Type 79 radar

{{Infobox radar

|name = Type 79

|image =

|caption =

|country = United Kingdom

|introdate = 1938

|number = 40

|type = Early-warning radar

|frequency = 43 MHz

|PRF = 50 per second

|beamwidth = 70° (horizontal)

|pulsewidth = 8-30 μs

|RPM =

|range = {{convert|30|-|50|mi|abbr=on}}?

|altitude =

|diameter =

|azimuth =

|elevation =

|precision =

|power = 70 kW

|other names =

}}

The Type 79 radar was a British naval early-warning radar developed before World War II. It was the first radar system deployed by the Royal Navy.Friedman, p. 190

The first version of this radar, Type 79X, was mounted on the RN Signal School's tender, the minesweeper {{HMS|Saltburn||6}}, in October 1936. This equipment used a frequency of 75 MHz and a wavelength of 4 metres and its antennae were strung between the ship's masts. They detected an aircraft at an altitude of {{convert|500|ft}} and a range of {{convert|17|nmi|lk=in}} during tests in July 1937.

Improved versions, Type 79Y, were developed the following year that used a frequency of 43 MHz (7 metres). It required separate transmitting and receiving antennas and had a power output between 15 and 20 kW. The first set was installed in September 1938 aboard the light cruiser {{HMS|Sheffield|C24|6}} and gave detection ranges up to {{convert|53|nmi}} for an aircraft at {{convert|10,000|ft|-1}}. A second set was mounted on the battleship {{HMS|Rodney|29|6}} the following month, but it was not tested until January 1939.

A more powerful version, Type 79Z, was fitted to the anti-aircraft cruiser {{HMS|Curlew|D42|6}} in September 1939 and proved to be successful enough that forty more sets were ordered with the designation of Type 79. The antennae were manually rotated, but only enough wire was provided to rotate a maximum of 400°.Brown, pp. 62–63Swords, pp. 87–88

Type 79B consolidated the transmitting and receiving antennae into one and its detection range was increased to {{convert|90|nmi}} for an aircraft at {{convert|20,000|ft|-1}}. The radar also had a secondary ability to track a surface target at ranges from {{convert|2|-|6|nmi}}.Friedman, pp. 190–191