Briefcase 'that changed the world' (World War 2 Technology).

BBC ^ | Monday, February 5, 2007 | Angela Hind

[reagan_fanatic]

Very cool - thanks!

[blam]

"For some reason, I thought you'd be interested in this."

Well, you got that correct. I attempted to post it but my search turned up this article...already posted. Thanks.

[cynwoody]

Yeah, a "temporary" building, #17, that they didn't tear down until about 2000.

I believe you are thinking of Building 20.

[ASOC]

The Chain Home radar was HF - closer to OTHR (Over the Horizion Backscatter Radar) than the newer microwave systems in use later in the war. OTHR is making a comeback with the new high power computers in use today.

Back in the day, the SovBlcok had the "woodpecker" radar and we had a ROTHR system where the HAARP system sits today.

From http://www.radarpages.co.uk/mob/ch/chainhome.htm

For all its faults (HF technology, poor low level cover below 2o, slow data transmission and so on) the CH flood-light radar system represented the best general early warning system that could then have been devised given the technological capability and the level of scientific knowledge available in Great Britain at that time. CH held the fort until new technologies such as the cavity magnetron developed by Messers Randall and Boot could be brought into service use.

[RobRoy]

>>possibly the most important development of the 20th Century. <<

Ok, when was viagra developed?

[RobRoy]

What about the laser? What about the IC?

[Eclectica]

Japan was way behind in radar, too, even at the end of the war.

Britain also had a cadre of "coast-listeners", who would pinpoint the arrival of the Luftwaffe.

By knowing the various signatures and numbers of Luftwaffe engines, they could identify "by ear" what fighters and bombers were arriving—and where. (Just as birders do today, when a birdsong is heard in the forest canopy overhead).

The was also a very powerful OTHR (Over-The-Horizon-Radar) transmitting from Switzerland in the 70s. I don't think we ever determined what that was about. 'Good, high country to install it, though.

[investigateworld]

Good story, thanks for posting it & bump.

[Calvin Locke]

I could have sworn it was Building 17. But I heard a piece on it when it was scheduled to be demolished. So that must have been 1998, or 1999, now that I think about it.

"The atomic bomb may have ended the war, but radar won it".

[Kevmo]

BFLR

[BobS]

I took the AF Microwave Principles and Application Course. 2 months. Before you get there, there is another course that lasts 9 months. You must learn everything about DC and AC circuit analysis so the microwave equations make sense. Absorption and reflection coeff's. Return loss, attenuation, linearity, boresight, sidelobes, coupling, noise figure, sidebands, etc., etc. You never forget what you learn in military schools, because you are in class for 6 hours and study about 4 hours more later. They don't waste time on you.

Now I start work an hour or more earlier than when I was AD. I like the challenges.

[aculeus]

bttt

[SuziQ]

Cool technology history ping!

[SuziQ]

Gnome Chumpsky

ROTFL!