West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site: Difference between revisions

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Established in 1955 and became operational in October 1955 as West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site, one of three long-range radar sites in the [[Experimental SAGE Subsector]].
Established in 1955 and became operational in October 1955 as West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site, one of three long-range radar sites in the [[Experimental SAGE Subsector]].


Initial equipment included the prototype [[FPS-31]] search radar and two [[FPS-6]] height-finder radars. One of the three prototype FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitters (CDT) was installed to provide fine-grain radar data to the [[Experimental SAGE Subsector]] direction center FSQ-7 (XD1).
Initial equipment included the prototype [[FPS-31]] search radar and two [[FPS-6]] height-finder radars. Initially, an FST-1 was used to provide data transmission of the radar returns to the direction center but the slowed-down-video concept proved inadequate and one of the three prototype FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitters (CDT) was installed to provide fine-grain radar data to the [[Experimental SAGE Subsector]] direction center FSQ-7 (XD1).
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== [[Experimental SAGE Subsector]] Operation ==
== [[Experimental SAGE Subsector]] Operation ==
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* [[FPS-6]] (2)
* [[FPS-6]] (2)
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
* [[FST-1]]
* [[FST-2|FST-2/A/B]]
* [[FST-2|FST-2/A/B]]
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
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'''Sources:'''  
'''Sources:'''  
* {{Winkler}}, page 80  <!--Searching the skies-->
* {{Winkler}}, page 80  <!--Searching the skies-->
* {{Ward-Naka UHF Radar}}


'''Links:'''  
'''Links:'''  

Revision as of 08:18, 23 July 2018

West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site (1955-1962) - A Cold War Experimental Radar Station established as a part of the Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS). Site Located on Jug Handle Hill near Bath, Sagadahoc County, Maine. Closed in 1962.

Former West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site in 2018. Remains of the FPS-31 Radar Tower at the Center.

History

Established in 1955 and became operational in October 1955 as West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site, one of three long-range radar sites in the Experimental SAGE Subsector.

Initial equipment included the prototype FPS-31 search radar and two FPS-6 height-finder radars. Initially, an FST-1 was used to provide data transmission of the radar returns to the direction center but the slowed-down-video concept proved inadequate and one of the three prototype FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitters (CDT) was installed to provide fine-grain radar data to the Experimental SAGE Subsector direction center FSQ-7 (XD1).

Experimental SAGE Subsector Operation

The site began operation as an Experimental SAGE Subsector radar site in October 1955 initially feeding the Experimental SAGE Subsector (ESS) FSQ-7 (XD1) computer located at Lincoln Laboratories on Hanscom Air Force Base. The MITRE Corporation took over management of the site from Lincoln Laboratories on 21 July 1958.

Closure

The West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site was deactivated in November 1962.



West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site Major Equipment List
Search Radar HF Radar Data Systems Comm

Current Status

Some site structures still exist including the FPS-31 tower. Now an auto repair shop.


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Location: West Bath MITRE Test Radar Site in Sagadahoc County, Maine.

Maps & Images

Lat: 43.90167 Long: -69.84556

See Also:

Sources:

  • Winkler, David F., Searching the Skies: the Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, USAF Hq Air Combat Command, 1997, 192 pages, Pdf, page 80
  • 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

Links:

Visited: 27 May 2018