Automatic Gun-Laying Turret

AGLT incorporated both a low-power tail warning radar and fire-control system, which could detect approaching enemy fighters, aim and automatically trigger machine guns – in total darkness or cloud cover if necessary.The radar warning and fire-control system itself was commonly known by the code names Village Inn and "Z Equipment",[1] as well as the serial number TR3548.The system consisted of a transmitter/receiver unit mounted in the navigator's compartment, operating through a conical scanning parabolic aerial attached to rear turrets.In production equipment the process was made automatic, the range information being fed electronically directly into the gunsight, with the navigator's "running commentary" only being retained for the benefit of the rest of the crew.Village Inn was eventually produced in four Marks: The system was also fitted to the Rose turret (twin 0.5 inch guns) on at least one Avro Lincoln B.Mk II, although how many is not known.
The AGLT Village Inn FN 121 tail turret as fitted on a Lancaster – the bulbous radome covers the parabolic scanning aerial .
A diagram of the Village Inn scanning system
Liberated prisoners during Operation Exodus with an Avro Lancaster of No. 635 Squadron RAF at Lübeck , Germany, 11 May 1945. The Lancaster at right is fitted with the AGLT "Village Inn" tail turret.
LancasterradomeparabolicaerialFrazer-Nashgun turretBritishbomberstail warning radarfire-control systemfightersdarknessRoyal Air ForceAlliedBomber Commandinfra-redrear gunnersfriendly fireearly warning systemsortiesPhilip DeeAlan HodgkinAir MinistryTelecommunications Research EstablishmentRAF Deffordserial numbertransmitterreceiverconical scanningparabolic aerialwavelengthpulse repetition frequencymagnetroncathode ray tubegyro gunsightintercomWindageNo. 101 Squadron RAFLudford MagnaNo. 49DarmstadtOperation ExodusAvro LancasterNo. 635 Squadron RAFLübeckRose turretAvro LincolnEmerson Electric CompanySt. Louis, MissouriCanadianList of World War II electronic warfare equipmentSydney F. WiseHandley Page Halifax