ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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26 October 2021 ATP 3-09.12 D-1 Appendix D Mask Considerations Appendix D explains how to calculate the track volume for the WLRs. It is intended for use by the radar section leader to enable him to determine whether a WLR site will provide enough track volume to locate hostile firing positions. It also provides procedures for correcting insufficient track volume. DEFINITIONS D-1. The following explanations are associated with mask and see figure D-1: Flat mask is a single mask angle or a default value in the WLR when no mask angle is entered into the radar computer which is called the remote control display unit. Mask angle is the vertical angle from the WLR to the top of the mask or screening crest at a given azimuth. The lowest mask angle and the highest mask angle are calculated and entered in the radar's computer during initialization. Mask variation is the difference between the lowest and highest mask angles. Vertical scan is the maximum vertical scanning capability of a specific type of radar. Vertical scan for the AN/TPQ-53 is unlimited, the AN/TPQ-50 is 425 mils, and the AN/TPQ-36 WLR is approximately 80 mils with all scanning frequencies enabled. Each frequency that is disabled results in a loss of approximately 2.5 mils of vertical scan. Figure D-1. Masking characteristics