Everything about Searchlight totally explained
» For other uses of searchlight see Searchlight (disambiguation).
A
searchlight is an apparatus with
reflectors for projecting a powerful beam of
light of approximately parallel rays in a particular direction,
usually devised so that it can be swiveled about.
Military use of searchlights started late 19th century, when battleships and other major vessels were equipped for finding small attacking
torpedoboats. They saw use in the Russo-Japanese War 1904 - 05. Searchlights were also installed on many coastal artillery batteries for aiding night combat.
Searchlights were first used in
World War I to create "artificial moonlight" to enhance opportunities for night attacks, a practice which continued in
World War II. Artificial moonlight was invented by historian and
tank warfare theorist,
Gen. J.F.C. Fuller.
Searchlights were used extensively in defense against nighttime aerial
bomber raids around the time of
World War II. In particular, pairs of searchlights spaced a known distance apart were used to determine (via
triangulation) the
altitude of enemy bombers, so that the fuses on anti-aircraft
flak shells could be set appropriately for maximum effect. In addition, the lights may have helped blind bombardiers using optical
bombsights.
Searchlights were occasionally used tactically in ground battles. One famous occasion was the Soviets' use of seachlights during the
Battle of Berlin in April 1945. 143 searchlights were directed at the German defense force across the Neisse River with the aim of temporarily blinding them during a Soviet offensive. However, the morning fog diffused the light and silhouetted the attacking Soviet forces, making them clearly visible to the Germans. The Soviets suffered heavy losses as a result and were forced to delay their invasion of the city.
World War II-era searchlights include models manufactured by
General Electric and by the
Sperry Company, (of gyroscope fame). These were mostly of 60" (152.4 cm) diameter with rhodium plated parabolic mirror, reflecting a carbon arc discharge. Peak output was 800,000,000
candlepower. It was powered by a 15 KW generator and had an effective beam visibility of 28 to 35 miles (45 to 56 km) in clear low humidity conditions.
Today, searchlights are used in
advertising, for instance by
automobile dealers; the beam of light is visible over a large area, and (at least in theory) interested persons can find the dealer or store by following the beam to its source. This was once common for
movie premieres; the waving searchlight beams still can be seen as a design element in the logo of the
20th Century Fox movie studio, and
Fox television network.
Further Information
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