Radar Recollections - A Bournemouth University / CHiDE / HLF project

 
 
 

The prototype CH system...


During the latter part of the summer of 1935 confidence amongst the scientists and engineers was growing that a system of major national importance was emerging. By October, Watson Watt had clarified the proposal that a series of transmitters and pairs of related receiver stations should be constructed all along the east and south coasts of Britain. It would be necessary to position the receivers some 10 miles away from each transmitter because they were easily 'swamped' with signals from the transmitter if they were positioned any closer. As a first step, a demonstration station needed to be built.

Also, as the success and size of the team grew and so did their need for more space and facilities. The Air Ministry commandeered Bawdsey Manor, just ten miles away, in February 1936. Thus it was that Bawdsey Research Station came into existence a month later.

One of their first technical tasks was to solve this problem of 'receiver saturation' (the overwhelming of a receiver signal by the high power of the transmitter signal) and it was duly resolved during the spring. When the preliminary sites became operational, it was practical to have both units based at the same site. The first operational 'CH' station was understandably installed at Bawdsey with all haste. A further 5 prototypes to cover the Thames Estuary were ordered and were to be constructed by August 1936.

Much of the research into high power transmitter valves had been carried out in the valve laboratories of Metropolitan Vickers under the leadership of Dr Dodds and so it was logical thatthey should obtain the contract to supply the new transmitters. Some of the insulation parts were actually manufactured in Germany !

It has often been noted that the very close cooperation between the Government researchers and the manufacturing companies such as EMI, GEC and Vickers might explain how this new technology was brought to fruition so successfully and in such a short space of time.By the spring of 1939, some 22 'east coast-type'CH stations had been constructed and were fully operational.

 
C.H Coverage in Britain
A map of Bitain showing the extent of the CH coverage by 1940
 
 
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