Reeves AN/MSQ-51 Aerial Target Control Central

For the similar early 1960s centrals for Matador control and for RBS, see AN/MSQ-1A and AN/MSQ-35.

The Reeves AN/MSQ-51 Aerial Target Control Central (ATCC) was a combination radar/computer/communications system ("Q" system") developed 1961-3 for United States Navy "aerial target out-of-sight control". In addition to the "Target Control System AN/SRW-4D" with radios and "Antenna Assemblies for Target Control and Communications (7 Units)", the ATCC included acquisition/surveillance and tracking radars, a Mark X IFF/SIF, and an analog computer. The ATCC's automatic tracking radar was derived from the Western Electric M-33 gun laying radar and could process double-pulse 9340-9370 MHz beacon returns from transponders up to 400,000 yd (200 nmi; 370 km) away from the AN/MSQ-51 transmitting 9215-9285 MHz radar pulses. If an ATCC was equipped with a "Telemetry Receiving Station", IRIG channels 5-14 could also be received from QF-9G and Q-2C unmanned aerial vehicles. Other ATCC-controlled drones included the QF-9F, KDA-1, KDA-4, KDB-1 and KD2R-5. For "RF communications (2 to 25 mc.)" to command the drone was a "Collins Radio Co. Model 618T-3" Single Sideband Transceiver (SST) with Control Unit 714E-2 for 28,000 channels (400 watts PEP, 100 w AM). The 1000 watt voice radio system had 2 UHF AN/GRC-27 sets "with Control-Indicator 6-806/GR" for 1750 channels (consoles had headsets, footpedals, and crew intercommunications.)[1]

Configuration

Similar to the USMC's post-WWII AN/TPQ-2 and Korean War AN/MPQ-14, the AN/MSQ-51 used a 38 ft (12 m) Operations Trailer, a 30.6 ft (9.3 m) flatbed trailer with Electric Generator units, and a 19.2 ft (5.9 m) Maintenance Trailer. An additional flatbed was used for transporting the 2,343 lb (1,063 kg) acquisition (surveillance) antenna assembly which included a 16' oblong dish and a ground pedestal. When emplaced, the "Operations Trailer Assembly" was the box-style fifth wheel trailer with antennas on top (tracking antenna with vertically polarized lens and conical scan, two AT-781/AU voice communications antennas, and two AT-197/GR telemetry antennas), a combination air conditioning and electric heating system, and interior operator equipment:[1]

As with the M-33's computation of an enemy aircraft location, the AN/MSQ-51 computer derived "target altitude" from the elevation resolver, timed the "rate of change of altitude" using a differentiating amplifier, and "resolved horizontal plane coordinates" from the antenna's azimuth orientation.[1]

Personnel

To "permit one man [tracking] operation instead of three", the M-33 tracking console was modified for the AN/MSQ-51's "Tracking Radar Operator", and the remainder of the 4 man ATCC operations crew was a "Surveillance Radar Operator" and 2 Drone Controllers with the primary in the Operations Trailer. The "Secondary Operator's Position [was] located outside the van", and a "telemetry directional helical receiving antenna…on top of a mast ten feet high [was] 100 feet from the operating van." ATCC maintenance was by 6 radar technicians, 4 AN/SRW-4D technicians, and 4 for HVAC, generators, and accessories.[1]

At the China Lake "Target Radar Site",[3] Reeves Instrument Corporation representative was an AN/MSQ-51 civilian contractor until ~1968.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Description of Aerial Target Control Central AN/MSQ-51 (Report No. NADC-ED-L6174B) (Report). US Naval Air Development Center: Engineering Development Laboratory. 3 June 1963. (AD No. 407 667)
  2. ↑ "Volume 1 Section 1: AN/TPA-3". [Decoder Group AN/TPA-3] (MIL-HDBK-162A) (Report). United States Navy. 15 December 1965. Retrieved 2013-03-20. accepts video pulses received from the IFF receiver, and, upon receipt of a properly coded pulse sequence, produces an output pulse for display on associated equipment. This unit provides SIF video decoding facilities. Formerly identified as Decoder Group OA1134( )/ TPX, the AN/TPA-3 is part of Interrogator Sets AN/TPX-26 and AN/TPX-27. [The TPA-3 includes] Video Decoder, MX-1995/TPA-3 [and] Remote Switching Control…C-1903/TPA-3
  3. ↑ http://www.chinalakealumni.org/1969/1969.htm
  4. ↑ online document with text having character recognition spelling of: "Mullett. who has been at anna Lake for the past 11 years. came to werk bere initially as a cmtracter representative fer the Reeves Instrument Co. of Long Island, N.Y. In Ibis capacity. he was the field service representative fer the MSQ-51 Aerial Target Control Central. a radar system used to control drmes. until be joined QvlI Service in 1968·."
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