GE AN/MPQ-14 Course Directing Central

The GE AN/MPQ-14 Course Directing Central was a Cold War radar/computer/communication system for ground-directed bombing (GDB) during the Korean War and was the 2nd GDB system used by the United States Marine Corps (cf. AN/TPQ-2). The combination ("Q") system provided command guidance for an aircraft to reach a predetermined release point for all-weather, day/night prosecution of targets.

AN/MPQ-14
Country of originUnited States
Frequency2,740 to 2,960 MHz[1]
Range20,000 yd max, 500 yd min
Azimuth360°
PowerPeak 200 kw (83 db above 1 mw)

Production and deployment

The AN/MPQ-14 was created under a production contract to General Electric, and the central used the radar model from the AN/TPQ-2 Close Air Support System, a diesel generator set, AN/MRW-4 & -3 radios, and from the AN/MSQ-7 [sic]: the "guidance computer-transmitter set", data converter (spherical to rectangular computation), and "indicator-recorder" (plotting board).[1] "Housed and transported in two modified 3/4-ton trailers, two 2-1/2-ton trucks, one 3/4-ton 4x4 truck, and one mobile radar mount",[1] the USMC GDB team was ready for deployment to Korea in July 1951[2] after the USAF had begun Korean War GDB in 1950.[3] The AN/MPQ-14 was "moved into the" 1st Marine Division area[4] by the "First Marine Aircraft Wing"[2] near the 38th parallel north for guiding units such as the VMF-513 Corsair night-fighter squadron flying GDB from 15,000–20,000 feet. A variant of the central, the AN/MPQ-14A, had different radar and communication subsystems, and MPQ-14 was also produced by the "Advance"[5] and "Ultrasonic"[6] companies.

The AN/TPQ-10 Course Directing Central's[7] antenna dish (above) on a transportable mount is similar to the AN/MPQ-14 dish on a mobile radar mount.

References
  1. MIL-HDBK-162A Volume 1 Section 1. United States Army. 15 December 1965. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  2. Merrill, Capt Grayson. "Your story - Class of 1934 - Innovation Wins Wars". www.usna.com/page.aspx?pid=599. USNA Alumni Association and Foundation. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  3. "Air Force Historical Support Division > Home" (PDF). www.afhso.af.mil.
  4. U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Archived 2012-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Krulak, Victor H. (7 December 1999). "First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps". Naval Institute Press – via Google Books.
  6. "RADAR COURSE DIRECTING CENTRAL". radar.tpub.com.
  7. Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Aeronautics. "Evaluation (Interim Report) for Radar, Course Directing Central AN/TPQ-10 (XN-2) 9/11/59" – via US National Archives Research Catalog.
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