Early Fire-Control Radars for Naval Vessels

OR a number of years before the war a very intensive development effort was under way in the Army and Navy laboratories, and in several commercial laboratories, on the application of radio methods to the location of objects at a distance. The equipment which resulted was eventually called " R a d a r " equipment by the Navy and this term is now almost universally used. The urgent needs of the war have resulted in the very rapid development and extensive application of this new science during the last few years. Radar equipments of many different types have been designed to perform specific functions on land and sea, and in the air. These equipments have had an important part in the winning of the war and the recent relaxation in secrecy regulations now permits publishing some of the story. In this present article a description of the Mark 3 and 4 Fire-Control Radars for Naval Vessels will be given, together with a little of the history that preceded their development. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND