Radar
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The Mast Top Radars
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Forward
Mast
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The big round dish is an SK-3 air search radar. Below the SK-3 are
two smaller radomes. The left is a DBM radar direction finder used to
locate and jam opposition radars. The other radome forward of the
mast may or may not be a TDY radar jammer. (My source on the
Massachusetts says nothing on the forward dome, but the Alabama has a
TDY mounted at about that position. Still, don't bet the farm that I
got all my initials right.) At the bottom and forward is the Mk 13
fire control radar mounted atop Spot One.
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Aft
Mast
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The large rectangular radar is an SR air search radar. Behind it
and above, the smaller curved radar is an SG surface search unit.
Forward, the top of the SK-3 circular air search radar can be seen.
Behind the flag on the forward mast, one can catch a glimpse of
another small radome. This is an SU surface search radar.
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Cables
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The Massachusetts was designed in the late 1930s, before radar was
effective. Of necessity, the radars were mounted on the main tower
and the masts just aft of the main tower. The radar operators were
best located near the conning tower, so the captain could make beat
use of the radar's information.
The above picture is taken in a small gap between the conning
tower and the tower supporting Spot One. I am reminded of South
Dakota's fate when fighting Kiroshima and her supporting fleet.
Pinned by spotlights in a close range gunfight, South Dakota took
many hits. The heavy armor wasn't penetrated. At no time was there
any danger of South Dakota sinking, or even losing speed. Still, her
radars were not protected by armor. The many smaller caliber hits
rendered her "blind, deaf and dumb."
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Massachusetts - Galveston
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