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[sputnikshock]

 AN/APS-4, british designation AI Mk XV

[Thunda]

Ah- I see, most interesting, although the screen size is actually double the real life size! Imagine staring at that for 4 hours straight wondering when you are going to be jumped by a Ju88 or a He219 (which I was just reading about- the Mossie crew managed to throw the Heinkel off in a turn, which had come screaming across their nose firing its cannons. They had had no warning at all and felt quite rightly totally outclassed in terms of radar). Ive also read that the MkXV was good at spotting weather and coastlines.

The early intruder night fighters used to use the 'monica' tail warning device that had been devised for bombers (but only served to alert German night fighters of their presence!), and had to choose the right moment when a German night fighter was on their tail (thinking the Mossie was in fact a heavy RAF bomber), to do a tight 360 degree turn to get on the tail of the German fighter- do it too early, you risked loosing the target, do it too late, you risk being shot down.....

[sputnikshock]

Imagine staring at that for 4 hours straight

Rather not. 

and felt quite rightly totally outclassed in terms of radar

I doubt it. Well, they might have felt outclassed for sure, but infact the Luftwaffe didn't have anything in large-scale production that
came even close to the AI Mk XV technology-wise.

Ive also read that the MkXV was good at spotting weather and coastlines.

Indeed. It actually was a surface search radar as well. The biggest problem while using it as an interception radar was probably it's rather
limited search cone elevation half-angle of only 12°!

The early intruder night fighters used to use the 'monica' tail warning device that had been devised for bombers (but only served to alert German night fighters of their presence!), and had to choose the right moment when a German night fighter was on their tail

IIRC these were referred to as Mahmoud patrols. No wonder they spread Moskito-Panik among the german nightfighters.
 

[Thunda]

Yeah, you can just imagine the conversation in the Bf110G4- "right Franz, hes 1000 meters dead ahead......700 meters....... should be able to see him in a minute......look out for the four sets of exhaust flames....steady....steady.... WHAT THE F*%$ was that? " BANG BANG BANG WHOOOOSH!!!!!!!!

On the XV- I think what they meant was, in a turning fight at high speed, they felt outclassed with the radar- and rightly so- 12 degrees? Wow.....unless the Heinkel was almost directly in front of them, they would never see it!

[sputnikshock]

Azimuth search was a comfortable +-75deg though. But you are right, a sudden steep dive/climb and the target is gone.

[Thunda]

While we are on the subject of airborne intercept radar, here are some details on the MkIV system, the RAF's first standardised squadron level radar. Initially used in a limited fashion in Blenheim MkIF's, it then went onto the Beaufighter (MkIF & MkVIF) and into the Mosquito NFII. It was seriously limited, particularly if the target was low down where it disappeared into ground returns (the 'christmas tree'), but gave the RAF the ability to intercept targets at night for the first time. Used in conjunction with ground radar stations, the night fighters would be vectored to within the range of the enemy aircraft, then when the radar op in the fighter could see it on his set, he would take over the interception and attempt to bring his pilot within visual range.




Heres a picture of a 54 OTU Blenheim MkIF carrying the MkIV radar, which incedently is the type of aircraft/radar that made the first successful intercept and kill at night:

[Kopfdorfer]

Great thread guys.

Kopfdorfer

[Thunda]

Here are some more images of our beloved microwave mossies:
An 85 Sqn Mosquito Mk30 at rest:


85 sqn started the war with Hurricanes and flew in the bitter battles over Kent in 1940. Shortly afterwards, they were moved North to Yorkshire to rest and re-group at RAF Church Fenton. After a short period on Defiants, they moved to the Douglas Havoc, then in August '42, they received the Mosquito and began night-fighting over the UK. In March '43, they began intruder operations over enemy territory. On 1 May 1944 the squadron became part of No 100 Group and whilst continuing the intruder role, it also took on the bomber support role, accompanying the Main Force on its deep penetrations mission into Germany.

85 Sqn infront of a MkXII

Profile of an 85Sqn MkXII- any skinners interested?

An 85 Sqn MkXXX Taxis out for an intruder mission over Germany:

Another MkXXX at rest with its pilot, Alan 'Red' Owen DFC DFM.

A rather scorched MkXII with its crew, F/O N.L.Bamford & F/O E.R.Hedgecoe, after destroying a Ju88 of II/KG54 on the night of 24th/25th March 1944, which blew up and they were caught in the explosion!

[Thunda]

And on the subject of the MkXV ASV radar that was used on some intruder FB MkVI aircraft, heres what the nose looked like (I quite like it).




The aircraft above belonged to 515sqn

Squadron Motto: "Celeriter fertite ut hostes nacesit" ("Strike quickly to kill the enemy")
Badge: A gauntlet holding a winged dager in bend sinister, thrusting to the dexter.

The Squadron was formed on the 1st of October 1942 at Northolt and transferred to Little Snoring in December of 1943. It started with Defiants fitted with enemy radar jamming equipment (Operation Moonshine). Beaufighters replaced the Defiants in June 1943 and the squadron was converted to Mosquitoes in February 1944
   No.100 Bomber Support Group of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command, took over the counter-measure operations with 515 Sqn joining in about January of 44. Intruder missions began a month later and continued until the end of the war.
  The purpose of No. 100 Group was mostly electronical warfare, radio countermeasure, radar jamming and night-fighter intrusions. Many of 515's aircraft was used in these rolls. Mosquitoes flew from Little Snoring to many different destinations to harass the Luftwaffe night-fighter commands.

[Thunda]

157 Sqn were reformed at Debden on 13th December 1941, receiving Mosquitoes in January 1942 and becoming the first Mosquito night fighter squadron. No 157 patrolled East Anglia and in July 1943 Mosquito VI fighter bombers were added, taking part in intruder missions over France and the Netherlands. In November 1943 the squadron performed similar duties from Cornwal, and in 1944 did defensive patrols over the Irish Sea. In May 1944 it joined No 100 Group, providing support for heavy bombers over Germany by flying sweeps in search of enemy night fighters. 157 Sqn codes were 'RS', which is what RAF aircraft in IL2 default to!!!
3 157 SQN MkXXX in a rare formation flight over the UK

A 157 Sqn MkXIX at rest:


125squadron moved to RAF Fairwood Common in Sept 1941 and became fully operational with the Defiant proving to be a more than effective night fighter. By March 1942, 125 Squadron started converting to the twin-engined Beaufighter. Defiants and Hurricanes were also used to supplement the Beaufighters. Aircrews named some of their aircraft in recognition of its Newfoundland heritage. St, John's, Corner Brook, Deer Lake and Buchans were some of the names used.

November 1943 saw the squadron move to RAF Valley in Wales to enable patrols to take place over the Irish Sea. With a conversion to Mosquitos in February 1944 No. 125 moved to RAF Hurn in preparation to cover the Operation Overlord landings in Normandy. With the commencement of V-1 attacks on London the squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop to assist in the City's defence and to fly patrols from RAF Bradwell Bay over the Low Countries. A move to RAF Coltishall saw the squadron defend against enemy intruders and flying bomb carriers whilst undertaking reconnaissance to locate the remainder of German shipping.
A 125 Sqn MkXXX

A late 100 Group MkXXX machine. Note the lack of flame dampers.

[sputnikshock]

No. 85 Sqn was also among the first ones to receive AI Mk X and Mosquito XVIIs in late 1943/beginning of 1944.
When 85 Sqn joined 100 Group - together with 157 Sqn - in May 44 they both converted to NF.XIXs. Didn't immedeatly join Bomber Command operations over the continent though as their NF.XIXs needed to be refitted with Monica and Gee first. They then joined anti-diver operations from West-Malling, and as the V1 threat was overcome would finally support BC in full force.
NF.XIXs of 85 and 157 Sqn where the first centimetric radar Mosquitos which where allowed to fly into Germany in significant numbers.
Until then, the technology was regarded as too advanced and the risk of it falling into enemy hands seemed too big.

[Thunda]

Indeed so, Sputnik.
The next photo is not for Mosquito lovers of a nervous disposition. For those of you who thought the Mossie could never be ugly, I bring you........

TURBINLITE MOSSIE!!!!! DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUH!!! "Scream"

Or how about this- built in small numbers to deal with the extremely high flying Ju86P recon aircraft, it was based on a B MkXIV with paddle bladed props and 4 X 303.Brownings in a belly pack- the cockpit was pressurised and it was painted a very deep blue all over. It was operated by the specialist 'C'Flight of 85Sqn.


NF MkII cockpit with MkVIII Radar:


Thats all for now!