The Avenger early-warning variant carried APS-20 radar, which the video describes as detecting surface ships at about 200 nautical miles and aircraft at about 65 nautical miles under stated conditions. Its antenna scanned at three to six rotations per minute, with a narrow horizontal beam and much broader vertical coverage. It was far less capable than a modern E-2D, yet valuable for the mid-1940s and 1950s. The system raises the painful question of how many wartime losses earlier warning might have prevented. Airborne warning gave the carrier and its task force more time and security, showing how sensors can be as important as the aircraft's direct striking role.
Notable Point · 39:39-42:24
What APS-20 radar added to a carrier force
Examine the APS-20-equipped Avenger as an early-warning asset that extended a carrier task force's warning against ships and aircraft.