Imagine a futuristic top-secret naval command center, where ships collaborate in real-time, pooling sensor and targeting data for an unprecedented view of the battlefield. That vision inspired DATAR – the Digital Automated Tracking And Resolving system – developed in Canada in the early 1950s through an innovative government-industry partnership.
DATAR represented a revolutionary step toward networked command and control. According to naval computing experts, its pioneering digital data consolidation directly influenced modern naval tactical systems. While not adopted operationally, DATAR introduced several innovations that shook the foundations of naval computing.
Let‘s explore the history and functionality of this fascinating early digital system and its lasting impacts.
Overview: Networked Integration for Naval Task Forces
In a nutshell, DATAR provided an integrated view of targeting and sensor data across ships in a naval task force. Developed via a collaboration between the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian technology firm Ferranti Canada, DATAR could:
- Digitize radar, sonar, and other sensor feeds from multiple ships
- Transmit this data between ships
- Consolidate it into a single integrated display for commanders
Ships could view a localized, radar-style picture of the overall battlefield situation including both their own readings and contacts detected by other ships.
This gave commanders unprecedented visibility and coordination compared to only seeing data from their own onboard sensors. While DATAR itself wasn‘t adopted, experts credit it with establishing concepts that evolved into modern naval command systems.
Origins: Post-War Innovation Meets Visionary Concept
DATAR arose from a collision of opportunity and imagination. Here‘s a quick timeline of its early origins:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1946 | RCN researcher Jim Belyea envisions concept for digitized naval data system |
| 1948 | Ferranti Canada attends Canadian military R&D session, meets Belyea |
| 1949 | Ferranti begins feasbility work on Belyea‘s concept – "DATAR" is born! |
The aftermath of WWII had sparked major military technology innovation. The RCN looked to modernize. At that pivotal 1948 meeting, Belyea found a willing commercial collaborator in Ferranti to develop his radical digital integration vision into reality.
Bringing DATAR to Life: $1.9 Million and 30,000 Vacuum Tubes
After the inspirational spark, realizing DATAR took years of intensive R&D. The system involved brand new concepts for digitizing, transmitting, consolidating, and displaying naval tactical data in real-time:
| Milestone | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Prototype PCM Data Network | 1950 | Proved concepts for digital data transmission over long naval distances |
| Full DATAR Prototype | 1953 | Used 30,000 vacuum tubes, stored data on magnetic drums |
| Successful Testing Trials | 1953 | DATAR performed excellently in naval excercises, impressing observers |
Constructing the prototype DATAR system cost $1.9 million – over $15 million today. The high vacuum tube count introduced reliability issues but allowed advanced processing.
How Operators Interacted with DATAR
Since DATAR consolidated data across a naval task force, only a single ship would carry the full computer system. Specialized interfaces allowed distributed interaction:
- Trackball device built from a 5-pin bowling ball to input targeting/position data
- Trigger control used alongside trackball to log contacts
- Radar-like displays presented integrated sensor data back to each ship
So operators could feed contacts detected locally into the central system then view enhanced situation pictures based on shared force-level readings. Pretty slick for the early 50s!
Why DATAR Didn‘t Take Off – And Its Lasting Impacts
The 1953 trials demonstrated DATAR‘s remarkable capabilities. So why didn‘t it transition more widely? Ultimately for cost reasons.
Retrofitting the full RCN would‘ve been hugely expensive. And when approached, neither the USN or Royal Navy opted to adopt DATAR, instead pursuing homegrown alternatives.
So while never deployed operationally, experts say DATAR directly shaped future command systems through these key innovations:
- Digital transmission of integrated sensor data over networks
- Consolidation of force-level data into unified operational pictures
- Interactive interfaces for distributing a common battlefield view
Many core concepts we take for granted in the 21st century tactical net were pioneered by this futuristic 1950s system! DATAR was ahead of its time, planting seeds for our modern digitally-integrated forces.
So while you won‘t find DATAR gear adorning naval vessels today, its pioneering legacy quietly enables cutting-edge battlefield integration. Not too shabby for ambitious post-war innovation built on 30,000 glowing vacuum tubes!
I hope you enjoyed this insider‘s guide to DATAR, one of history‘s most fascinating early attempts at naval digital integration. Let me know if you have any other questions on this remarkable early system!
