Neptun (radar)

Neptun (Neptune) was the code name of a series of low-to-mid-VHF band airborne intercept radar devices developed by Germany in World War II and used as active targeting devices in several types of aircraft. They were usually combined with a "backwards warning device", indicated by the addition of the letters "V/R" Vorwärts/Rückwärts, 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-based FuG 240 Berlin AI radar). Transceiving antennas used for Neptun on twin-engined night fighters usually used a Hirschgeweih (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 Morgenstern single-mast-mounted array. 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 (Kommando Plöger) were equipped. Manufacturer: Flugfunkforschungsinstitut Oberpfaffenhofen (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 fighters) 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 or Me 262 received the Neptun. It could be combined with the additional Elfe device to automatically measure the target distance and fire the guns at a set range.