Radar Informationed needed...AN/APS-4 and AN/APS-6

[Waldo.Pepper]

Like the title says need info on the two systems mentioned.

AN/APS-4 and AN/APS-6

Anything you got would be appreciated. The more detail the better.

[edwest]

Here's some photos of the AN/APS-4
http://cybermodeler.com/aircraft/sb2c/sb2c.shtml

Scroll down to the bottom.

And some info as fitted to the P-38 M.

http://p-38online.com/p38m.html


Ed

[Waldo.Pepper]

Thanks for trying Ed. Had all that.

Perhaps I should mention that this set was also used by the British as the AI MK XV in the Mosquito.

Info needed now is the following.

What did the control box for the set look like? Including the labels on the knobs.

Pictures or diagrams of the scope when operating, as well as when an interception is taking place.

Speed of scanner movement. Elevation, and azimuth limits that scanner head could reach, the speed that the parabolic dish traversed within these limits.

Effective range that the equipment could detect a
single engined plane, twin engined plane, 4 engined plane, ship, land mass.

Details are what I need.

[edwest]

For details, try here:


http://www.radarpages.co.uk/links/links.htm



Ed

[Dave Wadman]

You can find a pretty good description (with illustrations) of the AI Mk.XV/AN/APS 4 on pp132, 133, 134 in Martin Streetly's 'The Aircraft of 100 Group'. Publ. Robert Hale, London, 1984. ISBN 0 7090 1043 5.
(much of this information was serialised in the UK magazine 'Scale Models'.

Now, AFAIR, it is long out of print but not too difficult to find through on-line resources.

Some of the information given by Streetly on the XV:

Single CRT display for operator
Scanner 14 inch diameter
Two modes of operation; search & intercept
Wavelength 3 cm with a frequency of 10 GHz
Max range 3.75 miles (experienced operator)
Minimum range 600 feet (experienced operator)

IMO 600 feet is pretty close but that is what's given in the book.

HTH

Dave

[Waldo.Pepper]

Thanks Ed and Dave. I really appreciate the effort.

Ed, I am familiar with the site. If I'm not mistaken, and even on its title page..

http://www.radarpages.co.uk/links/links.htm

deals with Air Defence Radar, not Airborne Intercept Radar, so as interesting and truly valuable as it is, it has not much on the set I am looking for info on. There are some Airborne sets (H2S Gee Oboe etc) But these are bombing/Navigation systems.

Dave, Thanks I have the Streetly book. It is excellent. However, the information it presents on this set is conflucting with other information I have.

For example.

It is said that the AN/APS-4 equipment had two radar scopes to present the information to the operator. And that the AN/APS-6 system had a simplified display that made it possible to fit it to single seater planes. (like Hellcat, Corsair) The work load was reduced, making is suitable for such an installation. See the following page as well as others.

http://www.strategypage.com/messageb...es/6-20242.asp

If that is the case, then it must have been then AN/APS-6 (or another unidentified variation) that was installed in the Mosquitos.

This is also confirmed in the 2 volume set Radar in World War 2 by Guerlac. The AN/APS-4 was mounted in a pod. It was put on Avengers, and some others but because it was pod mounted, it theoretically could be fitted to ANYTHING, that had a second crewman to operate.it. It also had a fairly capable ASV or anti-shipping capability as well.

Waldo.

[George Hopp]

It also had a fairly capable ASV or anti-shipping capability as well.

Which is to be expected since that is what it was originally designed for.

[Dave Wadman]

I don't have the Streely book to hand at the moments but, IIRC, wasn't the diagram in the book described as a tentative view of the installation with a Monica CRT fitted next to that for the XV?

Dave

[George Hopp]

I don't have the Streely book to hand at the moments but, IIRC, wasn't the diagram in the book described as a tentative view of the installation with a Monica CRT fitted next to that for the XV?

Dave

Boy, Dave, you have a memory like a steel trap. Yes, the Monica indicator is to the left of the AI XV indicator. And, the 'control' box for the Monica is below the control box for the AI XV. It's shown on page 133 of the book.

[Waldo.Pepper]

Originally Posted by George Hopp

Which is to be expected since that is what it was originally designed for.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by Dave Wadman

I don't have the Streely book to hand at the moments but, IIRC, wasn't the diagram in the book described as a tentative view of the installation with a Monica CRT fitted next to that for the XV?

Dave

Not quite, the picture you are remembering is the install of the Mk 10 set. For the Mk XV set there is a diagram showing it in pod form (ala USN installation) and mentions that this installation is NOT how it would have been installed in the Mossie. Page 178.