[ARC5] ARC5 Digest, Vol 96, Issue 7

Tue Jan 3 20:08:30 EST 2012

For further info see any number of WWII radar histories and the books "Dark 
Sky, Deep Water" and "Aggressors Vol 4 Patrol Aircraft Versus Submarine" 
that deal exclusively with aircraft versus subs.

Wayne
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <arc5-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 7:41 PM
Subject: ARC5 Digest, Vol 96, Issue 7

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: Aircraft B-18A Bolo (Mike Feher)
>   2. Re: Aircraft B-18A Bolo (Lenox Carruth)
>   3. Re: Aircraft B-18A Bolo (Bill Cromwell)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 19:11:59 -0500
> From: "Mike Feher" <n4fs at eozinc.com>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Aircraft B-18A Bolo
> To: "'Robert  Eleazer'" <releazer at earthlink.net>,
> <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <[email protected]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi -
>
> I am curious how Radar would be used for ASW work? 73 - Mike
>
> Mike B. Feher, N4FS
> 89 Arnold Blvd.
> Howell, NJ, 07731
> 732-886-5960
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] 
> On
> Behalf Of Robert Eleazer
> Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 6:59 PM
> To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Aircraft B-18A Bolo
>
> The B-18 was a medium bomber based on the Douglas DC-2 airliner.  It was
> cheaper to build than the new radical B-17 and so more of them were bought
> than the Flying Fortress in the 1930's.  Fortunately, before the US 
> entered
> the war the B-18 was seen correctly as a comfortable, reliable, and
> inexpensive death trap and so very few were used in combat over enemy
> territory.  Most were used for antisubmarine patrol from the US; some of 
> the
> earliest air to surface radar sets were deployed in B-18's.
>
> So I would say that Mike Hanz's suggestions are correct.  Normally such an
> obsolete aircraft would have not been a priority for updating and if it 
> had
> been relegated to training might well have flown the whole war with
> mid-1930's radio equipment. But if it was equipped with radar for ASW work
> then good radios would have been very important and you would assume it 
> had
> 274-N, BC-223, BC-224 (but note that it probably was a 12V aircraft so I
> don't know about the 274N) and so forth.
>
> So does the B-18A in the museum have a radome like the radar equipped
> versions?  And is it a 12V airplane?
>
> Wayne
> WB5WSV
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <arc5-request at mailman.qth.net>
> To: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 4:38 PM
> Subject: ARC5 Digest, Vol 96, Issue 5
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 18:37:18 -0600
> From: "Lenox Carruth" <radios at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Aircraft B-18A Bolo
> To: "'Mike Feher'" <n4fs at eozinc.com>, "'Robert  Eleazer'"
> <releazer at earthlink.net>, <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <074501ccca79$03cea670$0b6bf350$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi Mike and the group,
>
> It was widely used for ASW work.  The radar was called ASV (Air to Surface
> Vessel).  Since World War II era submarines had to surface to charge their
> batteries (normally done at night), they were easy to spot with radar.
> Periscopes could also be spotted but, as you might expect, range was
> limited.  Sub hunting aircraft had depth charges fitted instead of GP or
> other bombs.  The English, in particular, would spotlight the sub with a
> Leigh light after finding it with radar.  Radar was one of the primary 
> tools
> that allowed the Allies to win the Battle of the Atlantic.  In fact, 
> without
> America's ability to build ships faster than the Germans could sink them 
> and
> the development of long-range ASW aircraft and escort carriers, we would
> have lost that battle and, thus, England.  Surface radar was also widely
> used for ASW work - even on Allied submarines.
>
> The British were ahead of the Americans early in the war in radar
> development.  Two (if I remember correctly) groups of Americans were sent 
> to
> England to study radar before we entered the war.  They were called the 
> ETG
> for Electronics Training Group.  Half of each group studied ground radar 
> and
> the other half studied airborne radar.  The airborne radar at that time 
> was,
> primarily, designed for night interception of bombers.  However, the need
> for night interception decreased and the effort was changed to ASW work.
>
> B-24s and Short Sunderlands were fitted with ASW radar starting with meter
> wavelengths and changing to microwaves when the cavity magnetron was
> developed and integrated into radar transmitters and the klystron into
> receivers.
>
> The story of Radar development and use during World War II is fascinating
> and there are several good books on the subject including the three-volume
> history of the Signal Corps during that war.  I highly recommend those
> volumes for anyone interested in World War II communications and
> electronics.  I can suggest other books if anyone is interested.
>
> Lenox
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] 
> On
> Behalf Of Mike Feher
>
> Hi -
>
> I am curious how Radar would be used for ASW work? 73 - Mike
>
> Mike B. Feher, N4FS
> 89 Arnold Blvd.
> Howell, NJ, 07731
> 732-886-5960
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:39:08 -0500
> From: Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Aircraft B-18A Bolo
> To: Mike Feher <n4fs at eozinc.com>
> Cc: arc5 at mailman.qth.net, 'Robert Eleazer' <releazer at earthlink.net>
> Message-ID: <1325637548.2324.3.camel at lancelot>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> On Tue, 2012-01-03 at 19:11 -0500, Mike Feher wrote:
>> Hi -
>>
>> I am curious how Radar would be used for ASW work? 73 - Mike
>>
>> Mike B. Feher, N4FS
>> 89 Arnold Blvd.
>> Howell, NJ, 07731
>> 732-886-5960
>>
> Hi,
>
> Submarines of that era HAD to run on the surface to replenish air and
> batteries. Their commanders preferred to to that under cover of
> darkness. Radar 'eliminated' that darkness. Radar equipped, night
> patrolling aircraft helped break back of the enemy's submarine fleets.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill  KU8H
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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> End of ARC5 Digest, Vol 96, Issue 7
> *********************************** 