The first prototypes were designed by navy technicians Ugo Tiberio, Nello Carrara and Alfeo Brandimarte in the period 1936–1937.

[2] The project was stalled due to budget cuts until 1941, when interest was revived soon after the Italian navy suffered a series of heavy setbacks in night actions against the radar-equipped units of the Royal Navy, especially that of the Battle of Cape Matapan.

Only 12 devices had been installed on board Italian warships by 8 September 1943, the day Italy signed an armistice with the Allies.

In spite of this, it has been reported that the crews made a wide use of the Gufo as a search radar, omitting to mention it on the ship's logbook to avoid sanctions.

[4] The radar was used in combat by the light cruiser Scipione Africano on the night of 17 July 1943, while on passage from La Spezia to Taranto,[5][6] when she detected a flotilla of four British Elco motor torpedo boats five miles ahead in the strait of Messina.