[REQ] US APR Radar/Signal Detection Ability

[M. Sarsfield]

Since 1.5 has added the ability to detect enemy radar signals on the u-boats, I was wondering if this could be modified to include the capability on US subs? US Subs had 4 to 6 APR receiver units (different frequency ranges) on board to analyze intercepted radio and radar signals. It's nice to know that someone's out there looking for you, whether from air, sea, or ground. Intercepting a nearby radio transmission would be nice, too.

So, to make a long story short, this is a request to the mod community to add these features.

[AlmightyTallest]

An excellent idea, I didn't realise fleetboats had that capability. It would add a new tactical dimention to hunting and avoiding the enemy.

[bluedingo]

I was thinking the other day, what if when you were spotted by aircraft or ship you received a radio message along the lines of:

From: Tojo Maru
To: All available forces
ENEMY SUBMARINE ENCOUNTERED AT E121'45.N20'30 X REQUEST ASSISTANCE X

Or:
From: Okikaze
To: Task Force Honshu
KIKEN KIKEN X SUBMARINE DETECTED X EVADE

And maybe you could get a bearing on your nav map.

[M. Sarsfield]

The loop antenna on the subs were DF (direction finding) antennas. You wouldn't be able to pinpoint the location (unless you had another ship also doing DF on the same source), but you would have a bearing to the source of the transmission.

[bluedingo]

Originally Posted by M. Sarsfield

The loop antenna on the subs were DF (direction finding) antennas. You wouldn't be able to pinpoint the location (unless you had another ship also doing DF on the same source), but you would have a bearing to the source of the transmission.

Yeah, kind of like the modern ESM masts, no?
By maybe you could get a bearing, I meant 'Maybe it is technically feasible'. And if you already realised that, sorry for overexplaining.

[caspofungin]

it's a good idea, the issue imo is that you can't limit the info you're given to bearing only -- same issue with the SD, so it makes things a little too easy. there's none of the suspense inherent in, "is that radar source 5 or 50 miles away?"

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by caspofungin

it's a good idea, the issue imo is that you can't limit the info you're given to bearing only -- same issue with the SD, so it makes things a little too easy. there's none of the suspense inherent in, "is that radar source 5 or 50 miles away?"

There is no bearing information given when a radar detector picks up a contact, only a message along the lines of "radar signals detected."

[M. Sarsfield]

Agreed and the SD radar A-Scopes didn't give bearing, but they did give range. It's not about easy. It's about realism. With an A-Scope I know how many air contacts there are, how far out they are, and how fast they're approaching my position. SHCE had this and I miss it sorely.

The game should give a bearing for the detected emissions, too. That's the beauty of DF.

[AlmightyTallest]

Discovered some U.S. Submarines were being upgraded with AN/APR-1

Info listed about it at this site: http://hereford.ampr.org/millist/m3.html

AN/APR-1

Radio receiving set, Countermeasures, 40-1000 MHz (harmonics to 2850 MHz), 12 VDC @ 6.25 A. Major component CPR-46ABC or AM-12/APR-1 and TN-1B, TN-2B and TN-3B tuning units, Replaced by AN/APR-4 and AN/APR-14.

AN/APR-4 is dated 1943 info listed here: http://www.radiomilitari.com/apr4.html


http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08390.htm

[quote]By late 1944, many submarines had limited radar detection installations called radar countermeasures (RCM), although they never included jammers. Plaice's (SS-390) antenna blocked out here appears to be an AS-44, which detected microwave (S-band) signals at 1000-3500 MHz seerving an APR-5AX or SPR-2. Both antennas were omnidirectional, and both could be connected to a pulse analyzer (SPA-1), from which the signal's pulse repetition rate and pulse width could be read. If the radar was a known type, this figure could identify it.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0839024.jpg

[M. Sarsfield]

I think Batfish has 4 or 5 APR / TN sets in the con and another bigger set in the radio room. The bigger set probably analyzed what the smaller receivers detected. Each APR box has a limited frequency range and probably a modulation type, as well (AM, FM, side-band, etc.).

Batfish also has a Friend or Foe Indentification system in the con. There's a black contactor switch which used to be hooked up to explosive charges inside the FFI unit, in case of the chance of being boarded/captured.

I'll have to post some pictures of all of this stuff. Then, you'll really appreciate how much stuff they crammed into the con. The cons portrayed in the game are way too open.

[AlmightyTallest]

Man that sounds neat! Please post some of the pictures when you find the time to do so Sarsfield, I know I'd enjoy seeing the sets.