EM warfare questions about German technology

[Incubus]

The German radar sets seem pretty crude compared to what the allies could offer. I had a couple of questions about it-

1.) Somebody mentioned that on US subs, skippers used radar to obtain firing solutions on enemy ships. While this wasn't necessarily done on German U-boats, a thought occurred; you can manually use the radar (there is a tutorial on the wiki page) and, if you are using manual fire control, would it be possible to obtain a firing solution solely from using the radar? With 100% realism, it would be an interesting way to get medium-range shots on ships in bad weather.

1b.) In theory you could also use Sonar to accomplish the same thing, and fire at ships from max launch depth (20m) without ever having to pop up the scope. Only problem is the pinging is a dead giveaway, and I heard that several pings can cause merchants to wise up (not certain on this)

2.) Historically, was it possible for radar sets to 'jam' enemy radars? It would be neat if you could use your own set to jam an enemy's radar- they'd know you were around but wouldn't be able to find your exact position. In bad weather you could then, in theory, sneak around SURFACED. However I know that Germany was slow to pick up on the use of centimeter-band radar, which became the standard for the Allies in WWII.

3.) Were German submarine radio receivers able to intercept enemy communications? It would be fun to hunt enemy merchants by zeroing in on merchant traffic.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Incubus

The German radar sets seem pretty crude compared to what the allies could offer. I had a couple of questions about it-

1.) Somebody mentioned that on US subs, skippers used radar to obtain firing solutions on enemy ships. While this wasn't necessarily done on German U-boats, a thought occurred; you can manually use the radar (there is a tutorial on the wiki page) and, if you are using manual fire control, would it be possible to obtain a firing solution solely from using the radar? With 100% realism, it would be an interesting way to get medium-range shots on ships in bad weather.

Radar at this time was good, but not that good. Naval gunfire is imprecise under the best of conditions, and radar was considered an added plus to visual.

1b.) In theory you could also use Sonar to accomplish the same thing, and fire at ships from max launch depth (20m) without ever having to pop up the scope. Only problem is the pinging is a dead giveaway, and I heard that several pings can cause merchants to wise up (not certain on this)

US subs before the war were told to try 'deep firing'. It didn't work. Sonar can tell you the exact range, but it can't tell you speed or direction.

2.) Historically, was it possible for radar sets to 'jam' enemy radars? It would be neat if you could use your own set to jam an enemy's radar- they'd know you were around but wouldn't be able to find your exact position. In bad weather you could then, in theory, sneak around SURFACED. However I know that Germany was slow to pick up on the use of centimeter-band radar, which became the standard for the Allies in WWII.

I don't think they could, but I'm not sure. I know radio was used that way even in the First World War.

3.) Were German submarine radio receivers able to intercept enemy communications? It would be fun to hunt enemy merchants by zeroing in on merchant traffic.

Again, not sure. OKM certainly picked up transmissions and broadcast locations to U-boats, but radios usually used a crystal for each frequency, so you'd have to have a lot of them.

[P_Funk]

One fact that seriously hampers any of this is that Germany, unlike all her other technology, was seriously behind in Radar development. They had never understood its potential like the Allies and therefore their radar was very inferior in comparison to late war Allied sets.

This seems like it wuld be an idea much better explored in SHIV.

[Incubus]

I actually wasn't talking about naval gunfire but rather using radar to obtain position/bearing/speed of a surface vessel, to get a firing solution.

[_Seth_]

Hmmmm...i belive this is possible. Difficult, but possible....:hmm:

[Captain Nemo]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

One fact that seriously hampers any of this is that Germany, unlike all her other technology, was seriously behind in Radar development. They had never understood its potential like the Allies and therefore their radar was very inferior in comparison to late war Allied sets. much better explored in SHIV.

You're right. The Germans found it hard to believe that the allies had developed radar that could be installed on Coastal Command planes and convoy escorts even though u-boat commanders were constantly reporting that destroyers and ASW planes were finding them on the surface in the pitch black with a great degree of accuracy.

Nemo

[tycho102]

There are two ways to jam radar.

One is called "broad spectrum" jamming, and this relies on random destructive-interference to degrade the signal. You just output random frequencies within the operation band -- something that is easily done with a very poorly tuned magnetron. But then, you're outputting EMF, so that can be traced. This is also easily countered by mixing in a data-signal -- something that requires digital processing.

The second is through "selective tuning". You're still using destructive interference, but this method will have greater reliability in being able to actually jam/deceive the radar. This requires some processing, but it can be achived through purely analog (mechanical) means. Your transmitter has to be tuned to your receiver -- the exact opposite of a "continuously tuned magentron" system. The problem, as it is with a CTM, is that you will constantly burn out your receiver from the feedback. Highly directional antennas are a must, making them very large in comparison to less directional antennas.

Either way, a complex system in the days of vaccum tubes and millimeter-precision machined parts. Not something that lasts long in salt water.