US RDF

[fjray]

Anybody have a good web page or two for US Navy RDF info? I've stumbled across sites that briefly touch on it but not much detail.

Thanks

 

[net_sailor]

I hope, you mean Radio Direction Finding, better known as RADAR. Here you find great links:
US Radar: Operational Characteristics of Radar Classified by Tactical Application [FTP 217]
The Wizard War: WW2 The Origins Of Radar

 

[fjray]

Actually I was going more along the lines of an ADF. I had read a page many, many moons ago about the Navy's development of navigation systems. This was a pretty interesting account. Anyway a friend and I were talking about old navigation stuff and……well you know how it goes when two history geeks start in…..never found that page again.

However, thanks for the second link! I had stumbled across that one a year or so ago and couldn't remember where to find it.

Sorry for the delayed response, work keeps getting in the way

 

[FLYBOYJ]

ADFs (AKA NDBs) are still in use but are slowly being phased out. Although they have their limitations they are still a reliable back-up navigation and instrument approach system.

 

[Brooke]

Hi fjray:

Here's some info on loop antenna type ADF sets:
AN/ARN-89 Direction Finder Set

And an interesting LF beacon transmitter system that one man can back pack which includes an antenna 57 feet tall! ID code: 294 possible 3-letter Morse code groups, Transmit Frequency: 265 to 535 in 1 Kc steps
Light Weight Beacon Part No. 123402

 

[fliger747]

USN had an interesting device for assisting aircraft back to the carrier, the YE antenna. This transmitted a directional signal, with a different morse code letter for each 15 deg sector. Prior to the mission pilots were issued a code table for the day with the letters for each sector. Receiving the coded letter, one knew what sector the aircraft was from the carrier. At several thousand feet reception was possible out to 40 NM. The antenna was dubbed the "Hay Rake".

 

[Brooke]

USN had an interesting device for assisting aircraft back to the carrier, the YE antenna. This transmitted a directional signal, with a different morse code letter for each 15 deg sector. Prior to the mission pilots were issued a code table for the day with the letters for each sector. Receiving the coded letter, one knew what sector the aircraft was from the carrier. At several thousand feet reception was possible out to 40 NM. The antenna was dubbed the "Hay Rake".

Hi Fliger747: Thatnks for that reference. Just read this paper describes that system:
http://aafradio.org/docs/YE-ZB.pdf

 

[MiTasol]

Anybody have a good web page or two for US Navy RDF info? I've stumbled across sites that briefly touch on it but not much detail.

Thanks

Cant give you a single web page for an overall view of the most common radio compass but if you search for Bendix MN-26 radio and MN-28 control head you should find plenty of links. Antenna may be MN-20 if rusty memory is any guide. All were used by USN/USAAF/civil aircraft but I cannot remember the AN numbers
As a guess www.radionerds.com, N5ARW Boatanchor Radios or Wireless Set No 19 Group Royal Signals WS19, 19 Set, FREE military document Archive. should have the manuals

 

[Token]

I hope, you mean Radio Direction Finding, better known as RADAR. Here you find great links:
US Radar: Operational Characteristics of Radar Classified by Tactical Application [FTP 217]
The Wizard War: WW2 The Origins Of Radar

I realize this post was a while ago, but just so people do not take the wrong thing away, RDF, Radio Direction Finding, is not the same as RADAR, RAdio Detection And Ranging.

RDF is a passive technique. You use one of several angle finding techniques (directional antennas, time difference of arrival, etc) to derive the direction a radio transmitter is from your location.

RADAR is an active technique. You transmit a signal, it reflects off a target, and using the received signal you measure some factor or factors of the signal to determine angles, range, etc to the target.

T!

 

[MiTasol]

Anybody have a good web page or two for US Navy RDF info? I've stumbled across sites that briefly touch on it but not much detail.

Thanks

have a look at section 6 of Bill Neutzling's B-24 Liberator Site: Radio Operators' Information File

EDIT Woops - only covers radio compass

 

[MiTasol]

Try this - the Army called them a radio compass so the link above is also applicable