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Leigh Light
*** Shopping-Tip: Leigh Light
The '''Leigh Light''' (abbreviated L/L) was a
United Kingdom British World War II era anti submarine device used in the
Second Battle of the Atlantic. It was a powerful 22 million
candela searchlight of 24 inches (610 mm) diameter fitted to a number of Britain's
Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced
Germany German U-boat submarines at night.
Image:Leigh Light.jpg Leigh Light.html" title="Meaning of right right|250px|thumb|A [[Leigh Light used for spotting U-boats on the surface at night fitted to a
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Liberator aircraft of Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 26 February 1944.html" title="Meaning of 250px|thumb|A [[Leigh Light">right|250px|thumb|A [[Leigh Light used for spotting U-boats on the surface at night fitted to a
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Liberator aircraft of Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 26 February 1944">250px|thumb|A [[Leigh Light">right|250px|thumb|A [[Leigh Light used for spotting U-boats on the surface at night fitted to a
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Liberator aircraft of Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 26 February 1944
It was successfully used from June
1942 onwards to attack U-boats recharging their
battery (electricity) batteries on the surface at night, when they had been relatively safe from attack. The aircraft would approach the submarine using its ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar and only switch on the searchlight beam during the final approach. The U-boat would not have sufficient time to dive and the bomb aimer would have a clear view of the target. It was so successful that German submarines were forced to switch to daytime battery charging when they could at least see aircraft approaching. After its introduction allied shipping losses from U boats dropped from 600,000 to 200,000 tons per month.
Development
Early air-to-surface
radar sets, namely the
History of radar ASV Mk. II, had a fairly long minimum detection range. As the aircraft approached the target, it would disappear off the radar at a range that was too great to allow it to be seen by eye at night. At first aircraft solved this problem by dropping flares to light up the area, but since the flare only lit up the area directly under the aircraft, a string would have to be dropped until the submarine was spotted. Once it was spotted the aircraft would have to circle back to attack, the entire process giving the submarine a fair amount of time to dive out of danger.
Eventually time delayed flares were developed that allowed the attacking plane time to circle. The flare was fired into the air from a buoy previously dropped by the plane. The surfaced submarine could then be seen in silhouette as the plane approached.
Squadron Leader Humphry de Verde Leigh suggested that an even better solution was to mount a searchlight under the aircraft, pointed forward and allowing the submarine to be spotted as soon as it was turned on. At first it was difficult to fit to aircraft due to its size. Leigh persisted in his efforts to test the idea, and garnered the support of the Commander-in-Chief of Coastal Command, Sir Frederick Bowhill. In March 1941 a
Vickers Wellington that had been used for anti-mining operations was modified with a retractable "
dustbin" holding the lamp, and proved the concept sound.
At this point the
Air Ministry decided that the idea was worthwhile, but that they should instead use the
Turbinlite, a less effective system which had been originally developed as an aid for nightime
bomber interception. After trials they too eventually decided to use Leigh's system, but it was not until mid-1942 that aircraft started being modified to carry it.
Operation
By June 1942, aircraft equipped with ASV radar and the Leigh light were operating over the
Bay of Biscay intercepting U-boats moving to and from their home ports on the coast of France. In the five months prior not one submarine had been sunk, and six aircraft had been lost. The Leigh light turned the tables, and by August the U-boats preferred to take their chances in daytime when they at least had some warning and could fight back.
Wing Commander (rank) Wing Commander Peter Cundy was given the
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) Air Force Cross for his part in the development of the Leigh light.
External link
[http://uboat.net/allies/technical/leigh_light.htm Technical details of the Leigh Light]
Category:Military aviation
ca:Leigh Light
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Leigh light
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