RADAR

[gg.]

In late 1941 british airplanes used radar to "see" subs...
Capital ships (like the Bismark) had radar also in the early war.
But when did radar become available for destroyers?

[spork542]

In March of 1941, HMS Vanoc successfully found and rammed U-100 by using its radar. So, I would say radar was available in early 1941, but only became consistent and efficient in late 1941 and 1942.

[IrischKapitan]

A small number of British DD had advanced radar in 1941. I Dunno if they could detect Subs though............... The Norfolk and Suffolk that trailed the Bismark had these radar sets.....

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by gg.

In late 1941 british airplanes used radar to "see" subs...
Capital ships (like the Bismark) had radar also in the early war.
But when did radar become available for destroyers?

1938

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_Radar.htm

[TarJak]

Yeah but they were not in widespread use nor had enough operators been trained for RADAR to become an effective sensor until around 1941. The Happy Times were a significant driver for the escalation in installations and training for DD's up to that time.

[ReM]

From the end of 1942 onwards more and more planes and vessels were outfitted with the new and more sensitive centrimetric radar.

This truly spelled doom for U-Boats...even the periscope of a submerged U-Boat could be detected from a considerable distance...

Before that they used much less sensitive sensors, metric radar and even cruder sets.....

One of these sets lit up U-100 before it was rammed and sunk and allowed the cruisers HMS Norfolk and Suffolk to keep track of the Bismarck during its sortie.

[Mush Martin]

and consistency is another issue among the escorts old sets often prevailed
for a very long time. also some of those had some wonderous malfunctions
still where the early radars did help wasnt in detection of the subs so much
as station keeping.
M

Originally Posted by gg.

Capital ships (like the Bismark) had radar also in the early war.

From what I've read, Germany actually develpoped radar prior to the British. But the German's early development was primarily used for fire control and distancing their guns on capital ships not for locating the enemy.