Two quick radar questions:

Leitender · 11-29-11, 05:04 AM

Interesting research!

Maybe this is the reason for the reported 1.5km range. The radar antennas were (are) mounted on top of the highest mast (about 15-30m, depending on the ship´s size) to get the widest range. If the target is close, the antenna has to be rotated downwards with the result of watching into the sea, not horizontally parallel to the water surface.

It´s just an asumption, but I read that the outlooks of the japanese Subs had similar problems when looking into the water, not parellel to the surface. Their british counterparts (and the german too) had a quite lower base on which the outlooks stood, so they could recognise the enemy´s silhouette much better. This was obviously the reason, why many japanese Subs were sunk in the indian ocean by british subs.

To get back to the radar, i figure that the radar display is to be disturbed when the antenna looks down into the water. I remember in the 80´s the military aircrafts in Germany exercised flying at very low height (less then 100m/50m, don´t know anymore) not be caught up by russian radar. (I can remember well because in that time many germans protested against those low-level flights).

If not a minimum range, there should be a minimum elevation, below that radar doesn´t work.

11-29-11, 05:04 AM	#6
Leitender Planesman Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 191 Downloads: 50 Uploads: 0	Interesting research! Maybe this is the reason for the reported 1.5km range. The radar antennas were (are) mounted on top of the highest mast (about 15-30m, depending on the ship´s size) to get the widest range. If the target is close, the antenna has to be rotated downwards with the result of watching into the sea, not horizontally parallel to the water surface. It´s just an asumption, but I read that the outlooks of the japanese Subs had similar problems when looking into the water, not parellel to the surface. Their british counterparts (and the german too) had a quite lower base on which the outlooks stood, so they could recognise the enemy´s silhouette much better. This was obviously the reason, why many japanese Subs were sunk in the indian ocean by british subs. To get back to the radar, i figure that the radar display is to be disturbed when the antenna looks down into the water. I remember in the 80´s the military aircrafts in Germany exercised flying at very low height (less then 100m/50m, don´t know anymore) not be caught up by russian radar. (I can remember well because in that time many germans protested against those low-level flights). If not a minimum range, there should be a minimum elevation, below that radar doesn´t work.