[K3PZN-List] About Wullenwebers from Wikipedia.

[Neeriemer, Bill (NIH/NLM/LHC)]

(My dad worked on the San Vito AS base mentioned in this article. 73 Bill
W3STG)

 

Wullenweber

>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 

The Wullenweber, or Circularly Disposed Dipole Array (CDDA)/Circular Dipole
Antenna Array (CDAA) is a large circular antenna array used by the military
to triangulate radio signals for intelligence gathering and the occasional
maritime rescue. Also known as an elephant cage.

 

CDAA technology was developed by the German navy during the early years of
World War II. The technical team leaders were Dr. Pietzner, Dr. Schelhorse,
and Dr. Wachtleter. The latter was a co-founder of Plath Co and later a
consultant to Plath and Telefunken (electronic companies). Although all
three men retired in West Germany, some of their second-echelon technicians
were taken to the USSR after the war. This led to the Soviets deploying 20
CDAAs before the United States military became interested and developed
their own version of the technology.

 

The CDAA was also known worldwide as the Wullenweber Antenna. Jurgen
Wullenweber was born in Hamburg in 1488, and was a mayor of Lubeck from 1533
to 1537. He was a legendary figure, known as a fighter against injustice and
the wealthy class (sort of a Robin Hood); and an upholder of the Protestant
Cause. He was killed in Wolfenbutiel in 1537 while on a foray to uphold his
ideals, and became somewhat of a martyr. His name was used by the Germans as
the covername for their CDAA project during WW II.

 

The original two systems were built by the Germans. The first CDAA was built
at Joring in Denmark (it was destroyed following the war in accordance with
the Geneva Convention). Dr. Wachtler arranged to have a second one built, at
Telefunken expense, at Langenargen/Bodensee, for further experiments after
the war. These are the only two HF CDAAs ever built by the Germans.

 

In the years following the war, the U.S. disassembled the CDAA at
Langenargen/. Bodensee and brought it back to the University of Illinois. Ed
Hayden, a young engineer, led the reassembling of the CDAA and studied it.
Three antenna designs came out of this study:

 

    * AN/FLR-9 - used by the U.S. Air Force and Army;

    * AN/FRD-10 - used by the U.S. Navy

    * AN/FRD-13 - 'Pusher' System used primarily by the British.

 

In 1959 the first contract to build an AN/FLR-9 antenna receiving system was
awarded to the Sylvania Corporation. The contract called for the completion
of two AN/FLR-9 systems at San Vito AS, Italy and RAF Chicksands, United
Kingdom. Both were completed in 1962.

 

Following the completion of these CDAAs, a second contract was awarded to
Sylvania to build systems at Misawa AB, Japan and Clark AB, Philippine
Islands; one in Pakistan (never built), one at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and
one at Karamursel AS, Turkey. The last two were completed in 1966.

 

The U.S. Army awarded a contract in 1968 to F&M Systems to build two
AN/FLR-9s; one at USASA Field Station Augsberg, Germany and one at Udorn,
Thailand. Both were completed in 1970. The Army's version of the AN/FLR-9
has the same antenna design as the Air Force version, but the design of the
delay lines in the Beam Forming Networks inside the Central Building are
different. The Army used what is called a "Lamp Cluster" delay line design
and the Air Force used a "Coaxial" delay line design.

 

The other five AN/FLR-9 systems have been dismantled:

 

    * 1975 Udorn, Thailand following base closure;

    * 1977 Karamursel AS, Turkey following a conflict over foreign aid to
Greece;

    * 1991 Clark AFB, Philippine Islands following the Mt. Pinatubo volcano
eruption;

    * 1993 San Vito, Italy following base closure;

    * 1996 RAF Chicksands, United Kingdom following base closure.

 

As of 1996, only three AN/FLR-9 were left in operation around the world: the
U.S. Air Force's at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and Misawa AB, Japan, and the U.S.
Army's in Augsberg, Germany. The one in Augsberg was turned over to the
German Intelligence Service (BND) in 1998, while the others are believed to
now be dismanteled.

 

Bill Neeriemer 
CEB 
Contractor, MSD inc. 
(301) 435-3226