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ROTOR RADAR SYSTEM

In 1950 work began on a new network of radar stations designed to detect Soviet bombers attacking from the east. Even at its inception the plan, code-named ROTOR, was seen as a stop-gap measure and was even then an anachronism. Operating under the old established system of separate controlling and reporting functions, the system in its early form envisaged slow, propeller driven bombers carrying conventional armaments. In operation, Centimetric Early Warning stations and Chain Home Extra Low stations would detect incoming bombers and report this by telephone to one of six Sector Operations Centres. The SOC would assess the threat and then inform the Ground Control Intercept Stations, again by telephone, who would vector the RAF fighters onto the incoming bombers.

Although the system underwent a number of upgrades the manual transmission of data and voice telling were too slow and cumbersome to cope with high speed, high altitude jet bombers (and then missiles), and by 1958 it was obsolete.

Underground bunkers were provided for the Operations Rooms of all the east and south coast stations. These were nominated Type 'R1' single-level CEW, Type 'R2' single-level CHEL, Type 'R3' two-level GCI. Of the six SOCs, four were provided with purpose-built Type 'R4' three-level underground bunkers while two utilized existing WW2 underground structures. In the less vulnerable areas a range of surface or semi-underground buildings were provided, the most significant being the Type 'R6' semi-underground GCI block.

The Portland station, featured on this site, has a single-level underground Type 'R1' CEW bunker.

All the underground ROTOR sites were provided with guardhouses similar to this typical example. The flat-roofed rear extension covers the vertical access shaft to the bunker

HOPE COVE GCI station overlooking Salcombe Bay in Devon. A good surving example of a Type 'R6' semi-underground two level Ground Control Intercept operations block

ABOVE: Concrete radar plynths. The scanners were mounted on top of the buildings which contained the rotating gear, etc. BELOW: View down the access tunnel into the Portland bunker from the bottom of the lift shaft

PORTLAND: Lower lift-landing at the bottom of the 70 foot vertical access shaft

PORTLAND: the Operations Room balcony. This is now the only remaining example

PORTLAND: Central access corridor. The Operations Room and air-conditionuing plant is to the left; power supply and domestic accomodation to the right


	The original ROTOR plan envisaged defence by fighter aircraft AND anti-aircraft guns. Guns were grouped to protect some forty vulnerable areas and each group was controlled from a massive, semi-underground Operations Room. For more information click the image below

	Click on the image (right) for an enlarged map showing distribution of ROTOR stations