Experimental SAGE Subsector

{"selectable":false,"height":"450","width":"800"} 0 0 00:00:00 ← back Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS) (1955-1958) - Simultaneously with the development of the manual Permanent System radar network, separate efforts were made to automate as much of the air defense process as possible using fledgling digital computer and data transmission technology. This experimental project run by MIT's Lincoln Laboratory resulted in the SAGE System. The research project phases included: the Cape Cod System I (1953), the Cape Cod System II (1954), and the Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS) (1955-1958). The research project ended in 1958 with the deployment of the first SAGE System direction center at McGuire AFB, McGuire SAGE Direction Center DC-01. The deployment phase began in 1958 with a new organization spun off of Lincoln Laboratory, the MITRE Corporation. The Rand Corporation had already assumed software responsibility in 1955. Lincoln Laboratory returned to their research role and that continues to this day. Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS) Sites Site Type Location State Equipment Operational GPS Notes --- DC MIT Digital Computer Lab MA Whirlwind I Sep 1953 42.36145, -71.09669 211 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA Visited --- DC Lincoln Labs ESS MA FSQ-7 (XD1) 1955 42.46059, -71.26733 Building L, Lincoln Labs Hanscom AFB, MA Visited --- LRR HF FGD West Bath (Jug Handle Hill) ME FPS-31 LRR FPS-6 (2) HF FST-2 CDT Oct 1955 Nov 1962 43.90167, -69.84556 UHF FD Radar Prototype MITRE Corp after 21 Jul 1958 Visited --- LRR HF FGD Montauk Point NY FPS-3 LRR FPS-20 LRR FPS-6 HF FST-2 CDT 41.06254, -71.87417 --- LRR HF FGD GATR South Truro MA FPS-3 LRR FPS-20 LRR FPS-4 HY FPS-6 HF FST-2 CDT Closed mid 1960s 41.97575, -70.02398 --- LRR FGD Boston Hill MA Experimental CCM Radar Mark I LRR FST-2 CDT Late 1959 1960s 42.64612, -71.09377 Antenna said to have been removed to replace damaged USAF FPS-35 antenna B-1 GF SDV Halibut Point (Rockport) MA SCR-584 SDV Jul 1952 ~1960 42.68897, -70.63243 GF Mounted on WWII FC Tower Visited B-1A HF Pigeon Hill (Rockport) MA MPS-4 Apr 1952 B-2 GF SDV Scituate MA SCR-584 TPS-10 SDV Oct 1951 Sep 1952 42.17944, -70.72306 Hill Removed Visited area B-3 GF SDV Marthas Vineyard MA SP-1M or SCR 584 SDV 29 Oct 1952 41.35528, -70.73467 B-4 GF SDV Bedford MA CPN-18 SDV B-5 GF SDV Hampton Beach NH SCR-784 SDV 25 Aug 1952 ~1960 42.91846, -70.79594 GF Mounted on WWII FC Tower Visited B-6 GF SDV Foxboro MA CPN-18 SDV Jul 1952 42.06199, -71.28608 B-7 GF SDV Clinton MA CPN-18 FPS-14 SDV FST-1 Dec 1952 ~1964 42.37792, -71.69611 Modified building & tower pads remain B-8 GF SDV Fall River MA CPN-18 SDV Nov 1952 41.72889, -71.06750 same as AWS-06 and GF P-45B/Z-10E B-9 GF SDV Chestnut Hill CT CPN-18 SDV 17 Nov 1952 ~1960 41.865767, -71.820911 B-10 GF SDV Chatham MA CPN-18 SDV Oct 1952 41.69735, -69.97958 No recognizable remains AWS-05A Site also B-11 -- SDV North Truro MA CPS-6B SDV 42.03417, -70.05417 AWS-05 B-12 GF SDV Pine Hill (Camp Edwards) MA CPN-18 SDV 24 Nov 1952 41.708611, -70.565833 306' B-13 GF HF SDV Nantucket MA SCR-584 SDV Nov 1952 41.28381, -70.05086 Open land B-14 GF SDV Londonderry NH CPN-18 SDV Dec 1952 42.88989, -71.36925 Demolished pad remains Visited Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS) Abbreviations Abbreviation Meaning SAGE Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system DC Direction Center LRR Long Range Radar (Search) HF Height-Finder radar GF Gap-Filler radar (Search) SDV Slowed Down Video processed radar video FGD Fine Grain Data processed radar video GATR Ground-Air Transmit-Receive radio transmission between aircraft and ground stations CDT Coordinate Data Transmitter usually FST-2 ESS Experimental Sage Subsector FD Frequency Diversity radar AWS Air Warning Service (WWII) Cape Cod System I (1953) This phase connected the MIT Whirlwind I computer to a small radar network of 13 sites that included a long range serach radar, several height finder radars and the majority being gap-filler radars. Proof of concept was the major goal of this phase. Cape Cod System II (1954) The Cape Cod System II expanded Cape Cod System I with more sites and changes in the operating positions within the Direction Center. The primary objective was to supply statistical results on system capacity and accuracy. Experimental SAGE Subsector (1955) The Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS), direction center was located in Building F, Lincoln Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The building was completed in 1955 and equipped with a prototype FSQ-7 Direction Center computer. While production model FSQ-7s contain two identical computers the prototypes had only a single computer. Two single computer prototypes were contracted for with IBM in 1953 and delivered in 1955. One was installed at Lincoln Laboratory for the ESS and designated as FSQ-7 (XD-1). The other prototype FSQ-7 (XD-2), remained at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York, for training, programming support and as a hardware test bed. Also contracted for were three prototype FST-2 coordinate data transmitters for installation at the three long range radar (LRR) sites. The FST-2s connected the LRR to the prototype FSQ-7 (XD-1). The Gap-Filler radars were connected to the prototype FSQ-7 (XD-1) by a Slowed Down Video (SDV) mechanism that would later become the FST-1. An Air Force ground-to-air data link was connected to the output of the prototype FSQ-7 (XD-1) for experiments with data-link-equipped aircraft, this function would evolve into the Ground-Air Transmit-Receive (GATR) radio site concept. The experimental SAGE Subsector provided data on reliability, computer programs, and operating procedures. The prototype FSQ-7 (XD-1) in Building F at Lincoln Laboratory was organized to define and support the regular functions of a Direction Center with the computer on the first floor, the operations area on the second floor and the power equipment in the basement. The original Whirlwind I computer was also connected to the prototype FSQ-7 (XD-1) to validate the computer to computer cross-tell functionality that would allow adjacent direction centers to communicate and allow the direction center to communicate with the combat centers. Almost concurrently with the ESS testing, IBM received production contracts for the systems to be deployed and eventually manufactured twenty-four FSQ-7s dual computer systems and three FSQ-8s dual computer systems plus the two single computer systems (XD1) and (XD2). Notes: As each radar was brought up it included a Mark X - IFF capability and the interrogation replies were multiplex with the radar data. Cape Cod System fully operational by September 1953, trials began in October 1953 and concluded 15 Jun 1954 with highly favorable results. "The Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS) was essentially an expansion of the Cape Cod System. But, unlike the Cape Cod System, ESS was a fully operational prototype." See Also: US Radar Sets Sources: Lincoln Laboratory - Cape Cod SAGE Prototype Ward, William W. and Naka,F. Robert, Long-Range UHF Radars for Ground Control of Airborne Interceptors, Lincoln Laboratory Journal, Vol 12, No. 2 2000, Pdf ESS - Cape Cod Radar Sites Planned List (with activation dates)