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Chain Home

Chain Home was the name for the original early warning radar system put in place in England. Chain Home equipment was also called AMES Type 1, which was short for Air Ministry Experimental Station. These stations were located along the east and south coasts of England.

 

The Chain Home system was developed when researchers discovered that aircraft reflected short wave radio signals and that these reflections could be detected by Chain Home equipment. Research and development was led by Dr. Robert Watson-Watt beginning in 1935, and by 1939 radar stations making up the Chain Home system were in place.

 

The Chain Home system had a detection range of about 210km in distance and about 3000 feet (0.9km) in height. Radio signals with a 12 meter wavelength would be sent out through a transmitter and signals reflected off of incoming aircraft would be picked up by a receiver. The receiver would then display the signal on a cathode raid tube. An experienced radar operator would be able to interpret that signal and determine the number of incoming aircraft, how far away they were, and in what direction they were heading.

© 2016 The Secrets of Radar Museum

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Disclaimer: The audio files available on this virtual exhibit are the result of a long term oral history interview project conducted by the Secrets of Radar Museum. Sections of these interviews have been compiled here to make them accessible to the general public. Interviews were conducted by different museum staff at different times using different recording devices. As a result, some of the audio clips have background noise or other imperfections. The Secrets of Radar Museum has worked to ensure that the recordings shared here have been refined to increase sound quality and reduce these imperfections, but some recordings will still have flaws due to the limitations of the original audio file. The Secrets of Radar Museum appreciates your understanding in this matter. Please contact us for more information.

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