The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: SK2 Air Search Radar (original) (raw)
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The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia | |
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| Wavelength | 1.5 m |
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| Pulse Width | 5 microsecond |
| Pulse Repetition Frequency | 60 Hz |
| Scan rate | 4.5 rotations per minute |
| Power | 200 kW |
| Range | 100 nautical miles (190 km) on bomber75 nautical miles (140 km) on fighter30 nautical miles (55 km) on battleship13 nautical miles (24 km) on destroyer |
| Antenna | 17' square 6x6 dipole "mattress" array |
| Scope | 12" (30cm) plan position indicator (PPI) with 20, 75, and 200 nautical mile (37, 140, and 370 km) distance scales5" (13cm) "A" scope with 15, 75, and 373 nautical mile (28, 140, and 690 km) distance scales |
| Accuracy | 100 yards/1 degree90 meters/1 degree |
| Resolution | 1800 feet/10 degrees550 meters/10 degrees |
| Weight | 4900 lbs (2200 kg), of which 2330 lbs (1060 kg) was the antenna |
| Production: | 250 between 1/43 and 4/44. An additional 75 SK-2 were installed between 4/44 and 12/44. |
Also known as CXFA, the SK was an air search radar developed from the SC-2 with a CXAMantenna. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) was provided by a Bl-5 antenna atop the main SK antenna.
Like all long-wavelength seaborne radar, SK had a tendency to reflect off the sea surface to produce self-interference (Lloyd's mirror effect) that created "nulls" in its search pattern at certain altitudes. This made it difficult to maintain contact with approaching aircraft, which often disappeared into a "null" for several miles.This was a significant liability during the kamikaze campaign, when SK was the most numerous air search radar with the fleet and microwave radars less subject to nulls did not yet have the necessary altitude coverage for air search.
References
Friedman (1981)
Historic Naval Ships Association (accessed 2009-7-3)
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