(Neptune) was the code name of a series of low-to-mid-VHF band airborne intercept radar devices developed by

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and used as active targeting devices in several types of

aircraft An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...

. They were usually combined with a "backwards warning device", indicated by the addition of the letters "V/R" , meaning Forward/Backward). Working in the metre range, Neptun was meant as a stop-gap until scheduled SHF-band devices became available (for instance the FuG 240/E

cavity magnetron The cavity magnetron is a high-power vacuum tube used in early radar systems and subsequently in microwave ovens and in linear particle accelerators. A cavity magnetron generates microwaves using the interaction of a stream of electrons wit ...

-based FuG 240 Berlin AI radar). Transceiving antennas used for on twin-engined night fighters usually used a (stag's antlers) eight-dipole array with shorter elements than the previous 90 MHz SN-2 radar had used or as an experimental fitment, the 90°-crossed twin-element set Yagi based single-mast-mounted array.

Variants

FuG 216: Experimental series to plan the further development. Installed in Fw 190 A-6/R11 and Bf 109 G-6 The aircraft were used by NJGr 10 until March 1944, after which some machines of 6./JG 300 () were equipped. * Manufacturer: (FFO, German for airborne radio research institut in Bavaria) * R1 version (backwards warning device) :*Frequency: 182MHz :*Power: 1.0kW :*Transmitting and receiving antennas each consist of twin dipoles, mounted under and above the wings, respectively :* Single display device with distance readout * V version (for single engined

night fighter A night fighter (later known as all-weather fighter or all-weather interceptor post-Second World War) is a largely historical term for a fighter aircraft, fighter or interceptor aircraft adapted or designed for effective use at night, during pe ...

s) :*Frequency: 125MHz :*Power: 1.2kW :*Range: 500 to 3,500m :*Antennas in the form of spikes or (Fw 190) as "antlers" on right and left wings FuG 217: Installed mainly in Ju 88 G-6, only a few Bf 110 G-4,

He 219 The Heinkel He 219 ''Uhu'' (" Eagle-Owl") is a night fighter designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Heinkel. It primarily served with the ''Luftwaffe'' in the later stages of the Second World War. Work on the He 219 began i ...

Me 262 The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed (German for "Swallow") in fighter versions, or ("Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messersc ...

received the . It could be combined with the additional device to automatically measure the target distance and fire the guns at a set range.Aders, S. 268 * Manufacturer: FFO * R2 version (backward warning device) * J2 version (for single-engined night fighters) * V/R (combined night fighter and backward warning device for two-engined fighters) :*Two switchable frequencies: 158 and 187MHz :*Search angle: 120° :*Range: :*Spike or "antler" antennas FuG 218: mass-produced * Manufacturer:

Siemens Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational technology conglomerate. It is focused on industrial automation, building automation, rail transport and health technology. Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe, and holds the positi ...

/ FFO * R3 version (backward warning device) * J3 version (for single-engined night-fighters) * V/R version (combined night fighter and backward warning device for two-engined fighters) :*Six switchable frequencies: 158 to 187MHz :*Search angle: 120° :*Range: :*Weight: :*R3 and J3 with spike antennas and V/R with "antler" antennas. * G/R version (combined night fighter and backward warning device for two-engined fighters) :*Only one single device built, replacing the 2kW transmitter with a 30kW transmitter. Range increased to up to . This device was intended for the

Dornier Do 335 The Dornier Do 335 ''Pfeil'' (Arrow) is a heavy fighter built by Dornier for Germany during World War II. The ''Pfeil''s performance was predicted to be better than other twin-engine designs due to its unusual push-pull configuration and the l ...

. "Antler" antennas.

References

* (1) TME 11-219 Directory of German Radar Equipment * Gebhard Aders: ''Geschichte der Deutschen Nachtjagd'', Motorbuch publishing corporation, 1977, * :File:Neptun FuG 217.pdf {{German radars of World War II Aircraft radars World War II German radars Military equipment introduced from 1940 to 1944

Variants

See also

References