WW II Coast Watching (CW) Radar Sites

[popeye53]

In July 1940 the decision was made to build 16 RDF Stations to cover the approaches to the main harbours, Cook & Foveaux Straits. According to what I have been able to locate, the first site was operational in January 1941, and the last in March 1942. I have only been able to find limited information about these stations. I have found references to:

Naval Post No. 1, Bluff Hill

Naval Post No. 4, Cuvier Island

Naval Post No. 7, Bream Head (operational February 1942)

Naval Post No. 9, Cape Campbell

Naval Post No. 11, Stephens Island

with additional stations at: Mokohinau Island, Great Barrier Island, Cape Colville, Cape Rodney, Baring Head & Godley Head.

Can anyone provide additional information (location/Post Number/operational date) on these facilities?
Thanks!!!

[Dave Homewood]

The RNZAF ran around 50 or so radar sites on the New Zealand coast. See the two books RNZAF Radar Memories Volumes I & II by Ian Sexton, if you can track them down - try the National Library interloan scheme if nothing else. Maybe there will be details in those about the Navy radar sites you mention.

[davidd]

Have you checked the RNZN Official War History - probably some mention there! I think there was also a smaller (official) booklet on the NZ Coastwatchers in the "Episodes" series, but cannot recall if it covered radar stations. I think the Navy radar was locally made, using components shipped from UK. There was also another official NZ Govt booklet on New Zealand Radar (all services) under another series, I think titled something along the lines of Science in the recent war which had quite a lot of good stuff. I copied the RNZAF-relevant bits from this for own use.

[No longer identifiable]

The radar antennae at Mohokinau Islands (actually on Burgess Is) was either just in front of the lighthouse on the NE side or further towards the north-eastern point. The military camp was below the lighthouse on the flatter ground on this point, and the remains of flat concrete surfaces are still visible there if you visit. I used to go out there every 4 months or so by helicopter for years (from Helitranz on the Nth Shore), and I'll have a look at all the work photos I took over the years to see if I have any of the remains.

Another site I've visited is the one at camp Opau, at the top of the Opau stream and steep valley on the coast by Makara (on the coastal edge of the wind farm). This is an easy site to visit if you live in Wellington, and the concrete remains of the antennae base can still be seen.

[camtech]

David, you are correct re the Coastwatchers being one of the episodes series. I have 2 bound volumes of these and will check later re radar stations, although I suspect not.

[popeye53]

Thanks for responses! I have access to the RNZN Official War History, but it doesn't provide detailed information about the sites. Sexton's books don't appear to be held at any library outside New Zealand, and I'm a Yank so I doubt they would consider and international inter-library loan.

[Dave Homewood]

Ah, that is a shame regarding Ian Sexton's books. I do not have copies of them, but maybe someone here does, and can check for you?

[AussieBob]

It doesn't answer your question but in searching for sources of Ian Sexton's books, this piece from the NZ Vintage Radio Society turned up and it may be of interest.
nzvrshome.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/nzvrs-18-3.pdf
nzvrshome.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/nzvrs-18-3.pdf

PS The search seems to suggest that there may be a copy of the book at Motat.

[f28]

The only info I have found regarding Pillar Point radar station above Farewell Spit can be found at: www.qsl.net/zl2rx/nzradar.htm There are some good photo's of the cabinets containing the electronics there. Although several Jap Subs came through Cook Strait at different times, Pillar Point did not pick them up, or if they did, the Government has never divulged it.

I've been researching what appears to be a very obscure Radar Station -it seems to have been a truck mounted unit at the Clarence River in southern Marlborough. The following is what the NatArc hold in Wellington:
Clarence River Radar Station: order item ID: R18924287. Title: Ground radar system (1939-1945) War siting data – No.9 Station – Clarence River, July 1943 (R18924287)
Agency: ADQA
Series: 17211
Accession: W1569
Record group: AIRW1569
Box/item: 95/
Sep:
Record no.: 7/516/8
Part: 1
Alternative no.:
Record type: Text

I visited a house at the Clarence River last year, and there was a large picture/photo on the wall showing the Clarence River radar unit -it was truck mounted. That is the only photo I have seen of it.

There seems to be conflicting information regarding Cape Campbell Radar Station. Some accounts say it was never installed, others say it was operational. If you can advise me definitively, please advise.

You might be interested to learn that the famous Opana Point radar on Oahu, which detected the incoming Japanese flight for the attack on Pearl Harbour, has been saved, and is undergoing restoration in the U.S. National Electronics Museum. It is an SCR-270 set. See the website: www.nationalelectronicsmuseum.org Also GoogleImages have some photo's of it during operation at Opana Point. Type in "Opana Point Radar"

Good Luck!

David

[radar]

Clarence River Radar was RNZAF unit 9 constructed in 1940 and operational between 1942 and 1943 as a COL air defense Radar. Equipment remained til March 1944. It was mounted in a number of buildings at Woodbank Point which were relocated after WW2. I have not found any record of a truck mounted Radar at this site.

Cape Campbell Radar was a NZ Navy site called Navy Post 9. In March 1942 RDL+ Navy installed a CW Coast Watching Radar to observe shipping.
A new Microwave Radar Navy Post 9M was to be constructed 20 yards west of the CW station but in July 1943, plans changed to build it at Post 11 instead.
In March 1944, a Microwave truck mounted Radar (set No5) was installed at Cape Campbell, and in July 1944 a new 20 ft mast from RDL Christchurch was used to mount the antenna. In Sept1944 this truck was handed over to the operational research group (ORG) at Blenheim for work at Kaikoura.
In Oct 1944, the Microwave Radar equipment at Cape Campbell was serviced by RDL which tremendously improved the Radar performance.
Ref WW2 Narrative Radar DSIR 1948

[Dave Homewood]

Oct 16, 2023 22:25:13 GMT 12 f28 said:

I visited a house at the Clarence River last year, and there was a large picture/photo on the wall showing the Clarence River radar unit -it was truck mounted. That is the only photo I have seen of it.

Hi F28, do you have a photo of that photo of the truck mounted Radar from Clarence River? If yes, would you be happy to share the picture please? I can post it here for you if you need help.