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From: wcsswag@ccs.carleton.ca (Alex Klaus)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: RN AEW (was PS-890)
Message-ID: <1991Apr12.055505.14825@amd.com>
Date: 11 Apr 91 23:38:28 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
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Approved: military@amd.com


From: wcsswag@ccs.carleton.ca (Alex Klaus)



Donald Newcomb Asks:
One thought I had at the time related to the lack of organic AEW
in the British fleet. This was an outgrowth of the doctrinal decision
made in the mid seventies which reduced British carrier operations
to near-home ASW roles, and produced a fleet of carrierlets which
could not support fixed-wing operations required for AEW aircraft such
as the E-2C Hawkeye.  This deficiency was sorely evident in the South
Atlantic War several years later.

The RN still had in 1982 AEW potential however, it was limited to some
Shakeltons, fitted with Gannett AEW radar. Problems with this design, the
Shakeltons was first flown in 1949! Additionally, the Shakelton could not
be used in the in Falkland  becuase of the lack of air-to-air refueling
capabilities. They hopes the Shakelton would hold up until the Nimrod AEW
Mk.2 came into service.

They solved problem, shorlty after the Sheffield incident I believe.
Their solution to the problem was they took some Sea King ASW helicopters,
and attached the Searchwater radar, that was destined for Nimrod AEW Mk.2.
(Note: strange the SEa King AEW got finished, but the Nimrod didn't)
My books say the time scale to finish the Sea King AEW project was about
days.

Usage:
The radar is attached to the side of the helicopter, on pivot mount, that
swings 90 degrees for landing and tack. When in use it sort of looks like
a half inflated beachball hanging off the side off the helicopter.

Range:
According to my copy of the Harpoon computer simulation, is about 173nm.

Hope this answers your question

Alex.