Klein Heidelberg

Klein Heidelberg
Country of originGermany
Introducedduring the World War II (during the World War II)
Typebistatic hitchhiker system[1]
Other NamesKH

Klein Heidelberg (KH)[2] was a passive radar system deployed by the Germans during World War II. It used the signals broadcast by the British Chain Home system as its transmitter, and a series of six stations along the western coast of continental Europe as passive receivers. In modern terminology, the system was a bistatic radar. Because the system sent no signals of its own, the allies were unaware of its presence, and did not learn of the system until well after the D-Day invasion.[3] The system is referred to as Klein Heidelberg Parasit (Small Heidelberg Parasite)[4] in some references.[5]

  1. ^ Nicholas J. Willis (2005). Bistatic Radar. SciTech Publishing. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-1-891121-45-6.
  2. ^ Nicholas J. Willis; Hugh D. Griffiths (2007). Advances in Bistatic Radar. SciTech Publishing. pp. 19–. ISBN 978-1-891121-48-7.
  3. ^ Pritchard (p.124), however, claims the British were aware of it and tried countermeasures unsuccessfully.
  4. ^ David Pritchard (1989). The Radar War: Germany's Pioneering Achievement 1904-45. P. Stephens. pp. 122–. ISBN 978-1-85260-246-8.
  5. ^ One German internet article uses another name, das "Heidelberg"-Gerät, literally the Heidelberg equipment. The article also mentions it was used to track bombers from their bases in Britain.