Camp Sentinel

Camp Sentinel II at Lai Khe

Type of Radar

Battlefield Ground Surveillance Radar (foliage penetrating)

Manufacturer

Lincoln Laboratory

IEEE Band

P Band

NATO Band

B Band

Exact Frequency

435 MHz

Pulse Repetition Rate/Frequency
(PRR/PRF)

Unknown

Pulse Width
(in µseconds)

Unknown

Peak Power

Unknown

Maximum
Instrumented
Range

Unknown

Maximum Altitude

Unknown

Beam Dimensions

Electronically scanned cylindrical array providing 360 degree coverage.

Power Input

Unknown

System Weight

Unknown

Scanning Rate

Unknown

Operators

Unknown

Notes:

Camp Sentinel I was an advanced prototype constructed in 1967.

Camp Sentinel II was an advanced prototype constructed and sent to Vietnam for tests in August 1968.

Camp Sentinel III was a improved version by the US Army's Harry Diamond Laboratory, with a more powerful transmitter, greater range, and more display options. Six were made and sent to Vietnam until the end of the war.

The antenna was mounted high above the ground on a rapidly deployable tower so the electromagnetic waves could reach a target by propagating over the tops of the trees and then be diffracted to the ground, rather than by propagating directly through the foliage.

The radar system was designed to allow an operator to construct two intrusion fences. These fences could be made irregular in shape, to match them to the desired defense perimeter. The operator did not need to monitor the radar unless an alarm sounded. If a detection occurred, the operator simply checked the display to see which range/azimuth sector contained the intruder and whether the target was incoming or outgoing.