Ship RCS Table

(Source: Williams/Cramp/Curtis: Experimental study of the radar cross section of maritime targets, Electronic Circuits and Systems, Vol. 2, No. 4,July 1978, amended by I. Harre, 2004)

10.000.000

1.000.000

100.000

10.000

100

Overall
length
(m)
Gross tonnage

10

Type

Median radar cross section of target vessel, m

1.000

Target Ship

approx. min.
RCS

approx. max.
RCS

10

20

800

40

2.000

300

4.000

1.000

16.000

1.000

5.000

300

2.000

5.000

100.000

10.000

16.000

4.000

16.000

400

10.000

1.600

12.500

400

16.000

1.000

32.000

2.000

25.000

10.000

80.000

5.000

80.000

16.000

1.600.000

Inshore fishing vessel

5
S

Small coaster

40-46

B/Q

200-250
nS

Coaster

55

B/Q

500
S

Coaster

55

BW/Q

500
Q

Coaster

57

BW

500
BW

Large Coaster

67

836-1.000
nB

Collier

73

BW

1.570
BW

Warship (frigate)

103

2000*
BW

Cargo liner

114

5.000
BW/Q

Cargo liner

137
167

B/Q

8.200
BW

Cargo

153

BW

9.400
BW

Cargo

166

8.000
BW

Bulk carrier

10.430
nB

Bulk carrier
Ore carrier
Container carrier
Medium tanker
Medium tanker

198
206
212
213-229
251

B/Q

15.000-20.000
25.400
26436**
30.000-35.000
44.700

* Displacement
** Considerable deck
cargo
S
Q
B
BW
BWO
n

=
=
=
=
=
=

stern on
quarter
broadside
bow
bow on
near

BW

nB

BW

Q/B/BW

nB

nB