Radar ranges
 

Does anyone know the range (approximate) of radar during March 42?,especially around Britain and Gib.The reason I need to know this is,after drawing my usual rings around those areas,earlier I thought I was out of the RAF zones and decided to make a run on the surface during daylight.I was wrong as 2 bombers appeared at about 180 degrees forcing me to crash dive.I have scoured the internet regarding all the different versions of radar,mkI,mkII and so on but cant seem to find the exact figures I am after.
Naturally I need to know the range in km and not miles.And speaking of miles,I have the conversion of miles into km at about 1.6,is that right?.
Oh,I also wouldnt mind the attack ranges of bombers during this period.

Cheers lads :up:

The real u-men they did not know!!! ;)



mark1= 8000m in GWX and 1.5 The minimum surface of the detected object [m2].
mark2=10000m in GWX and 1.5 The minimum surface of the detected object [m2].

A lot of u-boats were attacked because they didn't know when or where an Allied bomber would show up. Also because nobody at German high command believed that radar could be made small enough to fit into a plane. Later German bombers had it as well, but not as good, and again they constantly underestimated Allied technology where airborne radar was concerned.
1 mile = 1.609 344 kilometer, or just 1.61. (Google knows all)

I suppose the only thing you can do against air attacks then is pray.Its also better to allow the incoming planes to have their bombing run and then shoot it out with them,then just as they pass over in front of the uboat THEN make the crash dive,because once or twice on my last patrol the crash dive was nowhere near fast enough and I caught a glancing blow on the stern.
Just before I close this post then,let me know what you think of this strategy I formulated,which could be used to defend oneself from an impending air attack:
Average combat range of bombers during 42 = about 1000 miles/1600 km.
I next draw a ring around UK and Gib.,giving me an approximate danger zone.
I worked out from the bomber speed figure in the museum section that they have a rough maximum 4hr flying time.
I then make my first daylight dive and stay submerged for about 4 hrs,after which I surface if all is clear.I used the 4hrs because that will give the bombers enough time to fly back to their base again after their radar goes silent,due to the dive.
I repeat this strategy while I am still in the expected air attack zone,and this strategy could prove very useful to me before any effective uboat radar becomes available.Its like having an early warning system.
Now some of you may not agree with this strategy,but at the very least it would allow a uboat to stay surfaced longer during daylight hours. :hmm:

Those figures you quoted are for ship based radar units?,I needed the range for the main radars based at Britain,and Gibraltar.
Thanks anyway.

a LAND mile is 1,609 km
a NAUTICAL MILE is 1,852 km

...and a swedish is 10 km...but lets not go there. :-)

Ultimately all 3 figures are about the same,give or take a couple hundred kms.
Thats good enough for me.

Cheers :up:

they is for all the files sns that have mark1 or mark2

Looks logical, but you forgot Catalina bombers :lol: They can land on water remember ? :D