The proposal called for the simulator to simulate the path taken by the mortar shells, from any ground position in the area and for a wide range of gun azimuth and elevation pointing angles, and to put out radar-like video signals when the radar and path positions coincided. (Digital techniques were not yet popular).
The development group adjusted the breadboard equipment to as high an accuracy as they could for the Army tests. The adjustment was too good. The Army decided that they wanted a guarantee that it would be that accurate when delivered so they could use it to check the radar! Unfortunately, the techniques used in the breadboard couldn't justify the guarantee without frequent adjustment, so back to the drawing board. This required a delay in the procurement and a significant increase in the cost; they should have accepted the equipment so as to have something to work with at an early date and written a second specification for a follow up development.
By the time the new design was ready for production R.W. had run into trouble and closed the Denver plant, so the drawings were sent to the Canoga Park facility. They decided that they couldn't manufacture it according to the Denver design, so back to the drawing board again. R.W. broke up into TRW and Bunker Ramo about that time and the contract was sold to Hughes Aircraft. It is interesting that Hughes later obtained a contract for a new generation of Mortar Locating Radars, possibly aided in this procurement by their work with the simulator.
On to The Magnascanner
Top of Page
Back to Table of Contents
Back to Sidney Bertram
Back to Jacques & Anne
Back to The Abramovich & Wilder Families
Back to Bertram Home Page
Master Index