Golfballs on the Moor: Building the Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
Building BMEWS in the UK: Implementation
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Building BMEWS in the UK: ImplementationUK work on BMEWS No. 3 fell into two main categories. While the radars themselves were the responsibility of the Americans, and would be built by the UK division of the contractor, RCA, that had built the other two BMEWS, site preparation and basic facilities, such as accommodation and power supplies, were to be provided by the UK. In addition, the UK also had to develop its own approach to handling and displaying the data provided by the radars. In April 1961 it was decided to use the ‘code word LEGATE … to cover the data processing, transmission and display equipment being developed under ASR 2208 to provide for the display in the UK of BMEWS information.’45 Site construction was relatively straightforward technically, although multiple, very large electrical generators needed be built, and extensive shielding was required to ensure that the BMEWS operators would be protected from the high power output of the radars. The main problem that dogged the site construction was labour relations, with many walk-outs, go-slows and strikes slowing the work. Project Legate, on the other hand, proved much more challenging, delaying the full UK utilisation of BMEWS long after the radars themselves were receiving data. It had already been agreed ‘that the BMEWS at Fylingdales should have separate outputs to the US and to UK giving early warning of missiles threatening their respective areas and that arrangements should be made for the exchange of this information. The USA undertook to supply the data processing equipment needed for the recognition and separation of ICBM and IRBM data and the USA and UK agreed to be separately responsible for their own rearward data handling systems.’ 46 The UK systems were to meet Air Staff Requirement 2208 and called for ‘display of processed IRBM data at the Air Defence Operations Centre (ADOC), the Bomber Command Operations Centre (BCOC), the Air Ministry Operations Centre and, for standby purposes, at the Air Defence Main Control Centre and Headquarters No. 1 Group. The processed data will also be passed to NORAD over the USA rearward data handling system and this system, in conjunction with the UK system, will be used to obtain a display of the USA alarm levels at the five UK centres.’ 47 The first estimate for ‘the cost of providing remote display facilities from UK sources of production’, provided by the Royal Radar Establishment on 15th July 1959, had been a figure of £50,000. This was considered to be ‘very favourable against the US estimate of £550,000 although the US type of display may be more elaborate than the UK type.’48 As it turned out, however, this costing proved very optimistic, and Project Legate would both be more expensive and take much longer than initially anticipated. The Intermediate Operational Date (IOD) set for the UK data handling system and display facilities at the Fylingdales BMEWS was the 15th May, 1963.49 The data handling system was to comprise two Elliott 803B computers to process IRBM data provided by the main computer, with Digital Data Links to transmit information to the five Operations Centres over GPO landlines, and two Display Panels at each of the five Centres and at Fylingdales. The Threat Report Panel would display the UK and US Alarm Levels, raid size and time-to-go to impact. The BMEWS Status Panel would display the electronic countermeasure and environmental conditions and the serviceability of the radars and main computers at Fylingdales.50 Study contracts were placed with Elliott Bros. and Ferranti, Bracknell in July 1961. These took longer than the expected six months and were not completed until March 1962. The Air Ministry’s Director of Radio wrote to the MOA on 26th March, 1962, pressing for an assurance that the system would be ready by April 1963. MOA replied, in May, that delays in completion of the study contract and pressure of work on other projects, notably ASR 2232, had delayed acceptance of ASR 2208 and stated that equipment for Fylingdales and one remote operation centre would not be available until 12 to 15 months after full financial approval. The forecast date for the other four centres was 24-27 months from the date of full financial approval.51 Thus by August 1962 it was accepted that the desired system for the display of US and UK alarm levels would be available for installation at Fylingdales and one remote Operations Centres until the Sustained Operational Date (SOD) of September 1963, at which date the US would also have information on the UK alarm level. The other four Operations Centres would have to wait until between the end of 1963 and September 1964 to have display of BMEWS data. 52 The September 1963 deadline was met for installation, but the equipment was not yet at full operational capability: ‘Although much of the equipment for the extraction of UK alarm levels and its transmission to BCOC and ADOC was installed on 15th September, 1963, considerable delays have occurred in bringing this equipment to the required standard of reliability for operational use. The main delays are due to Ferranti who are responsible for displays and transmission equipment. … Until the Legate system is operational alarm levels are being calculated manually and transmitted by voice to RAF Operations Centres and the USAF.53 Subsequent forecast dates for the handover of Legate installations at Fylingdales and BCOC of 16th March, 1964 and at ADOC of 15th April 1964 ‘were not met since the equipment had not reached an acceptable standard for operational use. The Legate installations at Fylingdales and BCOC were handed over to the RAF on 29th April, 1964: although we were not satisfied with the standard of performance, of drawings, documentation and spares we felt that the sooner the RAF was able to operate the system and RCA(GB) to maintain it, the sooner would the installation reach an acceptable standard for operational use.’54 In May 1965 it was reported that: ‘The Legate system has been in operational use from 1st December, 1964, using single channel data links, between Fylingdales and Operations Centres at BCOC, ADOC, and AFOR. The equipment has been capable of receiving and displaying information for over 98% of the time. Voice broadcast procedures were used to transmit information to the displays when the automatic system was not operational. The operational value of the system have been limited by defects discovered in the ‘Legate’ computer programme. … The computer programme associated with the introduction of a second data link channel from Fylingdales to all Operations Centres is being written. The writing of the programme requires the use of the Legate computers for certain periods, and this means that the Legate automatic system is not available for operational use; this situation will continue until the end of May 1965.’55 In fact, Legate was not fully ready until the end of March 1966.56 Directory: esrc-files -> outputs outputs -> Hunter, Helper, Leader, Thief? Unemployed Youth in the Indian Himalayas a report on some preliminary fieldwork findings Jane Dyson and Craig Jeffrey, 7 Download 134.75 Kb. Share with your friends:
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