RADAR buff needed!

[Amrit1]

Originally Posted by timothy

1. How closely was the secret of radar guarded by the British?

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

1. very. It were given the misleading name Radio Direction Finding. On the other hand, how secret were the tall Chain Home masts? Explosive devices were fitted to radar sets in aircraft to ensure their destruction rather than capture.

Actually, "radar" wasn't a secret at all. What was secret were the actual systems and technologies involved, and more importantly, how these technologies were incorporated into the whole defence system.

Academic papers, patents and physical componenets had been discussed by and between the various European scientists during the 1930s. Patents (both British and German) were often declared in the scientific magazines, and even in Flight magazine.

And one needs to remember that the term RADAR wasn't used at the beginning of the war because it hadn't been invented. The acronym (for Radio Detection And Ranging) was invented by the Americans in 1940.

K

[timothy]

This is the joy of Forums, isn't it?
Great for sharing.

Thanks once more.

= Tim

[palmtree]

Tim

As Stephen Bungay emphasises in his book, don't understimate the importance of the telephone network and the Observer Corps in completing the early warning system.

[Bill Walker]

Originally Posted by palmtree

Tim

As Stephen Bungay emphasises in his book, don't understimate the importance of the telephone network and the Observer Corps in completing the early warning system.

Very true. The Germans had radar as early as the Brits, but what they didn't have for the first few years of the war was a method to collect, process, and redistribute the information. The British developed this part of the solution before radar was operational, using telephones and human "data processors" in the filter centers. This complete system was one of the key reasons for the German failure in the Battle of Britain.

The Observers Corp was one of the original sources of data, before radar, and continued in use for several years because early radar was of reduced effectiveness over land. The other data source for the pre-war data processing system was huge concrete listening posts. I think these were all abandoned by the outbreak of war, but a few of the concrete parabolic reflectors still exist.

The key difference here is that the British developed and refined radar to meet the needs of a unified defence system. The Germans also invented radar, but didn't realize how to really use it. Until the end of the war they were playing catch-up in terms of defence systems, although their individual components, such as radar, were often as effective as anything the British had.

[SES]

Originally Posted by Bill Walker

The key difference here is that the British developed and refined radar to meet the needs of a unified defence system. The Germans also invented radar, but didn't realize how to really use it. Until the end of the war they were playing catch-up in terms of defence systems, although their individual components, such as radar, were often as effective as anything the British had.

That is a myth, albeit frequently aired by anglo-saxon researchers. When night bombing started in 1940 the Luftwaffe very quickly developed a very effective command, control and reporting system, which continuously adapted as the allied air threat changed.
And as a side-note it was the German concept of air warning, reporting and tactical control, which was adopted by NATO in the integrated air defence system.
Please see:
http://www.gyges.dk/Himmelbett.htm
and please note nine parts.
bregds
SES
www.gyges.dk

[timothy]

Tim Plummer - the 'chap' - is most grateful.

Thanks all!

= Tim

PS - As I said - interesting??

[Bill Walker]

Your web site, and other books I have read, show that the Germans first developed a piece-meal defence system, originally aimed at protecting point targets. The Luftwaffe and the Kreigsmarine each had their own systems, and were slow to exchange information. (Just like the RCAF and the RCN in the early days of the Battle of the Atlantic). The German technology was world class (once Hitler allowed development of shorter wave length radars to continue), but the unified command and control structure took longer to develop.

The UK had a nation-wide command and control system in place for air defence before the war started. Radar was just added to this existing structure, as it was developed.

[SES]

Hi Bill,
You cannot possibly have studied the nine parts on my WEB-site in the time elapsed between our posts. And on GYGES I confirm just the opposite of your latest statement.
Would you say that the attached depicts something piecemeal aimed at point defence?
bregds
SES