Neptune (radar)
Neptune was the code name for a number of radar devices that were used by the German Reich as active homing devices in various types of aircraft during World War II . A combination with a so-called reverse warning device (designation suffix V / R) was common. The Neptune, which worked in frequency bands in the m range, was to serve as a temporary solution until the planned devices in the cm range such as the FuG 240 Berlin were available.
FuG 216 : Only series of experiments to clarify the procedure
As an experiment, it was installed in the Fw 190 A-6 / R11 and Bf 109 G-6 . The machines were used by Nachtjagdgruppe 10 until March 1944 , then some machines were equipped with the 6./JG 300 (Plöger Commando).
- Manufacturer: Aviation Research Institute Oberpfaffenhofen ( FFO )
- Version R1 (reverse warning device)
- Frequency: 182 MHz
- Power: 1 kW
- Transmitting and receiving antennas each consisting of four rods, arranged under or on the wing
- A display device with distance information
- Version V (night hunting device for single-engine hunters)
- Frequency: 125 MHz
- Power: 1.2 kW
- Range: 500 m to 3500 m
- Antennas as spikes or on the Fw 190 as antler antennas on the right and left wing.
FuG 217 : Was preferably built into the Ju 88 G-6, only a few Bf 110 G-4, He 219 or Me 262 received the Neptune. It could be coupled with the additional device Elfe , which automatically measured the distance to the target and fired the on-board weapons at a previously set distance.
- Manufacturer: FFO
- Version R2 (reverse warning device)
- Version J2 (night hunting device for single-engine hunters)
- Version V / R (combined night hunting and reverse warning device for twin-engine hunters)
- Two detent frequencies: 158 and 187 MHz
- Search angle: 120 °
- Range: 400 m to 4000 m
- Antennas as spiked and antler antennas.
FuG 218 : built in series
- Manufacturer: Siemens / FFO
- Version R3 (reverse warning device)
- Version J3 (night hunting device for single-engine hunters)
- Version V / R (combined night hunting and reverse warning device for twin-engine hunters)
- Six detent frequencies: 158 to 187 MHz
- Search angle: 120 °
- Range: 120 m to 5000 m
- Weight: 50 kg
- Antennas for R3 and J3 designed as spiked antennas for V / R as antler antennas.
- Version G / R (combined night hunting and reverse warning device for twin-engine hunters)
- Only one piece built. The 2 kW transmitter was replaced by one with 30 kW output, which increased the range to up to 10 km. The device was intended for the Do 335 . The antenna was designed as antlers.
literature
- (1) TME 11-219 Directory of German Radar Equipment
- Gebhard Aders : History of the German night hunt , Motorbuch Verlag, 1977, ISBN 3-87943-509-X
Individual evidence
- ^ Aders, p. 269
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento from December 27, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Aders, p. 210
- ^ Aders, p. 268