I am trying to get a better understanding of how accurate spotting was and what difference radar range accuracy, radar range resolution made in comparison with optical spotting. My current understanding is that even though radar ranging could be used with early radars out to 25+km, spotting was only possible with those radars inside of 20km. Only from 1943 on could radars like the Mark 8 Mod 1 and the FuMG 40 with the large 6.4m array and the Type 274 spot splashes to 28km. That means to me spotting outside of 19-20km had to be done via optics until then.
Did the magnification of the different optics have an impact on spotting accuracy? And what was the used magnification of the different optics? I understand the top spot optics of most battleships used 25x magnification. I would guess that the base length of the optics would have made little to no difference for spotting while it would make a marked difference for ranging accuracy.
By the way, the base of a splash and the waterline of the target ship were only visible to around 20km from a top spot at 32m above the water. Radar at the same height could see the base of the splashes and the waterline of the target ship out to 25km due to atmospheric refraction.
Frank
Did the magnification of the different optics have an impact on spotting accuracy? And what was the used magnification of the different optics? I understand the top spot optics of most battleships used 25x magnification. I would guess that the base length of the optics would have made little to no difference for spotting while it would make a marked difference for ranging accuracy.
By the way, the base of a splash and the waterline of the target ship were only visible to around 20km from a top spot at 32m above the water. Radar at the same height could see the base of the splashes and the waterline of the target ship out to 25km due to atmospheric refraction.
Frank
statistics: Posted by frank68simon — 9:03 AM - 1 day ago — Replies 7 — Views 234