The writer's favourite colour code, Orange Poodle was a 1952 project to develop a radar system capable of detecting low altitude attacks as they approached the UK coastline. This was part of a project called
Wealth that sought to develop and over the horizon radar to replace the Chain Home Low stations. Another radar system tested at this time was called Red Cabbage. This was an experimental coherent phase integration radar to detect small targets in sea clutter.Orange Poodle used High Frequency surface waves (5 - 15MHz) and ground wave propagation. This meant that the radar had to be sited close to the sea. Both Wealth and Orange Poodle were tested at Downberry in Cornwall. This was a coastal location chosen because it was within 200yards (183m) of the sea. As it turned out only 2 stations would have been capable of conversion to Orange Poodle and it was decided to abandon Orange Poodle and develop a balloon-borne radar called
Blue Joker.
Return to