Monument record TR 16 SW 187 - Chain Home Low Station Chl02a

A Chain Home Low radar station located at Whitstable (TR 101 648), called site CHL02A. It was established by 08-JUN-1940. Chain Home Low (CHL) stations provided early warning of approaching low-flying enemy aircraft during the Second World War. CHL stations used technology originally used by the Army to plot shipping for coastal batteries. In 1940 the Royal Air Force established the series of Chain Home Low stations to supplement the existing Chain Home stations as they were capable of detecting lower-flying aircraft. CHL sites typically comprised two gantries carrying the transmitter and receiver aerial arrays, a transmitter and receiver hut, a standby set house for the reserve power, and a general purposes hut. (1)

A Chain Home Low station at Whitstable. Aerial photography from 1955 shows that the station has been removed and the site is currently occupied by housing. (2)

<1> Dobinson, C, 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 7. Acoustics and radar: England's early warning systems 1915-1945 (Bibliographic reference). SWX23709.

<2> Anderton, Michael J., 2000, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two radar stations (Bibliographic reference). SWX22107.