The AN/FPN-36 Quad Radar
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
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All I have to offer is these 3 MPN-11 interior photos ... sources not known, so apologies for re-posting them. But I can still smell the interior in my mind!! 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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We had two FPN-36 radars operating at Canadian Forces Base Shearwater (across the harbour from Halifax, NS) as recently as 2008. I'm pretty sure they were replaced with something more modern since then, but I've been out of the military since 2011 and now work for National Defence as a civilian electronics technologist for the Royal Canadian Navy. I will check the dark corners of my basement; I'm pretty sure I still have my set of fold-out schematic drawings and student guide for the Quad from when I took the maintenance course in Trenton in the mid 1990's.
It was a tough old piece of kit, more washing machine than radar...
It was a tough old piece of kit, more washing machine than radar...
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Manitoba
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We had two FPN-36 radars operating at Canadian Forces Base Shearwater (across the harbour from Halifax, NS) as recently as 2008. I'm pretty sure they were replaced with something more modern since then, but I've been out of the military since 2011 and now work for National Defence as a civilian electronics technologist for the Royal Canadian Navy. I will check the dark corners of my basement; I'm pretty sure I still have my set of fold-out schematic drawings and student guide for the Quad from when I took the maintenance course in Trenton in the mid 1990's.
It was a tough old piece of kit, more washing machine than radar...
It was a tough old piece of kit, more washing machine than radar...
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wessex
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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A while back (perhaps 2 years ago now) I heard that the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida, did have an old MPN-11 kept in outdoor storage... but it was subsequently scrapped! 
I also understand it wasn't recorded (i.e. preservation by record) beforehand, which if correct is a travesty!
I also understand it wasn't recorded (i.e. preservation by record) beforehand, which if correct is a travesty!
Join Date: Mar 2010
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That is so sad. It seems as though the MPN-11/CPN-4 has been expunged from history deliberately!
I’m still here, though! 😎
I’m still here, though! 😎
Join Date: Apr 2008
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A local contact of mine kindly went there in person to ask.I'm glad you're still there though MPN11!
Any joy finding Air Publications (AP) since you last posted here???
Join Date: Mar 2010
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I don’t know when the radar was installed at Chivenor but I worked on it from 1972 to 1974.When the station closed and most people moved to Brawdy, I stayed and helped decommission the beast. This involved soaking almost everything on the trailer with WD-40 to loosen moving parts that had not moved in years. There were hundreds of small panels that had to be refitted to cover spaces left by removed equipment. The RN at Yeovilton, or possibly Lee-on Solent had an MPN-11 and we were visited by their radar techs who took a lot of spares away. The US wanted the radar back and in, I think August 1974 we removed it from its turntable, using a Scammell Wrecker truck, which was achieved with more brute force than finesse.
Last edited by wub; 29th Aug 2021 at 22:55.
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Ok, I'll have to dig into my old archives but I know I kept my old manuals and schematics of the two QUADS I worked on at NAS Miramar from 1978 to 1980. I also worked on the FPN-52 and might have those too. I went to school on the CPN-4/TPX-42 and I know I kept all my school materials. It could take some searching so if there is still interest, email me at my account email address and I'll start digging.
Ken Long
Albuquerque, NM - USA
Ken Long
Albuquerque, NM - USA
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The AN/FPN-36 Quad Radar
I have to report significant frustration since my last post in 2018, after writing numerous letters to all sorts of people, agencies, schools, military organisations and radar manufacturers. I have achieved absolutely nothing so far, after 6 years of hunting ! Surely someone out there must have a manual and a copy of the operating procedures ?? So here I am again, giving it another try! Cheers...
I'll check with some techo mates and the son's FIL (who was a groundie).
Gne
Gne
Last edited by Gne; 31st Mar 2024 at 05:34. Reason: too much information!
Thank you Gne. I appreciate your response even if you have the same "nothing" luck as me! I find it hard to believe that military operators of the AN/FPN-36 did not keep any documentation (from the responses I received anyway), even though examples of the equipment are on view in some museums.
