Lancaster Radar

NX611 was fitted withn the American equipment as suggested.

So what bdo we think?
Was NX611 fitted with the equipment for its FE role or when it was taken back for modification for the French Aeronavale service?
Was it originaly built with a rest bunk that was then taken out?

Ive heard that for the ASV in Aeronavale service there was a radar fitted near the rear turret, is this correct? Or do i have my wires crossed, i cant imagine they were talking about AGLT.

We do have an electrical box fitted above the tail spar which i can imagine was used foir the ‘radar’.

Thoughts?
Thanks for the ideas so far.

Yes… I just realised my answer was a bit incomplete. There’s also a shot showing it in one of the “Lancaster at War” books. The thing I HAVEN’T found is a picture showing all three items installed in one (wartime) Lancaster.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%200866.html

😉

That’s more or less what I thought, although I’ve discussed this with a navigator who used Gee, Loran and H2S on ops, and he didn’t recall ever seeing that style of Gee installation – his recollection was that the Loran/H2S was used by the plotter (who sat at the forward end of the navigator bench). In NX664 it’s fitted on the brackets where H2S (or ASV) would be fitted: http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6707714

Eddie, where was it fitted then?

I believe there were some RAF Lancasters fitted with the Loran Indicator in place of the Gee indicator and with the Gee indicator inset into the right hand end of the nav tabletop.

According to the National Archives the AN/APS-15 (H2X) installation was tested in a Lancaster during the period January to December 1944

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=7971185&CATLN=6&accessmethod=5

which might mean it could be contemporary with the airframe. Also, – and this is just a thought – if all the aircraft intended for the Far East were fitted with American radios anyway, wouldn’t it make sense to fit them with the American version of H2S – ie H2X as well?.

ps. More pictures in the new book Avro Lancaster the Survivors published by Mushroom Model Publications (Ever heard of them James?? :diablo:)

Yes, sorry – incomplete thought there – I was just heading out. It would be the air to surface vessel radar, so for maritime patrol – hence its location in the back of the aircraft, rather than at the Nav’s position. Incidentally, I suspect the radios in NX611 would originally have been American radios (possibly a Bendix TA-12C and an MR-9B?), and that Loran (AN/APN-4) would have been fitted.

Does anyone have any clear photos showing Loran fitted to Lancasters? The only one I’ve found is of it fitted in the restored NX664, and it seems like it’s not the typical location for it.

Correct Peter, NX665 had the same units fitted prior to restoration.
Type683

Wasnt that kit from her postwar career with the French?

I think you’ll find H2X, ASV and H2S are all “much of a muchness”. In fact, when I think about it, presumably the set at the Nav’s station and at the set amidships would use the same signal, just processed in a different way (given that there’s only one radome).