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U.S. Navy. Via Ibiblio.org
| Wavelength |
3 cm |
| Pulse width |
0.5 microsecond |
| Pulse repetition
frequency |
2000 Hz |
| Scan rate |
30 scans per minute |
| Power | 0.04 kW |
| Antenna |
17" paraboloid |
| Range | 8,000 yards (7300 meters) fighter 10,000 yards (9100 meters) bomber 15 miles (25 km) submarine 30 miles (50 km) on merchant ship 65 miles (105 km) coastline Minimum range 120 yards (110 meters) |
| Scope |
2" scope operating as B scope
in long-range search modes, O scope in short-range search
modes, and G scope in gunsight mode |
| Accuracy |
3 degrees in search mode 0.5 degrees/25 yards (23 meters) in gunsight mode |
| Weight |
242 lbs |
| Production |
791 sets between April 1944
and
April 1945. |
Also known as AIA-1, the AN/APS-6 airborne radar was a
simplification
of AN/APS-4 (ASH)
suitable
for single-seat fighters. It
used
a much smaller
display, just 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, which eliminated the
need
for a radar operator and served as a radar gunsight.
The parabolic antenna rotated at 1200 rotations per minute; in
search mode, the antenna nodded while rotating to scan a spiral
pattern
coveringa 120 degree cone in front of the aircraft. In gunsight
mode, the nodding was turned off and the antenna scanned a 15
degree cone in front of the aircraft.
Search ranges could be set for 1, 5, 25, or 65 miles (1.6, 8, 40,
and
105 km), and the scope mode automatically changed for each range
setting: The scope operated as a B scope at the two long range
search
settings or as an O scope at the two shorter search ranges. The
scope
also provided approximate altitude information from the sea
return.
The prototype was developed in September 1943, but difficulties with the RF head head delayed production by Westinghouse until April 1944. Almost all the sets produced during the war ended up using the ASD head.
Early sets were produced practically by hand, and were so
expensive that the night
fighter version of the F4U
Corsair
was nearly double the cost of a conventional Corsair. The
effective
range proved to be closer to 2 miles than the 3 miles in the
design
specifications.
References
Friedman
(1981)
Guerlac (1987)
Naval Historical Center (accessed 2008-2-21)
"Westinghouse in World War 2" (1946-10; accessed 2013-2-18)
Wildenberg
(accessed 2013-2-18)
WW2Aircraft.net
(accessed
2008-2-21)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2008-2010, 2012-2013 by Kent G. Budge. Index
