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Catfish · 03-22-10, 08:39 AM

Hello Noren,
while the germans thought that even their passive radar-detecting devices emitted some kind of radiation (and therefore did not really like to use it), the allied did not have (as far as i know) the capability to pick up passive radar detection devices, or even active radar signals (anyone?), let alone the japanese.

While Germany had and used Radar, and was quite good in building big exact long-range devices on warships etc., it lacked smaller types, especially the cm radar was considered as impossible to build into small aircraft or U-boats, by scientists in Germany, because the device was considered as being too big to install it on a plane, or U-boat.
With their well-developped cm radar allied ships and planes were theoretically able in the later war, to detect snorkels and periscopes, and generally all smaller things above sea level.

This is why german U-boat commanders and the high brass could not explain what was happening, like aircraft attacking at night in almost zero visibility. Instead they thought of a traitor in the naval headquarters.
Another guess was the allies using some kind of infrared night visison detection, and England mocked them by just using red lights (decyphered messages again). It was a hidden and secret war, no side knew exactly what the other was able to.
After the war it turned out that Germany had indeed become a leader in infrared night sight technology, due to the research on the assumed allied technology - which had not really been in existence at that time.

When a U-boat's Enigma telegram with a position had been decyphered, a cross bearing done (if the transmission was long enough, what it was mostly not due to the german short "taboo" system of sending), it was easy to send a cm radar-equipped plane to the vicinity of the last position, and let it find the boat.
It was not quite that simple, but with trained crews, personnel, bombs, rockets and special homing-in airborne torpdoes - you get the idea.

US radar was another standard, they used 10 cm radar which was enough against enemy ships and planes, but with a reliable turning system, and high above the bridge on a radar mast, improving range - something that was not done even on the later IXD2 boats. The german late active radar was often poorly built, with the turning electric motor failing after a few days of use. The new electric boats like XXI came too late to be decisive.

Greetings,
Catfish

03-22-10, 08:39 AM	#3
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,820 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Hello Noren, while the germans thought that even their passive radar-detecting devices emitted some kind of radiation (and therefore did not really like to use it), the allied did not have (as far as i know) the capability to pick up passive radar detection devices, or even active radar signals (anyone?), let alone the japanese. While Germany had and used Radar, and was quite good in building big exact long-range devices on warships etc., it lacked smaller types, especially the cm radar was considered as impossible to build into small aircraft or U-boats, by scientists in Germany, because the device was considered as being too big to install it on a plane, or U-boat. With their well-developped cm radar allied ships and planes were theoretically able in the later war, to detect snorkels and periscopes, and generally all smaller things above sea level. This is why german U-boat commanders and the high brass could not explain what was happening, like aircraft attacking at night in almost zero visibility. Instead they thought of a traitor in the naval headquarters. Another guess was the allies using some kind of infrared night visison detection, and England mocked them by just using red lights (decyphered messages again). It was a hidden and secret war, no side knew exactly what the other was able to. After the war it turned out that Germany had indeed become a leader in infrared night sight technology, due to the research on the assumed allied technology - which had not really been in existence at that time. When a U-boat's Enigma telegram with a position had been decyphered, a cross bearing done (if the transmission was long enough, what it was mostly not due to the german short "taboo" system of sending), it was easy to send a cm radar-equipped plane to the vicinity of the last position, and let it find the boat. It was not quite that simple, but with trained crews, personnel, bombs, rockets and special homing-in airborne torpdoes - you get the idea. US radar was another standard, they used 10 cm radar which was enough against enemy ships and planes, but with a reliable turning system, and high above the bridge on a radar mast, improving range - something that was not done even on the later IXD2 boats. The german late active radar was often poorly built, with the turning electric motor failing after a few days of use. The new electric boats like XXI came too late to be decisive. Greetings, Catfish Last edited by Catfish; 03-22-10 at 08:51 AM.