Carrimore Enters Searchlight Trailer Field
Page 49
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Fleet of "Scanning" Searchlight Outfits by which Aircraft Detection is Greatly Accelerated
WITHIN the sphere of home defence the trailer is playing a part of growing prominence. For the detection and location of aircraft it serves a particularly useful purpose. An accompanying illustration shows one of a fleet of eight machines, having as their bases trailers built by Carrimore Six Wheelers, Ltd., Great North Road, North Finchley, London, N.12, which are equipped with Savage Scanning searchlights, the special product of Savage and Parsons, Ltd., Hendon Aerodrome, London, N.W.9.
These lamps possess the desirable feature of being capable of illuminating, in a given time, a larger tea, of sky (if we may be permitted the term) than can a concentrated-beam searchlight. This type, we are informed, has a spread of about degrees, and a cone-shaped beam.
The Savage searchlight, to begin with, throws a blade
of light 1 degree thick and 6 degrees wide; to continue, this beam is automatically oscillated through 20 degrees. Thus, a large rectangular " area " of sky is illuminated. There is no movement of the projector itself, and one sweep
occupies one second. The claim is that the chance of locating the aircraft is increased 50 times, and speed in aircraft detection is of the greatest importance.
To provide for ordinary movement, the searchlight is mounted on the trailer on a turntable and can also be turned about its horizontal axis, that is to say, it has universal motion, Mounted on low-camber flexible springs, the platform is
1 ft. 9 ins, above ground level. Stabilizing jacks are included in the equipment. There are three of these, one at each side and one at the rear. They are secured to swinging arms, which can be rigidly locked in the outward
position. Their plungers move downwards to take the weight.
Although the searchlight equipment weighs only about one ton, and the trailer an amount in this neighbourhood, large low-pressure tyres (8.25-20) are employed. Doubtless the intention is to ensure smooth travel for the apparatus carried and to render the outfit suitable for the negotiation of soft ground.
Manceuvrability is also a feature that has received attention, and whilst the rear track is the maximum permitted by the 7sft. 6-in, limit, the front is narrower. Thus, with turntable steering, a shorter wheelbase is possible.