Reeves AN/MSQ-1 Close Support Control Set explained

The Reeves AN/MSQ-1 Close Support Control Set produced by Reeves Instrument Corporation was a trailer-mounted^[1] combination radar/computer/communication ("Q" system) developed under a Rome Air Development Center program office^[2] (MPS-9 radar & OA-215)^[3] for Cold War command guidance of manned aircraft (e.g., those equipped with AN/APS-11A or AN/APW-11 avionics.) Developed for Korean War ground-directed bombing (e.g., B-26 bombers), one detachment of the 3903rd Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron bombed itself with an MSQ-1 because it mistakenly used procedures for the earlier SCR-584/OA-294 system (the MSQ-1 was later replaced by the Reeves AN/MSQ-2 Close Support Control Set.) The MSQ-1 was subsequently used for nuclear testing during Operation Teapot, and for aircraft tests such as for "MSQ-1 controlled pinpoint photography" in 1954 (RB-57A Canberra "Night Photo Bombing").^[4]

The set had a direct current analog computer and was modified to use an alternating current computer for Matador Automatic Radar Control (AN/MSQ-1A) to guide MGM-1 Matadors and other unmanned aerial vehicles. The MSQ-1 was considered for guidance of the "XQ-5 Target" drone in 1957,

Air Force MSQ-1A units were carried aboard the USS Tarawa (CVS-40) and the USS Neosho (AO-143) to track Lockheed X-17s launched during the Operation Argus nuclear tests.

Radar stations

In addition to the Tadpole radar stations of the Korean War, a downrange AN/MSQ-1 for the Atlantic Missile Range had been at Florida's Jupiter Missile Guidance Annex in 1952,^[5] and an MSQ-1 radar station on the United States Gulf Coast for the RB-57A tests.

See Also

• List of military electronics of the United States

Notes and References

1. http://radar.tpub.com/TM-11-487C-1/TM-11-487C-10445.htm ""Close Support Control Set AN/MSQ-1 directs aircraft for close-support bombing missions, provides information for bomb scoring, and guides and records the flight of guided missiles. Guidance is accomplished by transmitting coded radar pulses to the aircraft or missile, or by transmitting voice or coded pulses to the pilot. For communication with the pilot, the VHF transmitting and receiving equipment of Communications Central AN/GSC-1 is used. The AN/MSQ-1 [Trailer V-38] and Radar Set AN/MPS-9 [in Trailer K-78] are used together. ["Power Units (not supplied)]"
2. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA250435.pdf Article title
3. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/combatevaluationgroup/message/23682
4. Interim Report: Project No. APG/TAT/122-A . Air Proving Ground Command . 4 May 2000 . 14 September 1954 . Operational Suitability Test of the RB-57A Aircraft . Eglin AF Base, Fla . DTIC AD-046 931 . Radar contact was frequently lost by the ground station when the aircraft was in banks of 15-20 degrees or more. This was attributed to the location of the [AN/APS-11A transponder] antennae on the aircraft. … All drops consisted of three bombs individually released with the aircraft intended to be directly over the target when the second bomb exploded. Bursting altitudes were computed for one-half of release altitude. … The RB-57A is suitable for night photographic reconnaissance when operating within range of either ground radar or Shoran installations.
5. Citation 11 at https://fas.org/spp/military/program/6555th/6555C2-1.htm