| Summary : The site of a Royal Air Force Chain Home radar station at Trerew established by 1941. Chain Home stations provided early warning of approaching enemy aircraft during the Second World War. The stations commonly comprised transmission and receiver blocks, four 240ft timber receiver aerial towers, four 350ft steel transmitter aerial towers that stood on concrete pads, and other buildings such as dispersed accommodation huts, guard huts and stand-by set houses. From 1940 defensive measures were installed at radar stations, including Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacements, pill boxes, road blocks and air raid shelters. The station was technically upgraded in the early 1950s as part of the Rotor programme. The site survives in reasonable condition. The receiver block is located at SW 808 583 covered by an earthen mound, with two of its four aerial bases remaining (the other two have been removed). A standby set house and second receiver block is located at SW 8086 5850 and is still earth protected. The transmission block and associated aerial bases are located at SW 811 585 in fair condition. A series of remaining, inter-connected buildings at SW 809 586 were also associated with the radar base. |
More information : RADAR STATION. SRF, with 3 photographs and extra information. Trerew. Royal Artillery gunners camp. Recorder- A. Harvey. (1)
A Chain Home radar station located at Trerew (SW 812 585), known as CH18. Chain Home stations commonly comprised transmission and receiver blocks, four 240ft timber receiver aerial towers, four 350ft steel transmitter aerial towers that stood on concrete pads, and other buildings such as dispersed accommodation huts, guard huts and standby set houses. From 1940 defensive measures were installed at radar stations, including Light Anti-Aircraft gun emplacements, pill boxes, road blocks and air raid shelters. The receiver towers were located at SW 807 583 and was established by 18-APR-1941. (2)
A Chain Home station located at Trerew. The West Coast Chain Home site survives in reasonable condition. The receiver block is located at SW 808 583 covered by an earthen mound, and with two of its four aerial bases remaining (the other two have been removed). A standby set house and second receiver block is located at SW 8086 5850 and is still earth protected. The transmission block and associated aerial bases are located at SW 811 585 in fair condition. A series of remaining, inter-connected buildings at SW 809 586 were also associated with the radar base. (3)
The Rotor programme was developed to advance the wartime radar technology in detecting and locating fast-flying jets. It was approved by the Air Council in June 1950. The first phase of the programme, Rotor 1, was to technically restore existing Chain Home, centrimetric early warning, Chain Home Extra Low and Ground Controlled Interception stations and put them under the control of RAF Fighter Command. There were three main components to the Rotor stations: the technical site, including the radars, operation blocks and other installations; the domestic site, where personnel were accommodated; and the stand-by set house, a reserve power supply. The technical site at Trerew was located at SW 812 585. The domestic site and the stand-by set house were co-located at the technical site. (4-6)
As source 3. (7) |