The American system developed from an experimental installation in USS Saratoga in 1938 to HMS Victorious receiving a YB beacon in 1943. Replacing Victorious's British Type 72DM was easier than modifying American aircraft to work with unfamiliar British electronics during her U.S. deployment. Royal Navy experience with the equipment proved favorable, and in 1944 YE and YG beacons replaced Type 72 sets on Royal Navy ships, mainly those intended for the British Pacific Fleet. The adoption reflects operational interoperability as well as technical merit. Victorious received TACAN in 1947 as the newer common allied system. YG remained useful into the 1960s for naval aircraft that lacked TACAN, showing how dependable navigation equipment can outlive the system chosen to replace it.
Chapter · 43:58-46:15
American YE/YG beacons and the move to TACAN
American beacon equipment entered Royal Navy service in the Pacific and was later succeeded by the allied TACAN system.