Background Data: The Air War Game—Battle of Britain Randy H. Katz CS Division, EECS Dept. University of California, Berkeley Spring 2010Background History • May 1940: German Blitzkrieg in the West – German mechanized warfare shocks the Allies – Holland, Belgium fall in days, France defeated in 6 weeks – British Expeditionary Force (BEF) miraculously escapes at Dunkirk, leaving most of its equipment behind • Operation Sea Lion: Germany poised to invade England – Triumphant Luftwaffe operates from airbases in Northern France through NorwayAir War Game Early War Version • Britain on defense – Defend on the sea and in the air • Germany on offense – Neutralize the Royal Navy and soften the defenses in preparation for an amphibious assault against Southeastern EnglandAir Defense of EnglandTactical BombingDecisions Made in the 1930s • Have the sides invested in the right technologies to achieve their goals? – Planes and pilots – Strategic vs. tactical capabilities – Offensive vs. defensive focus – Detection measures and countermeasures – Interception methodsBattle of Britain: The MoviePlanes vs. Planes 1300 327 mph @ 18K ft 2750 ft/min 460mi @ 175 mph 35K ft 1175 355 0-20K/9 min 575 34K 1175 348 @ 14.5 233 cruising 3510 ft/min 410 36.5K 1100x2 349 250 cruising 0-19.6K/ 9.2 min 540 32K 1400 195 max 118 cruising 199 24K 3968 lbs 1200x2 286 @ 16K 239 cruising 1553 26.5K 5510 1000x2 265 @ 16.5 236 @ 14.5 745 1860 (tanks) 26.7K 2200 1100 1350x2 270 @ 19.6 1212 760 (loaded) 27.9K Up to 5500 HP Max Speed Climb Range Ceiling Bomb Load Hurricane IIC Spitfire IA ME BF 109E ME BF 110G JU 87D Stuka JU 88 DO 17z HE 111Hurricane IIC Spitfire IA ME BF 109E ME BF 110G JU 87 JU 88 DO 17 HE 111RAdio Detection And Ranging • Over the horizon detection • Based on the principle of radio reflection Robert Watson-WattShorter wavelengths, higher frequencies, greater precision in ranging Rotating antenna for better directional accuracy Suitable for night interception Chain Home vs. Chain Home Low 30 MHz, 10m waves, 125 mi range @ 15-20,000 ft 200 MHz, 1.5m waves 40 mi range 5000 ft alt.Ground Control InterceptBritish Defense SystemWhat Really Happened – Part IWhat Really Happened – Part IIWhat Really Happened – Part IIIWhat Really Happened – Part IVNext Week: Strategic Bombing Offensive vs. Germany • Fighters vs. Bombers – What are good targets? • Strategic vs. tactical plans – Precision bombing • Daylight vs. nightime raids, formation flying, escorts • Minimizing plane and crew losses while maximizing enemy destruction – How do you intercept attackers? • Where is the enemy? Radar to observe planes at a distance, searchlights to track plans nearby • How to confuse the defender as to attacker’s plans and intentions? • Getting the fighters to arrive at where you expect to the bombers to