AN/FSQ-7 "Whirlwind II" Intercept Computer


The Maintenance Control Console of the AN/FSQ-7 Computer. Photo from "Searching The Skies"
Developed by Cambridge Research Laboratory and IBM, in partnership with the Air Force, the AN/FSQ-7 intercept computer was a modified "Whirlwind" computer. The `Q-7 was used in performing air defense command and control functions. Whirlwind II was first tested by placing the computer at a control center in Cambridge, MA to receive data from a long-range and several short-range radars set up on Cape Cod. The key breakthrough was the development of magnetic-core memory that vastly improved the computer`s reliability, operating speed doubled and input speed quadrupled over the original storage tube memory.


FSQ-7 Relationship with SAGE

 

AN/FSQ-7 Operating Instructions (PDF download)

AN/FSQ-7 System Maintenance (PDF download)

Operation of SAGE duplex computers (500KB PDF)

Excerpts from:

INTRODUCTION
TO
AN/FSQ-7
COMBAT DIRECTION CENTRAL
AND
AN/FSQ-8
COMBAT CONTROL CENTRAL

15 MARCH 1965

Military Products Division
International Business Machines Corporation
Kindston, New York

2.3 DEVELOPING A NEW SYSTEM

The Air Force, in late 1950, enlisted the cooperation of various civilian organizations in its efforts to improve the capabilities of the United States air defense network. The overall program was known as the Continental Air Defense System (CADS) Project, under which civilian organizations helped to bring the national air defense system up to the best possible operating condition and made recommendations to ensure the system`s continued effective operation. The air defense system was greatly improved by the CADS Project, but fell short of the Air Defense Command requirements for a vastly improved air defense system.

Simultaneously, studies were made on the combined use of digital computers and radar-data transmission equipment for application to air defense. The testing of a high-speed digital computer was recommended to the Air Force to provide information on the capabilities of such equipment to solve the ever-growing problem of air defense. The findings of this program led to many new concepts for solving the problem and resulted in the establishment of an experimental project which gave rise to the SAGE System. This project was developed in three major phases: the 1953 Cape Cod System, the 1954 Cape Cod System, and the experimental SAGE subsector.

2.3.1 1953 Cape Cod System

The 1953 Cape Cod System was composed of a computer known as Whirlwind I (WWI) and a Direction Center, along with associated radar equipment. The purpose of this arrangement was to gather preliminary test data which would substantiate the concepts of the SAGE System then being planned. Emphasis was directed toward singling out obvious problem areas and attempting to correct whatever difficulties were encountered, rather than toward gathering complete statistical data on system operation. Consequently, there was very little modification of equipment.

2.3.2 1954 Cape Cod System

The 1954 Cape Cod System was the same as the 1953 system except that radar network and mapping facilities were increased. Several minor improvements were incorporated in the operating positions within the Direction Center. The primary objective was to supply statistical results on system capacity and accuracy.

2.3.3 Experimental SAGE Subsector

The experimental SAGE subsector, located in Lexington, Mass., was completed in 1955. It is equipped with a prototype AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central known as XD-l. A radar system provides a variety of inputs similar in number and type to those used in the SAGE System. An Air Force ground-to-air data link is connected to the output for experiments with data-link-equipped aircraft.

The experimental SAGE Subsector provides experimental data on electronic reliability, computer programs, and operating procedures. It is organized to support the regular functions of a Direction Center and is used to obtain operational approval and to determine required equipment modifications.

Description of AN/FSQ-7 and ANFSQ-8

3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central and the AN/FSQ-8 Combat Control Central are the basic building blocks of the SAGE System. It is around these equipments that all operations in the SAGE System revolve, just as it is around the SAGE System that the major air defense operations for continental United States revolve. To appreciate the critical positions of the AN/FSQ-7 and AN/FSQ-8 in the air defense system, a more complete description of their operations must be made.

3.1.1 Combat Direction Central

The AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central is the data processing equipment installed, in a Direction Center at the sector level of command, and may be called the first line of air defense in the continental United States.

The process of air defense may be broken down into a series of related functions such as detection, identification, tracking, weapons control, etc. To perform these functions efficiently, the AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central is capable of assembling large quantities of diverse information from many sources. This information includes radar data, commercial and military aircraft flight plans, and weather data. The Central is also capable of processing data to identify and track all aircraft, friend or foe. The AN/FSQ-7 also directs antiaircraft batteries and all interceptors manned or remote-controlled to positions close enough to the target for the interceptor itself to complete the interception. In addition, the AN/FSQ-7 keeps all personnel fully informed about the air situation, alerts them to actions required, displays possible recourses for action, and continually computes and displays all subsequent changes to the original data.

3.1.2 Combat Control Central

The AN/FSQ-8 Combat Control Central is the data processing equipment installed in a Control Center at the division level of command.

The functions of the Control Central are largely supervisory in nature. Personnel at this echelon of command are responsible (1) for monitoring the action in each of the sectors comprising the division and (2) for making decisions relating to the allocation of weapons. In addition, personnel at the Control Central are responsible for coordination with other Control Centrals and for presenting the divisional air situation to higher echelons of command.

AN/FSQ7 SAGE Computer

Luke AFB

Contributed by Michael F. Murphy

 

 

The AN/FSQ7 computer occupied the first floor of the Sage Building (Blockhouse) at Luke AFB.  The layout of the 1st floor was basically like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Frame Room A

 

 

 

 

 Operation and Monitoring Center

 

 

 

 

Computer Frame Room B

 

 Testing Area

 

 

 

 

Radar Input Frame Area

 

 

Open Area

 

Restricted Areas open to only technicians and programmers

 

Area open to all other personal when they went through outside security

 

The blockhouse at the time was considered a class A Resource and there was security in place to gain access to the building.  Once inside there was additional areas where only certain personnel could gain access.  The Luke center was unique in the fact that it was the programming center for all other sage sites.  This only meant that our computers totaling over 50,000 plus tubes had more core memory, 32K total, a joke by today’s standards.

 

 

 

 

This was the control panel for Radar site inputs.  Each group of lights represents the input from a radar site from somewhere in the southwestern US.  The lights on top were the centers output to NORAD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a technician working on a Magnetic Tape Unit (MTU). 

 

 

 

 

Here are two views of the master control panel that monitored the computer, IO and Display systems.  The above picture has the magnet tape units in the back and an old sage scope on the left.  The doors on the right took you to the computer frame room.  An interesting point on the frame room.  Before a technician entered when the computer was shut down, he had to call the refrigeration plant and request “comfort air”.  Otherwise, he might very well end up with frost bite.  Yes, the computer generated that much heat.

 

 

 

This was the Drum Frame.  The front is on top and the bottom shows the back view.  Hard to believe that the entire frame has been reduced to the size of a chip.  The bottom picture gives you a good idea of how many frames made up the computer.  The entire room can now be carried with you in a laptop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of about 10,000 pluggable units that when combined made up the computer

 

To repair those pluggable units the above shows one of the test sets that was used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts

 

I don’t know if these were really true but it did make sense at the time.

 

1)      Each computer had over 50,000 tubes.  That was over 100,000 tubes and that did not include all the tubes used in the display consoles.

2)      The air conditioning for the building was enough to cool 500 Arizona homes in the summer

3)      The building contained enough wire to circle the globe three times.

4)      Technicians would routinely test pluggable units by whapping them with a rubber mallet.

5)      The electricity used by the facility would provide for a community of 250 homes.

6)      Another test was to turn off the lights in the frame room and look for irregular red glowing tubes.

7)      Hollywood loved the master control panels.  When Luke deactivated it was rumored that one computer went to the Smithsonian and the other went to Hollywood.  In Fact, many show such as ‘Battle Star Galatia’ routinely showed the monitor consoles.