Free The Whale Has Wings Vol 1 - Rebirth by David Row Page A

under the overall coordination of Watson-Watt, and as a result a prototype version of the Type 79 air warning radar was successfully demonstrated in the middle of the year. HMS Glorious was due to go in for her refit and modernisation in September, expected out in January 1938, and she would be fitted with the first model for full evaluation. HMS Rodney and HMS Sheffield would also be fitted at about the same time for an evaluation of its use with a surface force.
    Planning was also started for the refit of HMS Courageous. It was expected to allow for the installation of a radar system during the refit. Taking the two old carriers out of service for refits was inconvenient - it had originally been intended to wait until the new light carrier was fully in service, and they refit the ships one at a time, but the increasingly worsening international situation meant some risks had to be taken.
    Of equal interest was the demonstration in August of a prototype AS V radar developed by Eddie Bowen. This showed it could be possible to fit a radar capable of detecting surface ships on an aircraft, which if it worked would expend the capability of the FAA to detect ships in poor weather and night immeasurably. While it was currently fitted on an Anson, it was felt that if it worked it could be carried by the Swordfish. If necessary the FAA was prepared to dedicate a Swordfish to the role, as the effect on the capacity of the FAA to conduct night strikes (still a closely held secret) would be huge.
    Good news in October was that the Hispano 404 was fully licensed for prod uction in the UK. The version had been modified from the original version, with a stronger spring mechanism to allow it to work properly sideways, and a belt feed to allow a larger ammunition supply and to fit properly into the thin wings of the new fighters. The FAA was allocated a proportion of them. During the modification period they had been experimenting with a wing containing two cannon plus two .5", and one with 4 cannon (the original RAF experiments indicated that 4 cannon was the best solution). While both are suitable for use, due to the initial shortages of cannon, the intent is to produce the first 150 planes with 4 .5", the next 150 with 2 cannon and 2 .5", and then to move to four cannon for follow-on orders.
    During the year Naval Intelligence had been keeping a close eye on the developments in naval aviation in rival countries.
    In Germany, they had noted an increase in priority in the building of the Graf Zeppelin; this seems to have been achieved at the expense of the Tirpitz. Oddly, they do not seem to have been able to detect any developments in torpedo planes, or dedicated naval aircraft. Their current assumption is that Germany will navalise a fighter, most likely the Me109, and probably a variant of the Ju-87 as divebomber, but they are concerned that they haven't detected a modern torpedo plane. The Intelligence staffs are instructed to concentrate their efforts on finding it.
    Japan is of co urse rather busy in China. It was much more difficult to get details on Japanese construction, but indications are that the demands of the war have if anything slowed naval construction. The Navy was keeping an interested eye on the use of Japanese carriers to support land operations.
    The Japanese have a new torpedo bomber undergoing flight testing, the Nakajima B5 'Kate'. It is assumed that the testing will be accelerated to allow it to be combat tested in China. There is limited intelligence on this plane, but it is thought to be fast and long ranged. They are also thought to have a new dive bomber under development, but as yet little is known about the plane. Naval Intelligence recommends placing observers and intelligence specialists in China, as this seems to be the best place to actually observe the new aircraft in use.
    France was now considering a replacement for the aged Bearn, and looking with interest at the Royal Navy's light carriers, which