There has been a lot of talk about the realism and fairness of Tab7-1. Below, I have accumulated information from several sources in Wikipedia, mostly, updating and correcting some of the statements about the range and effectiveness of the Chain Home radar system.
In addition, I have included a possible modification to Tab4-1, which would enable the removal of Tab7-1.
Performance and Limitations
CH was not able to detect aircraft at lower altitudes and thus was used in conjunction with the high-VHF band (200 MHz frequency) Chain Home Low system, or AMES Type 2, which could detect aircraft flying at minimum altitude level of 500 ft (150 m). This was further refined by the addition of Chain Home Extra Low, or AMES Type 14, which gave cover down to 50 ft (15 m) but at short ranges of only approximately 30 miles (50 km).
Chain Home had many limitations. With fixed antennas facing the sea, the Observer Corps had to be employed to report aircraft movements once the coast was reached. With detection poor below 5,000 ft (1,500 m), Chain Home Low stations were placed between Chain Home stations to detect aircraft down to 2,000 ft (610 m) but only out to 35 mi (56 km) from the coast, about one-third the range of Chain Home.[
Primitive as Chain Home was, it was brilliantly used. They took advantage of nulls in their radiation pattern to determine the altitude of an incoming formation. If the return dropped off 40 miles out, for instance, it might mean the aircraft were at 15,000 feet.
Chain Home was especially important with getting the best use out of fighters such as the Spitfire and Hurricane. Rather than have continuous, fuel-consuming patrols, they could be held back and launched when there was just enough time for them to meet the incoming foundations. That allowed them the maximum time for dog-fighting.
Two displays (see Pics) of the Chain Home coverage during the Battle of Britain. Hopefully, these put to rest any doubts about how soon CH could detect, and track, German raids.
Here we see WAAF radar operator Denise Miley (see Pic) plotting aircraft on the CRT (cathode ray tube) of an RF7 Receiver in the Receiver Room at RAF Bawdsey CH station.
The green cathode ray tube displays the signal received. At the left hand edge of the screen is the pulse sent out by the transmitter: the signal returned by an aircraft can be seen towards the centre of the screen. The scale across the tube is calibrated up to 322km (200 miles). A cursor is moved by the operator to the position of the trace, and this information is automatically passed to the calculating machine. Her right hand has selected the direction or height finding and her left hand is ready to register the goniometer (angle measurer) setting to the calculator.
To measure the bearing from the radar station to the aircraft the operator turns the goniometer until the 'blip' disappears. The scale is calibrated in degrees and this information also passes to the calculator. By means of a switch the goniometer can be connected to the height aerials and the process is repeated to enable the calculator to compute the aircraft's position and height.
Operating frequency: between 20 and 60MHz
Wavelength: Between 5 and 15 metres
Maximum range: 200 miles
Fighter Command
The blocks (see Pic) being moved around the table represent the most current positions of German raids and British fighters. These blocks showed aircraft type, altitude, speed, and location relative to locations on the map.
My suggestion for an improvement to Tab4-1 is to display small blocks in the CloD map, giving direction, height, and probable number and aircraft type. This would replace the text now used for Tab4-1, and would be shown on the CloD map in their current locations each time Tab4-1 was activated.
This modification to Tab4-1 would, in effect, put on the map the information the Fighter Command control room personal saw and transmitted to the fighters.
This would not be any different than what was available to the British in real life, during the Battle of Britain.
1000px-Battle_of_Britain_map.svg.pngChain_home_coverage.jpgWAAF_radar_operator_Denise_Miley_plotting_aircraft_on_a_cathode_ray_tube_in_the_Receiver_Room_at.jpg0.jpg
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