Rehoboth Bay WWII Radar Site

 (1943-1946) - A World War II U.S. Army Radar Site established in 1943. Used to provide fire control information to large caliber (6" and above) coastal gun batteries in the Harbor Defense of the Delaware against enemy warships. Located on Fort Miles near Indian Beach, Sussex County, Delaware. Closed in 1946.

History


This radar site was designate site #2 of the five SCR-296-A radar sites authorized for the Fort Miles command. It was sited just to the rear of Fire Control Station No. 3 along the coast between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay. Of the remaining sites, two were located south of the fort along the coast, supporting the line of observation towers and one was located on the Fort Miles main post. The fifth site was located across Delaware Bay at Cape May, New Jersey, in support of Battery 223.

This radar site was constructed and transferred for use at Rehoboth Bay on 3 Nov 1943. Construction costs to date of transfer were $ 7,900. The physical plant consisted of a transmitter building, two powerhouses each with a 1000 gallon fuel tank, a 100' steel tower and an antenna housing disguised as a Water tank atop the tower. The three buildings and the tower were prefabricated steel units furnished by the Signal Corps. The buildings and the tower were placed on concrete pads and footings installed by the Corps of Engineers who erected all of the structures. Access to the antenna on top of the tower was by a small hoist operated by an electric motor.

The radar equipment was installed by the Signal Corps. It required 16.3kW of 120/240 AC, 1 phase, 60 cycle power furnished by commercial power backed up by the two on-site generators. The two 25 kW generators were furnished and installed by the Signal Corps.

Site Operation
The Radar track data was provided by telephone to support Battery 519 as the primary battery and to secondary batteries including Battery 222. Battery 519 was a 12" gun battery located on Fort Miles.

Closure
Closed in 1946. The SCR-296-A Radar equipment was declared obsolete by AG letter on 17 Jan 1946. The Tower and radar equipment were to be disposed of while the buildings were to be retained.

Current Status
The only remains of the radar site are the four radar tower support pads that were filled in so that just the tops are visible and the bolts are cut off level with the concrete.

See Also:
 * Fort Miles
 * Battery 519
 * US Radar Sets
 * SCR-296-A Radar Set
 * Northeastern WWII Radar Sites

Sources:

Links:
 * RCW-Corrected to 1 Aug 1944, CDSG.