The loop antenna.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a query..................................

Loop antenna for radio direction finding in U boats Type IIB.

In the first German U boats Type IIB (at least from U 7 to U 12) this antenna was located on the starboard side (ahead) of the bridge. It was used to detect and get bearings from the radio signals of Allied surface ships.

Sources: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Konvolut-5x ... 2299305299
http://amp.rokket.biz/docs/an_illustrat ... search.pdf

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Noreply]

From my own reading, I have heard that the loop antennas could often point you 180 degrees wrong direction, as the loop has trouble finding which side the intercept comes in from, but an experienced operator could probably work it out.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; hey Noreply here goes something about you told us..................................

Loop antenna for radio direction finding in U boats.

There are two known style found on the German U boats, an early-war and a late-war versions, in both versions its diameter is the same of approximately 800 mm. Late war boats carried a direction sensing rod antenna mounted on the loop. This additional antenna is approximately 2,300 mm in height and is attach to the base of the antenna loop. The loop antenna was designed for two maximum fields of reception and two minimum fields of reception. By rotation of the antenna on its axis the operator was able to determine direction of the electromagnetic source, its radio-azimuth. Problem was the loop antenna had two maximum fields of reception and because of that the operator could determine direction of the Allies ships, with possible error of 180 degrees.

Sources: An illustrated guide to u-boat research. Simon Morris.
U-boat Radio Room. Personnel - Equipment - Procedures. Captain Jerry Mason, USN (ret.)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..................................

Loop antenna for radio direction finding in U boats.

Sources: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=33582

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Rob Stuart]

In the first German U boats Type IIB (at least from U 7 to U 12) this antenna was located on the starboard side (ahead) of the bridge. It was used to detect and get bearings from the radio signals of Allied surface ships.

It doubt that it was often used for its intended purpose. In the first place, Allied ships maintained radio silence most of the time, and, second, if I'm not mistaken, these antennas could only pick up MF signals. I suspect that they were mainly used to find the bearings to u-boat contact-keepers transmitting MF homing signals.

[tigre]

Thanks for your tip Rob . Cheers. Raúl M .

PS: the conning tower of the previous picture belongs to a Type VII....................