Accession Number:

AD0829538

Title:

RADAR REFLECTIVITY OF SEA TARGETS, VOLUME 1

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

GEORGIA INST OF TECH ATLANTA ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION

Personal Author(s):

• Corriher, Jr., H. A.
• Pyron, Berry O.
• Wetherington, R. D.
• Abeling, A. B.

Report Date:

1967-09-30

Pagination or Media Count:

126.0

Abstract:

Volume I of this two-volume survey presents a broad overview of the state of knowledge of radar reflectivity of sea targets. All forms of targets are considered, including ships and boats, submarines, periscopes and snorkels, wakes, buoys, icebergs, and splashes. Also discussed are the statistical properties of returns, glint, and camouflage. Several approximate theories which have been advanced to explain the radar return of sea targets are reviewed and compared, and additional theoretical work is reported which indicates that there are serious limitations inherent in the commonly used coherent model. The effective cross-section of a target on a reflective surface is emphasized as being the product of the inherent free-space cross-section times F to the 4th power, the fourth power of the pattern propagation factor. Suggestions are made for interpreting World War II cross-section values for present-day systems studies. It is recommended that extensive experimental measurement data be obtained on a few targets rather than fragmentary data on many targets. This should lead to better understanding of the general problem and, eventually, to possible techniques for predicting the radar cross-sections of sea targets.

Descriptors:

• *RADAR REFLECTIONS
• *RADAR TARGETS
• SHIPS
• OCEAN WAVES
• BOATS
• SUBMARINES
• SNORKELS
• ICE ISLANDS
• RADAR DECEPTION
• BUOYS
• PERISCOPES
• REFLECTIVITY
• WAKE
• RADAR CROSS SECTIONS

Subject Categories:

• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE