German Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine Radar Equipment during World War II, relied on an increasingly diverse array of communications, IFF and RDF equipment for its function. Most of this equipment received the generic prefix FuG (German: Funkgerät), meaning "radio equipment". During the war, Germany renumbered their radars. From using the year of introduction as their number, they moved to a different numbering scheme.
Searchlight and fighter control No German ground radar was accurate enough for flak fire direction. The method of operation during the day was for radar to direct the flak's optical fire control towards the target. Once this was acquired, the flak was controlled by the optical equipment to complete the engagement. During the night, the radar would be used to indicate the target to the searchlight crews. The rest of the engagement would be carried out optically. During the day, fighters would be directed with sufficient precision for them to come into visual contact with their targets, while during the night they would use their onboard aircraft interception (AI) radar to find the target after initial direction from the ground-based radars.
Early Units
Würzburg
The Würzburg was first operational in the summer of 1940, had a parabolic shaped antenna with a diameter of about 3metres and in some models could be folded in half for transport. The Würzburg was produced in the thousands with various estimated figures being between 3000 and 4000 with up to 1500 sets of Würzburg Riese. The antenna of the Würzburg weighed over 9.5 tons and its parabolic surface had a diameter equal to 7.5 metres and a focal length of one metres and 70 cm. Only one German company had the technical skill to build these radars, and that was Zeppelin. The name of the unit was chosen at random by pointing at a map of Germany and Würzburg was chosen. FuMG 62 / FuMG 39 Würzburg: 3D fire-control radar. Used to direct the flak optical directors and searchlights. Wavelength 50 cm approx. In response to jamming various models of Würzburg radar were developed to operate on various frequencies called "Islands". Würzburg A First production version introduced in 1940. 50 cm operating wavelength. Operation range was approximately 30 km. Included an IFF system that worked with the FuG 25z airborne unit. Würzburg B Integrated IR telescope to increase accuracy. Proved unsatisfactory and not placed into production. Würzburg C Replaced the model A in production in 1941. Had lobe switching to improve accuracy. On this unit the integral IFF system was replaced by a system based on the FuG 25a airborne. To support this system which worked at approx 125-160 MHz two antenna were placed inside the main dish. A separate interrogation and receiving units were attached to show the IFF responses. Würzburg D Replaced the model C in production in 1942. It now had a usable range of approximately 40 km. Conical scan was used for fine accuracy. The IFF antenna was now fitted in the center of the dish rather than on the sides. Better instruments were fitted and generally, it was the best of the small Würzburg. FuMG 65 Würzburg Riese (Giant): The electronics of the D model Würzburg combined with a 7-meter dish to improve resolution and range. Range approx 70 km. Version E was a modified unit to fit on railroad flatcars to produce a mobile Flak radar system. Version G had the 2.4-meter antenna and electronics from a Freya installed. The antenna dipoles were inside the reflector. The reason for this was that the allies were flying very high recon flights which were above the maximum height of the Freya. The standard Würzburg Riese's 50 cm beam was too narrow to find them directly. By combining the two systems the Freya could set the Würzburg Riese onto the target.
Mannheim
FuMG 63 Mainz The Mainz, introduced in 1941, was a development from the Wurzburg with its 3-meter solid metal reflector mounted on top of the same type of control car as used by the ‘Kurmark’. Its range was 25–35 km with an accuracy of ±10–20 meters, azimuth 0.1 degrees, and elevation ±0.3-0.5 degrees. Only 51 units were produced before being superseded by the ‘Mannheim’. FuMG 64 Mannheim The Mannheim was an advanced development from the ‘Mainz’. It also had a 3-meter reflector, which was now made from a lattice framework covered in a fine mesh. This was fixed to the front of a control cabin and the whole apparatus was rotated electrically. Its range was 25–35 km, with an accuracy of ±10–15 meters; azimuth and elevation accuracy of ±0.15 degrees. Though accurate enough to control Flak guns it was not deployed in large numbers. This was due to its cost (time and materials to manufacture was about three times that of a Würzburg D). FuMG 75 Mannheim Riese Just as the Wurzburg's performance was greatly improved when fitted with a 7-meter reflector, so was the Mannheim's, and the result called a Mannheim Riese (Giant Mannheim). There was an optical device for the initial visual acquisition of the target. With its narrow beam it was relatively immune from ‘Window’. Its accuracy and automatic tracking enabled it to be used in anti-aircraft missile research to track and control the missiles in flight. Only a handful were manufactured. FuMG 68 Ansbach There was a need for a mobile radar with the range and accuracy of the ‘Mannheim’. The result, in 1944, was the Ansbach. It had a collapsible reflector of diameter 4.5 meters, operating on a wavelength of 53.6 cm, and peak power of 8 kW, giving it a normal range 25–35 km (70 km in search mode) with an accuracy of 30–40 meters. Azimuth and elevation accuracy was around ±0.2°. The antenna and reflector were remote controlled from a Bayern control van up to 30 meters away. The control system was based on the remote control system of the Michael microwave communication system, this was based on the Ward-Leonard AC/DC control system. The Ansbach was to be installed in large Flak batteries with six or more guns, but only a few were produced by the end of the war, and these did not see operational service
Medium-range search
Freya & similar units
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