Searchlight

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ATS officers-in-training crew a 90 cm searchlight in Western Command, 1944 The Auxiliary Territorial Service in the United Kingdom 1939 - 1945 H36315.jpg
ATS officers-in-training crew a 90 cm searchlight in Western Command, 1944

A searchlight (or spotlight) is an apparatus that combines an extremely bright source (traditionally a carbon arc lamp) with a mirrored parabolic reflector to project a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction. It is usually constructed so that it can be swiveled about.

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Military use

Russian troops use a searchlight against a Japanese night attack during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904 Attaque nocturne.jpg
Russian troops use a searchlight against a Japanese night attack during the Russo-Japanese War, 1904
Homeland Security helicopter utilizing its searchlight. Task Force Guardian - Flickr - The National Guard (1).jpg
Homeland Security helicopter utilizing its searchlight.

The first use of searchlights using carbon arc technology occurred during the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. [1] The Royal Navy used searchlights in 1882 to dazzle and prevent Egyptian forces from manning artillery batteries at Alexandria. Later that same year, the French and British forces landed troops under searchlights. [2]

By 1907 the value of searchlights had become widely recognized. One recent use was to assist attacks by torpedo boats by dazzling gun crews on the ships being attacked. Other uses included detecting enemy ships at greater distances, as signaling devices, and to assist landing parties. Searchlights were also used by battleships and other capital vessels to locate attacking torpedo boats and were installed on many coastal artillery batteries for aiding night combat. They saw use in the Russo-Japanese War from 1904–05. [3]

Searchlights were installed on most naval capital ships from the late 19th century through WWII, both for tracking small, close-in targets such as torpedo boats, and for engaging enemy units in nighttime gun battles. The Imperial Japanese Navy especially was known for its intensive development of nighttime naval combat tactics and extensive training. The War in the Pacific saw a number of nocturnal engagements fought by searchlight, particularly the Battle of Savo Sound at Guadalcanal. Although searchlights remained in use throughout the war, the newly developed radar proved to be a far more effective locating device, and Japanese radar development lagged far behind that of the US.

First World War

American searchlight crew and equipment in France during WWI American searchlight crew and equipment in action on Somme front, WWI (32689502005).jpg
American searchlight crew and equipment in France during WWI

Searchlights were first used in the First World War to create "artificial moonlight" to enhance opportunities for night attacks by reflecting searchlight beams off the bottoms of clouds, a practice which continued in the Second World War. The term "artificial moonlight" was used to distinguish illumination provided by searchlights from that provided by natural moonlight, which was referred to as "movement light" in night-time manoeuvers. [4] Searchlights were also heavily used in the defense of the UK against German nighttime bombing raids using Zeppelins.

Second World War

Searchlights were used extensively in defense against nighttime bomber raids during the Second World War. Controlled by sound locators and radars, searchlights could track bombers, indicating targets to anti-aircraft guns and night fighters and dazzling crews.

Searchlights pierce the night sky during an air-raid practice on Gibraltar, 1942 Searchlights pierce the night sky during an air-raid practice on Gibraltar, 20 November 1942. GM1852.jpg
Searchlights pierce the night sky during an air-raid practice on Gibraltar, 1942

Searchlights were occasionally used tactically in ground battles. One notable occasion was the Red Army use of searchlights during the Battle of the Seelow Heights in April 1945. 143 searchlights were directed at the German defence force, with the aim of temporarily blinding them during a Soviet offensive, begun with the largest artillery bombardment the world had ever seen until that point. However, the morning fog diffused the light and silhouetted the attacking Soviet forces, making them clearly visible to the Germans. The Soviets suffered heavy losses as a result and were forced to delay their invasion of the city. [5]

Members of a Royal Artillery, anti-aircraft searchlight detachment clean the mirror of their searchlight, Italy, April 1945 British Eighth Army Troops Crossing the River Po, Beyond Ferrara, Italy, 28 April 1945 TR2854.jpg
Members of a Royal Artillery, anti-aircraft searchlight detachment clean the mirror of their searchlight, Italy, April 1945

Second World War-era searchlights include models manufactured by General Electric and by the Sperry Company. These were mostly of 60 inch (152.4 cm) diameter with rhodium plated parabolic mirror, reflecting a carbon arc discharge. Peak output was 800,000,000 candela. It was powered by a 15 kW generator and had an effective beam visibility of 28 to 35 miles (45 to 56 km) in clear low humidity.

The searchlight also found a niche for use by night fighters and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The Turbinlite was a powerful searchlight mounted in the nose of an RAF Douglas Boston light bomber, converted into a night fighter to shoot down Luftwaffe night bombers. The aircraft would be directed in the general direction of the enemy by ground-based or metre-wave airborne radar, and the pilot would then switch on the Turbinlite, illuminating the enemy aircraft, which would then be shot down by accompanying RAF day fighters such as the Hawker Hurricane. This never proved very successful, as the light made the emitting aircraft a very big target for rear gunners, who would simply have to shoot into the light and be guaranteed to hit something eventually.

During the Battle of the North Atlantic, RAF aircraft such as the Vickers Wellington were assigned to patrol for surfaced German U-boats at night, when they would be on the surface, charging their batteries. A large searchlight called a Leigh light was suspended from the bottom of the wing or fuselage, and would be used to illuminate the surfaced U-boat while it was being attacked with bombs and depth charges. The Leigh light was somewhat more successful than the Turbinlite, but in both cases the development of centimeter-wave radar proved to be the far more effective answer.

Ukraine

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine a searchlight has been used for anti-aircraft warfare. [6]

Non-military use

Today, searchlights are used in advertising, fairs, festivals and other public events. Their use was once common for movie premieres; the waving searchlight beams can still be seen as a design element in the logos of 20th Century Studios and the Fox television network. The world's most powerful searchlight today beams from the top of the pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. It concentrates about 13,650,000 lumens from 39 7kW xenon lamps into a beam of about 9,129,000,000 candela.

Tribute in Light is an art installation that uses two columns of searchlights to represent the former Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, in remembrance of the September 11 attacks. It is produced annually in Lower Manhattan.

Disney parks uses searchlights in their nighttime fireworks displays. they are installed on top of the rooftops of several attractions in Fantasyland.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josef Kammhuber</span> German general

Josef Kammhuber was a career officer in the Luftwaffe and post-World War II German Air Force. During World War II, he was the first general of night fighters in the Luftwaffe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leigh Light</span> Submarine search light

The Leigh Light (L/L) was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Battle of the Atlantic. It was a powerful carbon arc searchlight of 24 inches (610 mm) diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced German U-boats at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kammhuber Line</span>

The Kammhuber Line was the Allied name given to the German night air defense system established in July 1940 by Colonel Josef Kammhuber. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Berlin (RAF campaign)</span> Bomber attacks, 1943–44, WWII

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turbinlite</span> British searchlight mounted on a fighter plane.

The Helmore/GEC Turbinlite was a 2,700 million candela (2.7 Gcd) searchlight fitted in the nose of a number of British Douglas Havoc night fighters during the early part of the Second World War and around the time of The Blitz. The Havoc was guided to enemy aircraft by ground radar and its own radar. The searchlight would then be used to illuminate attacking enemy bombers for defending fighters accompanying the Havoc to shoot down. In practice the Turbinlite was not a success, and the introduction of higher performance night fighters with their own radar meant they were withdrawn from service in early 1943.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">356th Moonlight Battery, Royal Artillery</span> Military unit

The 356th Moonlight Battery, Royal Artillery was a searchlight unit of the British Army that provided artificial illumination, or 'Monty's Moonlight', for night operations by 21st Army Group during the campaign in North West Europe in 1944–45. Previously, it had served on anti-aircraft (AA) duties during The Blitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">474th Searchlight Battery, Royal Artillery</span> Military unit

474th Searchlight Battery, Royal Artillery was a unit of the British Army during World War II. Originally raised as an anti-aircraft (AA) battery, in which role it served during the Battle of Britain and Blitz, it also provided artificial illumination, or 'Monty's Moonlight', for night operations by 21st Army Group during the campaign in North West Europe in 1944–45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moonlight Batteries, Royal Artillery</span>

The Moonlight Batteries were Searchlight units of Britain's Royal Artillery that specialised in providing 'artificial moonlight', otherwise known as 'movement light' or 'Monty's moonlight', for ground operations during the latter stages of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">84th Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery</span> Military unit

The 84th Searchlight Regiment was an air defence unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery during World War II. It protected Humberside and the North Midlands of England as part of Anti-Aircraft Command from the Blitz of 1940 until it was disbanded in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Rabone</span> New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace

Paul Wattling Rabone was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace who flew in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. Born in Salisbury, England, he was educated in New Zealand. He joined the RAF in 1938 and was posted to No. 88 Squadron, which was sent to France in September 1939 after the outbreak of the Second World War. He flew a Fairey Battle during the Battle of France, and was twice shot down.

References

Citations

  1. Stirling, Christopher (2008). Military Communications From Ancient Times to the 21st Century (1st ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 395. ISBN   978-1-85109-732-6.
  2. Sterling, Christopher H. (2008). Military Communications. ABC-CLIO. pp. 395–396. ISBN   978-1-85109-732-6.
  3. Barry, Richard (1905). Port Arthur: A Monster Heroism. Moffat, Yard & Co. pp. 324–325.
  4. "Artificial Moonlight". Tactical and Technical Trends. US Army Military Intelligence Corps (57). April 1945.
  5. Welsh, William E. (June 2017). "Masterful Defense at Seelow Heights". Warfare History Network. Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  6. OSINTtechnical [@Osinttechnical] (1 January 2023). "t.co/r4jYvnd3Qf" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 via Twitter.

Sources

  • FM 4-29 seacoast searchlights
  • FM 4-111 Archived 2010-12-27 at the Wayback Machine Coast Artillery Field Manual, Antiaircraft Artillery, Position Finding and Control, Antiaircraft Search-lights (US War Department, 1940)
  • FM 4-115