123 Signals Unit RAF
Encyclopedia
123 Signals Unit was a Ground Controlled Interception
Radar
Unit of the Royal Air Force
formed on 1 July 1954 at RAF Habbaniya
, Iraq
.
power unit. One Type15 radar was added in February 1955. On August 8, 1954, the equipment was moved to a site on the Jabal-Az-Zaban plateau about 4 miles from the camp.
The Type21 Convoy was removed in August 1955 and replaced by a Type E Convoy. The technical equipment of the now enlarged unit comprised six radar aerials
, (three Type 13's, one 14Mk7, one 14Mk8, one Type15), two Control Centres RV510, four Cable Carriers RV540, three diesel
-powered alternator
sets RV550 and VHF
facilities. Each Control Centre contained two PPI consoles, two range/altitude consoles, aerial controls, fighter plotting board
and communications. All of this equipment plus the workshop, stores and Unit Administration offices was built on Leyland lorry and trailer chassis.
. At the end of October 1958, work began on removing the convoy from the plateau
to RAF Habbaniya
and the Unit strength was reduced to a closing party of ten.
At various times during its brief life, 123 Signals Unit had several high-ranking visitors including:
123 Signals Unit Royal Air Force became operational again but this time in Aden at RAF Steamer Point during the early 1960s. Situated on high ground above Steamer Point Hospital it enjoyed magnificent views over the famous natural harbour of Aden and Little Aden to the west.
After 1967 when British Forces left Aden on Independence the Unit began operating at Juffair
, Bahrain
.
Ground-controlled interception
Ground-controlled interception an air defense tactic whereby one or more radar stations are linked to a command communications centre which guides interceptor aircraft to an airborne target. This tactic was pioneered during World War II by the Royal Air Force with the Luftwaffe to follow closely...
Radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
Unit of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
formed on 1 July 1954 at RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
History
Initially it was equipped as a Type21 Radar Convoy with one Radar Type13, one Radar Type14, VHF cabin, Control Centre and dieselDiesel generator
A diesel generator is the combination of a diesel engine with an electrical generator to generate electrical energy....
power unit. One Type15 radar was added in February 1955. On August 8, 1954, the equipment was moved to a site on the Jabal-Az-Zaban plateau about 4 miles from the camp.
The Type21 Convoy was removed in August 1955 and replaced by a Type E Convoy. The technical equipment of the now enlarged unit comprised six radar aerials
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
, (three Type 13's, one 14Mk7, one 14Mk8, one Type15), two Control Centres RV510, four Cable Carriers RV540, three diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
-powered alternator
Alternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
sets RV550 and VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
facilities. Each Control Centre contained two PPI consoles, two range/altitude consoles, aerial controls, fighter plotting board
Plotting board
A plotting board was a mechanical device used by the U.S. Coast Artillery to track the observed course of a target , project its future position, and derive the uncorrected data on azimuth and range needed to direct the fire of the guns of a battery to hit that target...
and communications. All of this equipment plus the workshop, stores and Unit Administration offices was built on Leyland lorry and trailer chassis.
De-commission
The Signals Unit ceased operations on July 15, 1958, following the military coup in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. At the end of October 1958, work began on removing the convoy from the plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
to RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
and the Unit strength was reduced to a closing party of ten.
At various times during its brief life, 123 Signals Unit had several high-ranking visitors including:
- Marshal of the Royal Air ForceMarshal of the Royal Air ForceMarshal of the Royal Air Force is the highest rank in the Royal Air Force. In peacetime it was granted to RAF officers in the appointment of Chief of the Defence Staff, and to retired Chiefs of the Air Staff, who were promoted to it on their last day of service. Promotions to the rank have ceased...
Sir Dermot BoyleDermot BoyleMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Alexander Boyle GCB, KCVO, KBE, AFC, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:...
(KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, KBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
), Chief of the Air Staff - Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
H.H Brookes (CB, CBE, DFC), Air Officer Commanding British Forces in Iraq - Air Vice-Marshal W.J. Crisham (CB, CBE), Air Officer Commanding, Air Headquarters Levant
- General Enver Alpahy, Director General of Electronics and Communications, Turkish ArmyTurkish ArmyThe Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
- Brigadier Ismael, Iraqi ArmyIraqi ArmyThe Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
- Colonel Baghdadi, Royal Iraqi Air ForceIraqi Air ForceThe Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
- Colonel Azzazi, Royal Iraqi Air Force
123 Signals Unit Royal Air Force became operational again but this time in Aden at RAF Steamer Point during the early 1960s. Situated on high ground above Steamer Point Hospital it enjoyed magnificent views over the famous natural harbour of Aden and Little Aden to the west.
After 1967 when British Forces left Aden on Independence the Unit began operating at Juffair
Juffair
Juffair is a suburban neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain. It was originally a separate village inhabited by Bahrainis, but it has been absorbed by the suburban expansion of Manama, and also includes large parts of land reclaimed from the sea....
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
.