What would give the best radar echo?

The best radar echo is produced when the radar signal encounters a large, flat surface that effectively reflects the signal back. In this context, a 600-foot freighter presented broadside, or beam on, to the radar will yield the strongest echo because the wide surface area of the freighter is perpendicular to the radar beam. This orientation maximizes the radar return signal, as it allows for a greater reflection of the radar waves, ensuring more of the energy is bounced back towards the radar source.

The large size of the freighter also contributes to this effect; larger vessels not only have a greater reflective surface area but also generally have better-designed radar reflective features compared to smaller vessels. In contrast, while a tanker bow on does present a significant radar target, it lacks the same surface area as the freighter presented beam on, thus producing a weaker echo.

In general, when considering radar performance, orientation to the radar beam and the total reflective area are critical factors that influence the strength of the radar echo, which underlines why the 600-foot freighter, beam on, is the optimal choice for yielding the best radar echo.