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Post by regiamarina on Dec 6, 2011 22:59:19 GMT -5
Hey Fellas,
We've been playing a few early Mediterranean and Pacific battles with our group and we've been using the data cards for the various ship classes as listed but one guy raised the point that he didn't think the Australian Navy had radar early in the war. I know we were developing radar and had air warning facilities but have no idea regarding the ships. Just wondering if anyone could tell me if the various Commonwealth navies had naval radar our not or if they were introduced throughout the war. Cheers.
Martin
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jdon
Lieutenant JG
Posts: 11
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Post by jdon on Dec 6, 2011 23:47:46 GMT -5
I believe that in the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN was usually at the end of the line for technical improvements like ASDIC and radar. Logically enough, the Royal Navy looked after its own needs first. The unfortunate result was that many of the Canadian early- and mid-war escorts had very limited detection capability.
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Post by fluorophil on Dec 7, 2011 0:52:58 GMT -5
I think that jdon might be right in that the RN looked after their own needs first - I'll have a look at some of my books for the RNZN ships - IIRC some of the kiwis involved developed / made their own radars - I'll get back to you...
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Post by regiamarina on Dec 7, 2011 6:11:20 GMT -5
Found this article written by a crewman of the HMAS Canberra which certainly seems to support what you suggest jdon. Interesting site in general. Cheers for the help guys as I really had no idea how advanced the Commonwealth ships were compared to the RN. Might drop RDR fire control to STD for Commonwealth ships before mid 1942. ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/HMASHIPSCanberraandShrops.html Martin |
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Post by fluorophil on Dec 19, 2011 22:23:14 GMT -5
For the RNZN, it seems that they were developing and building radar sets in 1941. Friedman (British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After (2011), p 238) writes that HMNZS Achilles was fitted with early experimental sets from early to mid 1941, while HMNZS Leander was fitted with SWG and SW sets in October - November 1941. I'm not too sure as to exactly where he got his information from (there is a comprehensive bibliography), but I would say that he would be pretty accurate. I'm not too sure if there is anything that could be read online, though...
Hope this helps...
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Post by regiamarina on Dec 20, 2011 0:13:34 GMT -5
Interesting. Cheers for the info Flurophil.
Would the RNZN ships be different to other Commonwealth navies in that they were the NZ Division of the Royal Navy before 1941 so were essentially British ships with New Zealand crews?
Martin
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Post by shellback on Feb 22, 2012 0:58:41 GMT -5
Well the Commonwealth had the Type 273 radar as early as '41, and it was the 273 that allowed the HMS Duke of York to detect the Scharnhorst in '43 at 45,000 yards. Of course if you follow this link --> click here It says the HMS Sheffield was fitted with a Type 79 radar which saw service as early as 1938. Of course you also have the technical aspect that the Royal New Zealand Navy didn't exist before October 1, 41. so yes pre- 10-41 they would be HMS, with the New Zealand division designation, and of that the HMS Achilles, later HMNZS Achilles is the first to be fitted with 'radar' |
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