AN/SPS-6 is a two-dimensional

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

manufactured by Bendix and

Westinghouse Electric The Westinghouse Electric Corporation was an American manufacturing company founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse. It was originally named "Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company" and was renamed "Westinghouse Electric Corporation" in ...

. It was used by the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of ...

as a first-generation air-search radar after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, and was widely exported to allies. In addition, the improved AN/SPS-12 is the derivative types developed in other countries.

AN/SPS-6

This machine was developed as a successor to the

SR-3 SR 3 may refer to: * SR-3 Vikhr, a Russian assault rifle * SR-3 Blackstar, the first stage of a reported American covert spaceplane program * Matich SR3, an Australian sports car * Radical SR3, an English sports car * ''Saints Row: The Third'', a ...

or SR-6 radar, which is an

L Band The L band is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designation for the range of frequencies in the radio spectrum from 1 to 2 gigahertz (GHz). This is at the top end of the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, at the lower en ...

air search radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weat ...

that has been used in the past. The development is said to have been influenced by

AN/TPS-1 The AN/TPS-1 Radar was an early warning and tactical control radar developed by Bell Labs and the MIT Radiation Laboratory during World War II. Initially used by the US Army, it was later used by the United States Air Force Air Defense Command, a ...

, which was a portable air radar for the ground. As the

antenna Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to: Science and engineering * Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves * Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...

, a parabolic antenna that uses a horn antenna as the primary radiation source is adopted. In addition, the modular design allows the configuration to be expanded or contracted according to the ship on which it is mounted. Initially, the following three models existed.

AN/SPS-6

The antenna dimensions were 18 ft (5,500 mm) x 5 ft (1,500 mm), the beamwidth was 3 ° x 10 °, and it could be detected at 80 nmi (150 km) for the fighter.

AN/SPS-6A

The antenna size was similar to -6, but the beamwidth was 3 ° x 20 ° and a fighter could be detected at 70 nmi (130 km). HMCS Haida Hamilton Ontario 7

AN/SPS-6B

The beam width is 3 ° x 30 °, 60 nmi (110 km) for fighter aircraft (about one-third for

FH-1 The McDonnell FH Phantom is a twinjet fighter aircraft designed and first flown during World War II for the United States Navy. The Phantom was the first purely jet-powered aircraft to land on an American aircraft carrier and the first jet deplo ...

), and for

B-29 The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fly ...

at an altitude of 31,000 ft (9,400 m). It was detected at 145 nmi (269 km). The prototype was handed over to the Navy in 1948, and in September of the same year, USS Macon began testing. In December, it was installed on USS Winslow,

USS Zellars USS ''Zellars'' (DD-777), was an that served in the United States Navy. Namesake Thomas Edward Zellars was born on 11 August 1898 in Grantville, Georgia. He was appointed a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy on 13 June 1917 and gradu ...

USS Massey USS ''Massey'' (DD-778), an , was a United States Navy ship that served between 1944 and 1973. Construction ''Massey'' (DD-778) was laid down on 14 January 1944 by Todd‑Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Seattle, Washington; and launched on 12 Septemb ...

and

USS Saipan Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS ''Saipan'', after the Battle of Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands that was a scene of heavy fighting in World War II. * The first was commissioned as a light aircraft carrier in ...

. The mass-produced AN / SPS-6A / B began delivery in sequence from 1950 to 1952, including

radar picket ship A radar picket is a radar-equipped station, ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a nation or military (including naval) force to protect it from surprise attack, typically air attack, or from cr ...

s, ''Essex''-class aircraft carriers with (

SCB-27 SCB-27 (also known as "Two Seven-Alpha" or "Two Seven-Charlie") was the United States Navy designation for a series of upgrades to the s (both the short-hull and long-hull ''Ticonderoga'' versions), conducted between 1947 and 1955. These upgrades ...

A), and ''Independence''-class aircraft carriers. It was installed in the anti-submarine aircraft carrier with ( SCB-54). However, when 25 sets of AN/SPS-6, 45 sets of AN/SPS-6A, and 110 sets of AN/SPS-6B were produced, the production shifted to the improved AN/SPS-6C to AN/SPS-6C-E.

AN/SPS-6C

More AN/SPS-6C-E were produced. The AN/SPS-6C is similar to the AN/SPS-6B, but with a lighter antenna, 800 lb (360 kg) compared to the conventional 1,000 lb (450 kg). On the other hand, for this reason, the shock resistance is low and the rotation speed is also reduced.

AN/SPS-6D

The AN/SPS-6D is based on the AN/SPS-6C and omits the IFF, and the final model.

AN/SPS-6E

The AN/SPS-6E, uses a more improved transmitter.

Onboard ships

United States Navy

Essex-class aircraft carrier The ''Essex'' class was a class of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. The 20th century's most numerous class of capital ship, the class consisted of 24 vessels, which came in "short-hull" and "long-hull" versions. Thirty-two ships wer ...

Saipan-class aircraft carrier The ''Saipan''-class aircraft carriers were a class of two light carriers and built for the United States Navy during World War II. Like the nine light carriers, they were based on cruiser hulls. However, they differed from the earlier li ...

Independence-class aircraft carrier The ''Independence''-class aircraft carriers were a class of light carriers built for the United States Navy that served during World War II. Development Adapted from the design for the light cruisers, this class of ship resulted from the i ...

Iowa-class battleship The ''Iowa'' class was a class of six fast battleships ordered by the United States Navy in 1939 and 1940. They were initially intended to intercept fast capital ships such as the Japanese while also being capable of serving in a traditional ba ...

Worcester-class cruiser The ''Worcester'' class was a class of light cruisers used by the United States Navy, laid down in 1945 and commissioned in 1948–49. They and their contemporaries, the heavy cruisers, were the last all-gun cruisers built for the U.S. Navy. Ten ...

Des Moines-class cruiser ''Italic text'' The ''Des Moines''-class cruisers were a trio of very large U.S. Navy heavy cruisers commissioned in 1948 and 1949. They were the last of the all-gun heavy cruisers, exceeded in size in the American navy only by the s that straddl ...

Porter-class destroyer The ''Porter''-class destroyers were a class of eight 1,850-ton large destroyers in the United States Navy. Like the preceding , their construction was authorized by Congress on 26 April 1916, but funding was delayed considerably. They were desig ...

Fletcher-class destroyer The ''Fletcher'' class was a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939, as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types of the and classes. Some went on to serve ...

* Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer *

Gearing-class destroyer The ''Gearing'' class was a series of 98 destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during and shortly after World War II. The ''Gearing'' design was a minor modification of the , whereby the hull was lengthened by at amidships, which resulted in more ...

Main mast of USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) in 1988

Mitscher-class destroyer The ''Mitscher''-class destroyer was an experimental destroyer class of four ships that were built for the United States Navy shortly after World War II. Considerably larger than all previous destroyers, but smaller than their immediate predece ...

Dealey-class destroyer escort The ''Dealey''-class destroyer escorts were the first post-World War II escort ships built for the United States Navy. Slightly faster and larger than the escort destroyers they succeeded, the ''Dealey'' class were fitted with twin-mounted gun ...

Claud Jones-class destroyer escort The ''Claud Jones''-class destroyer escorts were four destroyer escorts built for the United States Navy in the late 1950s. These ships were a diesel-powered version of the earlier and were designed with the aim of producing a cheaper ship suita ...

USS Triton USS ''Triton'' may refer to: *, a tug in commission from 1889 to 1930 *, a tug that served briefly during 1918 *, a submarine commissioned in 1940 and sunk in 1943 *, later SSN-586, a submarine in commission from 1959 to 1969 See also * {{DEF ...

* Suribachi-class ammunition ship

Maritime Self-Defense Force

Harukaze-class destroyer The ''Harukaze''-class destroyer was the first indigenous post-World War II Japanese destroyer class. Its main mission was anti-submarine warfare. Almost all equipment was supplied from the United States according to the U.S. and Japan Mutual Def ...

AN/SPS-12

AN/SPS-12 is a completely improved version based on SPS-6C. The antenna measures 17 ft (5.2 m) x 6 ft (1.8 m), weighs 550 lb (250 kg), and has a PRF of 300 to 600 pps. The radar coverage was similar to the AN/SPS-6B. In addition, it could be operated in an environment with a wind speed of up to 70 kn (36 m / s). The first unit was handed over in September 1953. Later, a new and powerful transmitter (12 MW) could be introduced, which could deliver a detection range of 90 nmi (170 km) and up to 200 nmi (370 km) for jet aircraft. As an improved version, the AN/SPS-12B was developed once, but its introduction was discontinued, and then the AN/SPS-12C, which introduced an RCA

parametric amplifier A parametric oscillator is a driven harmonic oscillator in which the oscillations are driven by varying some parameter of the system at some frequency, typically different from the natural frequency of the oscillator. A simple example of a param ...

in the transmitter and receiver, was deployed. The AN/SPS-12 series was produced in 139 sets in the United States and licensed in Italy. It is also a derivative base along with AN/SPS-6. USS Watchman AGR-16 entering San Francisco Bay

USS Watchman AGR-16 entering San Francisco Bay

The successor, AN/SPS-28 (a miniaturized version of AN / SPS-17), began deployment in 1957, but was soon replaced by the better AN/SPS-29. All of these used the same UHF band (

B Band The NATO B band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 250 to 500 MHz (equivalent to wavelengths between 1.20 and 0.60 m) during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line ...

) as CXAM during the war.

Onboard ships

United States Navy

* Boston-class cruiser *

Guardian-class radar picket ship The ''Guardian''-class radar picket ships were a class of ocean radar picket ships (YAGR, later AGR), converted 1954–1958 from World War II Liberty ships acquired by the U.S. Navy. Their task was to act as part of the radar defenses of the U ...

Italian Navy

HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261) off San Diego 1992

Andrea Doria-class cruiser *

Impavido-class destroyer The ''Impavido'' class were the second group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy after World War II and the first Italian guided missile destroyers. Similar in performance to the US Navy's , these ships were essentially improved vessels, w ...

* Alpino-class frigate * Bergamini-class frigate

Royal Canadian Navy

HMCS Bonaventure HMCS ''Bonaventure'' was a , the third and last aircraft carrier in service with Canada's navy. The aircraft carrier was initially ordered for construction by Britain's Royal Navy as HMS ''Powerful'' during the Second World War. Following the en ...

* St. Laurent-class destroyer *

Restigouche-class destroyer The ''Restigouche''-class destroyer was a class of seven destroyer escorts that served the Royal Canadian Navy and later the Canadian Forces from the late-1950s to the late-1990s. All seven vessels in the class were named after rivers in Canada. ...

* Mackenzie-class destroyer * Annapolis-class destroyer

Maritime Self-Defense Force

* JDS Wakaba *

Ayanami-class destroyer The ''Ayanami'' class was a destroyer class built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the late 1950s. The primary purpose was anti-submarine warfare, so this class was classified as "DDK" (hunter-killer anti-submarine destroyer) u ...

* Ariake-class destroyer

OPS-1 / OPS-2

In the early 1950s, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force obtained AN/SPS-6 under the Military Assistance Plan (MAP) based on the MSA Agreement for installation on the ''Harukaze''-class destroyer, and domestically produced it based on this. The OPS-1 was developed and installed in the first ''Akizuki''-class destroyer. In addition, the ''Ayanami''-class destroyer was equipped with AN/SPS-12, and this technology was backfitted to the OPS-1. Later, the OPS-2, which had the same transmitter and receiver and a smaller antenna, was also developed for installation on the ''Isuzu''-class destroyer. The maximum detection distance when targeting PV-2 was 50 nautical miles (93 km) for OPS-2. In the ships built from between 1958 and 1960, the OPS-1 was mounted on

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

s and the OPS-2 was mounted on

destroyer escort Destroyer escort (DE) was the United States Navy mid-20th-century classification for a warship designed with the endurance necessary to escort mid-ocean convoys of merchant marine ships. Development of the destroyer escort was promoted by th ...

s. Ships after 1962 and 1966 are now equipped with the B Band

OPS-11 OPS-11 is a two-dimensional radar manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric. It is installed as an anti-aircraft search radar on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's escort ship, and it will be the first model originally developed by Japan after World War I ...

. However, after that,

OPS-14 OPS-14 is a two-dimensional radar manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric. It is mainly mounted on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's self-defense ship as an anti-aircraft search radar. Variations include OPS-14B and OPS-14C. The model numbers of the M ...

was developed based on OPS-1 and OPS-2.

OPS-1

* Murasame-class destroyer *

Akizuki-class destroyer ''Akizuki''-class destroyer may refer to: * , the "Type B Destroyer" used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II * , a developed version of the 1942 class * , a Cold War era destroyer used by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force for ...

OPS-2

* Ikazuchi-class destroyer escort * Isuzu-class destroyer escort * Kitakami-class destroyer escort

SPS-501

It was developed in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

by combining the AN/SPS-12 transmitter with the LW-03 antenna manufactured by Signar of the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. In 1967, it was commissioned on board

of the Navy. It was also installed on

Iroquois-class destroyer ''Iroquois''-class destroyers, also known as Tribal classMacpherson and Barrie, p. 262 or DDG 280 class, were a class of four helicopter-carrying, guided missile destroyers of the Royal Canadian Navy. The ships were named to honour the First Natio ...

s until the TRUMP was refurbished from the late 1980s to the 1990s.

Gallery

File:JS Harukaze (DD-101).png, AN/SPS-6 aboard

JDS Harukaze JDS ''Harukaze'' (DD-101) was the lead ship of Harukaze-class destroyers, and the first destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force to be built in Japan since the end of World War II. Construction and career The ship was laid down at ...

File:Italian destroyer Impavido (D570) underway in the Mediterranean Sea on 19 May 1983 (6474637).jpg, AN/SPS-12 aboard

Impavido Miltefosine, sold under the trade name Impavido among others, is a medication mainly used to treat leishmaniasis and free-living amoeba infections such as ''Naegleria fowleri'' and '' Balamuthia mandrillaris''. This includes the three forms of l ...

File:OPS-2 radar on board DE-214.jpg, OPS-2 aboard JDS Tokachi

See More

List of radars A radar is an electronic system used to determine and detect the range of target and maps various types of targets.This is a list of radars. Argentina Australia Brazil Egypt Europe India Military Airborne *LCA MMR - 3D advanced, ligh ...

Radar configurations and types This is a list of different types of radar. Detection and search radars Search radars scan great volumes of space with pulses of short radio waves. They typically scan the volume two to four times a minute. The waves are usually less than a meter ...

* Air-search radar

Citations

References

Norman Friedman Norman Friedman (born 1946) is an American internationally known author and analyst, strategist, and historian. He has written over 30 books and numerous articles on naval and other military matters, has worked for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps ...

(2006).
The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems
'.

Naval Institute Press The United States Naval Institute (USNI) is a private non-profit military association that offers independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national security issues. In addition to publishing magazines and books, the Naval Institute holds se ...

ISBN The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier that is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and ...

* ''Self-Defense Force Equipment Yearbook 2006-2007''. Asaun News Agency. ISBN 4-7509-1027-9 {{DEFAULTSORT:AN SPS-6 Naval radars Military radars of Japan Military radars of the United States Military equipment introduced from 1945 to 1949 Bendix Corporation

AN/SPS-6

AN/SPS-6

AN/SPS-6A

AN/SPS-6B

AN/SPS-6C

AN/SPS-6D

AN/SPS-6E

Onboard ships

United States Navy

Maritime Self-Defense Force

Italian Navy

Royal Canadian Navy

Portugal

AN/SPS-12

Onboard ships

United States Navy

Italian Navy

Royal Canadian Navy

Maritime Self-Defense Force

OPS-1 / OPS-2

OPS-1

OPS-2

SPS-501

Gallery

See More

Citations

References