the turret?
The main radar still being the SCR-720?
OK. I agree with everything you wrote.
How about range? I want the radar with the longest range. But if you have a "radar I think is the best by my criteria" that works too.
What ws the range of an APG-16 or APG-2?
I swear by all that is sacred, I wish I thought that line up myself.That must break some forum rule or other.
How about range? I want the radar with the longest range. But if you have a "radar I think is the best by my criteria" that works too.