Deployment of radar on ships began in 1937 with
the Seetakt FuMO units which were similar to the Freya but operated on a
wavelength of 60 cm (500 MHz). Four units were built and installed on the
"Koenigsberg," "torpedo boat G10," battleship
"Admiral Graf Spee," and the "Strahl." The Admiral Graf
Spee used this unit successfully against shipping in the Atlantic. In Dec.
1939, after heavy fighting, the Admiral Graf Spee was severely damaged and the
captain scuttled the ship in the neutral harbor off of Rio de Janeiro. The
ship sank in shallow water such that its radar antenna was still visible.
British photos taken of the ship showed the mattress radar antenna of the
Seetakt radar. This is the first
time that the British had seen radar being used by the Navy. In 1940, the
British started deploying ship born radar.
In 1939, GEMA began delivery of 31 Seetakt radar sets called Dete 1 that
operated on a wave length of 81.5 cm (368 MHz).
The 500 MHz antenna of the Seetakt radar on the gun sights of the "Admiral Graf Spee", 1939. |
The "Togo" a hunter escort ship with a Freya radar on the bow, a Wuertzburg-Riese on the stern and two Y-Stations mid ship. 1940. |
The Seetakt radar sets were similar to the Freya FuMG 39 G shown above. Range was 20 km with an accuracy of 70 m.
Azimuth accuracy was 3 deg. |
The heavy rotating mast for the Seetakt radar is clearly seen on the Destroyer Z 24. |
The heavy cruiser "Admiral Scheer" with the Seetakt radar on the gun
sights. |
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