Click
on picture for details.RADAR UNITS
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The "Lost Bastards" of Iron Ridge
During the
Battle of the Kumsong Salient
13 July to 21 July 1953
Compiled by
John R. Carpenter
Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved
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RADAR UNITS
Each radar unit comprised of three pieces: The first piece is similar to a TV set in shape, except it had no screen. Looking at the front of the radar unit you would see a 15 by 30 inch box with the front slightly concave (about 4 inches) with a 4 to 6 inch circular enter piece made out of some type of ceramic. The front pointed at the target. It was about 20 to 22 inches deep with a rounded back, except where there was two connections for cables.
It had a small tripod stand which was useless except in testing. Actual use had a soldier aim or point the device along a defined circle. This was done small arc by small arc by hand as directed by the operator observing the screen.
The second piece was used by the operator. It had an oblong green screen similar to an old oscilloscope with three major knobs. The screen had a 2 to 3 second scan rate from left to right. The up and down lines were black until a white flash (blip) occurred. How high on the screen from the bottom helped identify the range and was marked by a grease pencil. Objects moving were compared to fixed and known distances. This was done by metal stakes pounded in the ground. The unit could "see" for over 1,000 yards. There was a "XPS" with a serial number on the back of the second unit where the cables connected.
The first piece (the actual radar unit) connected to the main unit or second piece. Both pieces then connected to a 24 volt battery pack. Generators dismounted or on the halftracks recharged the batteries.
Gunnery was conducted by shooting predetermined azimuths and elevations. Azimuths were done by compass headings and later each fifty caliber machine gun was given gunnery stakes made out of various items that were laying around.
These radar units were the early relatives of the AN/PPS-4 and AN/TPS-33 radars which the U.S. Army tracked the movements of individuals and vehicles in the early to mid 1960s.
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