[MilCom] NOLA USS IWO JIMA Question

Ron rojoha at adelphia.net
Sun Sep 11 12:24:36 EDT 2005


Afternoon all....
    Considering the breadth of experiences and qualifications evidenced by 
the denizens of this list, a couple of questions if you please.
    A fly around by a Fox news chopper of the Wasp Class USS Iwo Jima 
anchored in New Orleans shows it is spinning two radars. I would assume one 
is a navigation radar (white bar located forward of the main tower 
structure, rather low) and a larger grey bed spring antenna, above the white 
one but below the big, black bed spring affair which is not spinning.  Out 
of curiosity, which would they probably be running while anchored? The Nav 
and an Air search? Or would the Mk 23 TAS be used to track the choppers and 
other aircraft over the city? Or the AN/SPN-35A/B air traffic control radar?
    Anyone know of a graphic that shows the different radar antenna system 
locations? My Googeling for one has not 'hit' the right page yet.

 A web site describing the Wasp class gives this info on the sensors.
"SENSORS

The Wasp is equipped with the following radars: Northrop Grumman Norden 
AN/SPS-67 G band primary navigation radar; ITT Gilfillan AN/SPS-48E E/F band 
3D air search radar; Raytheon (Hughes) Mk 23 target acquisition system (TAS) 
for sea-skimming missiles, which can simultaneously track up to 54 targets; 
Northrop Grumman Norden AN/SPN-43 air search radar; Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)9 
C/D band secondary air search radar; and ITT Gilfillan AN/SPN-35A/B air 
traffic control radar. Northrop Grumman AN/UPX-24 interrogator friend or foe 
(IFF) is fitted. "



    TIA, Ron




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