Hello Bill and Ray,

 

Thanks for the reply and the link. I came across that photo mentioning that this was the transmitting antenna. It looks just like the Rebecca antenna which I understand was derived  from the British ASV. The trouble is I have looked at lots of period PBY photos and this antenna cannot be seen above the cockpit in any of them.

 

Ray you mention that ASV was a term used in general for the surface vessel type of radar. I see that in the "U.S. Radar - Operational Characteristics of Available Equipment Classified by Tactical Application" that the sets are all in this ASV group. I was thinking that ASV set referred to for this PBY, that sank its first U-boat on August 20th, 1942, was the British ASV (MK II?). I think this is because it was so early in the war that they had modified this PBY with the British designed, Canadian or Philco built ASV This has been pretty much confirmed today because we found evidence that this PBY had a Sturba antenna array above the aft fuselage. Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe that the British ASV used this array. I do not think that other US radars used this array.

 

The airframe also shows the patches on the lower side of the wings where the YAGI antennas were located.

 

The PBY manual does have the ASB installed in later PBY’s so it is possible that this could have been a mod and installed in this particular early PBY but the YAGI antennas typically used with the ASB do not show up in photos of the early aircraft of the mid to late 1942 period. So far the remaining airframe evidence on BuNo 2459 fits the British designed ASV, presumably Mk II, radar.

 

Now the search for information on the ASV begins. I would like to find anything to help identify what components were in the ASV Mk II and possibly how it was installed so we can try to recreate this in 2459. Would any ASV components be available? Size of the antennas and configuration would be helpful to recreate it assuming no components can be located.

 

The Sturba array is quite impressive. I am not much of a radio guy so I do not presume to understand how this antenna worked. There seem to be insulators every 2 feet or so. Multiple vertical leads to the fuselage also heavily insulated. Way above my pay grade.

 

Thanks in advance for any help with this worthy project.

 

Taigh

 

Taigh Ramey

Vintage Aircraft Inc.

7432 C.E.Dixon Street

Stockton, California 95206

(209) 982-0273

(209) 982-4832 Fax

www.twinbeech.com

KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY!

 

From: Bill Strangfeld <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 8:52 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] ASV radar for a PBY

 

Hi,

 

You probably know about this Wiki photo of ASV Mk II antennas but in case you don’t:

 

https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ASV_Mk_II_front_transmitter_antenna_on_Consolidated_Canso.png#mw-jump-to-license

Good luck with your difficult search. 

 

I don’t have any ASV parts but if you know anyone who needs a transmit antenna for the Mk IV airborne radar (the one with two V dipoles), there is one in my garage. Like the center photo below.  I think the Mk IV was called SCR-540 in the US and was used on P-70s and on PV-1 Hudsons, but that info is just from the Wiki.

 

image1.gif

 

 

Regards,

Bill

[email protected]

 

From:

<[email protected]>
Date: March 8, 2022 at 11:09:28 AM EST
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: 'ARC5' <[email protected]>, "'milsurplus@mailman'" <[email protected]>
Subject: [Milsurplus] ASV radar for a PBY

Hello,

 

I am helping the American Heritage Museum with their PBY restoration. This PBY, Bureau Number 3459, has amazing history from WWII. It was the first PBY to sink a U-boat on August 20th, 1942 and is also has the highest number of U-boats sank with 3 to its credit.

 

The goal is to restore it to the configuration it had on the August 20th mission. I learned today (from the battle report) that it had ASV radar installed when it sank that first U-boat.

 

I know it is a pipe dream but would anyone know if any ASV radar components are available? I am also trying to collect any photos showing the ASV installation in a PBY. Anything might help.

 

The other area we are trying to learn more about is the antenna configuration for the ASV. The PBY tech manuals show the ASB in later Catalinas but nothing so far on the ASV. Would you know of any technical manuals for the ASV that we could get copies of? Sometimes they show installations and antenna configurations.

 

Is there an ASV guru out there that I could talk to?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Taigh

 

Taigh Ramey

Stockton Field Aviation Museum

7430 C.E.Dixon Street

Stockton, California 95206

(209) 982-0273

(209) 534-4466 mobile

(209) 982-4832 Fax

KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY!

 

 

Virus-free. www.avg.com

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