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Radiolocation (Radar) Unit GL III(c)
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This photos, dated 26 Jan 1943, show an early example of Radar (originally known as Radiolocation) equipment.
The following information is courtesy of Brian Mendes.
This set of photos relate to the Canadian GL III(c) gunlaying radar adapted by
the Radio Branch of the National Research Council (from British specifications) and
manufactured at Research Enterprises Limited, Leaside, Toronto during WW II. The GL III(c)'s
primary role was in locating enemy aircraft and directing Anti-Aircraft (AA) gun batteries. It was the first mobile gunlaying radar employing centimetric wavelength transmission to go
into production, preceeding both the British GL III (later known as AA Radar No 3 Mk 2) and the US made SCR 584 (later known as AA Radar No 3 Mk 5). Quite an achievement by NRC/REL.
Briefly, the GL III(c) comprised two major components....the APF (accurate position finder) trailer and the ZPI (zone position indicator) trailer. The APF tracked one selected target, whereas the ZPI searched the sky for incoming targets. In addition there was a power generator, numerous heavy gauge cables and two towing vehicles.
Photo 1: The unit in Order of March.
Photo 2: Unit personnel with the ZPI trailer in the background with the antanna raised.
Photo 3: Towing vehicle and APF trailer with parabolic antennas in lowered position for transportation.
Photo 4 and 5: The electronics of the APF exposed for maintenance.
Photo 6: APF trailer in background with twin parabolic antennae in operating position.
Photo 7: ZPI trailer with antenna being raised.
Photo 8: Both units in operational position.
It is noteworthy that the entire APF cabin rotated and the parabolas remained
fixed, whereas the ZPI antenna rotated and the cabin remained fixed. Won't go into
the reasons, but it was one of the drawbacks resulting from going into production
before all of the technical problems had been resolved.
Some of the later documents relating to the GL III(c) identify the APF trailer as
AA Radar No 3 Mk 1 and the ZPI trailer as AA Radar No4 Mk 1. Post war these, and their successors, were known as Fire Control (FC) and Tactical Control (TC) Radars. |
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