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SCR-602
	SCR-602:
Country of origin	United States
Introduced	1943
Type	2D air-search
Frequency	176 MHz-202 MHz
PRF	400 Hz
Pulsewidth	2 microseconds
RPM	5 RPM
Range	70 miles (110 km)
Azimuth	0–360°
Power	100 kW peak

The SCR-602 (Set Complete Radio model 602) also known as the AN/TPS-3, was a mobile, lightweight, medium-range, early-warning radar utilized by the United States and its allies during World War II. The radar was originally designed for use during the initial stages of an amphibious assault or military operation where its lightweight relative to other radar systems was a distinct advantage. Once larger radars such as the SCR-270 or AN/TPS-1 came online the SCR-602 could also be used to fill in gaps in radar coverage.

Early versions of the SCR-602 were based on the British AMES Type 6, an ad-hoc system developed by adapting the electronics and antennas from the airborne anti-submarine ASV Mk. II radar. This produced a small and robust radar that could be quickly moved and set up. This proved highly useful in the field and led to requests by the US Army Air Corps for a similar system. The 602 was initially built in Canada while improved versions were being developed in the US. By 1944 these newer versions had matured and took over from the earlier systems in both US and Allied use.

Numerous variations of the SCR-602 were manufactured during the war. It was utilized by the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. In the post-war era, these were generally replaced by the AN/TPS-1.

Developing the radar

Development of the SCR-602 began in 1942 at the behest of Colonel Gordon P. Saville of the United States Army Air Corps. With delays to the manufacture and fielding of both the SCR-588 and SCR-527, the Air Corps was quickly seeking another radar for ground-controlled interception. This new radar was an adaptation of the United Kingdom's Chain Home Low radar.^[1]^[2] The Signal Corps was asked to develop a lightweight assault-type radar that could be both air transportable and hand-carried as well as have a range of over 100 miles on enemy bombardment aircraft.^[3] Prior to this request, the Air Force relied on the British lightweight warning (LW) radar, which the Signal Corps studied for ideas.^[4] After testing the VT-158 in various existing sets such as the SCR-268, a team led by Captain John Marchetti incorporated the VT-158 in a new system designated as the SCR-602.^[5]^[4] The original SCR-602, known as SCR-602-T1 for "Type 1", was almost an exact copy of the British LW radar. With the implementation of the VT-158, Marchetti's team developed the SCR-602-T8 (Type 8), which was based on a modified SCR-268 used in the Canal Zone.^[5]^[6] In order to prove that the newly developed SCR-602-T8 was air transportable, the Signal Corps flew the first laboratory model in a Douglas B-18 Bolo from Newark Airport to a test site in Orlando, Florida on 27 February 1943. Upon arriving at its destination, the SCR-602-T8 was set up and calibrated for testing. At the end of the tests, the engineers determined that the model had a range in excess of 110 miles and could be mass-produced.^[7]^[3]

The SCR-602-T8, which was designated as the AN/TPS-3, soon became the most successful variant of the SCR-602 model.^[6] Consisting of a 10-ft parabolic reflector antenna with a horizontal polarized dipole radiator at its focus and a console with an A-scope and a PPI-scope, the AN/TPS-3 became widely used by Army and Marine forces for early warning at beachheads, isolated areas, and captured air bases.^[5]^[6]^[8] Furthermore, the AN/TPS-3 could be assembled and put on the air by a crew of four men in thirty minutes, making it easy to deploy.^[9] Many Japanese kamikaze aircraft attacks were reportedly foiled by this radar.^[5] By 1944, 900 sets of the SCR-602-T8 were manufactured by Zenith Radio Corporation, and the accompanying VT-158's were produced by Eitel-McCullough, Inc., a manufacturer of high-frequency transmitting tubes located near San Francisco.^[5]^[10] However, the exact number of VT-158's produced throughout the war remains unknown.^[7]

Technical description

The radar utilized the BC-800-B IFF receiver/transponder.^[11]

Operational history

The SCR-602 was developed in time to be utilized by the U.S. Army during the invasion of North Africa in November 1942.

Citation

^ "AN/TPS-3". www.radartutorial.eu. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
^ Wendt & Orchiston 2018, pp. 66.
^ ^a ^b Zahl, Harold; Marchetti, John (January 1946). "Radar" (PDF). Electronics. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
^ ^a ^b Thompson, George; Harris, Dixie; Oakes, Pauline; Terrett, Dulany (1966). "Signal Equipment: Radar (June–October 1942)". United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services. Vol. The Signal Corps: The Test. United States Army.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Watson, Raymond; Lange, Robie (16 February 2012). National Historic Landmark Nomination: Camp Evans (PDF) (Report). National Park Service. 1024-0018.
^ ^a ^b ^c "AN/TPS-3". Radar Tutorial. Christian Wolff. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
^ ^a ^b Orr, William (March 1964). "The Secret Tube that Changed the War" (PDF). Popular Electronics. pp. 57–59, 103–105. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
^ "Components and Accessories". Technical Operation Manual for Radio Set AN/TPS-3. United States War Department. 1944.
^ Rejan, Wendy; Chrissie, Reilly; Melissa, Ziobro, eds. (2009). A History of Army Communications and Electronics at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, 1917-2007. Dept. of the Army. pp. 14–16. ISBN 978-0160813597.
^ Brown, Louis (1999). Technical and Military Imperatives: A Radar History of World War 2. CRC Press. p. 262. ISBN 9781420050660.
^ "VK2DYM'S RADIO AND RADAR INFORMATION". Retrieved 7 August 2020.

References

Bibliography

Journal

Wendt, Harry; Orchiston, Wayne (2018). "The Contribution of the AN/TPS-3 Radar Antenna to Australian Radio Astronomy". Journal of Astronomical History & Heritage. 21 (1): 65–80. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2018.01.06. S2CID 256567190. Retrieved 7 August 2020.

Web

SCR-602 radar description

Technical Manuals

TM 11-1126 - Radio Sets SCR-602-A and SCR-602-T6 - War Department - September 1943
TM 11-1326 - Radio Sets SCR-602-T6 and 602A Technical Operation - War Department - May 1944
TM 11-1426 - Preventive Maintenance Radio Sets SCR-602A and SCR-602-T6 - War Department - June 1944
TM 11-1526 - Service Manual For Radio Sets SCR-602 - War Department - July 1944.