CAPT OF AN A300 WDB WAS INFORMED BY MAINT AFTER FLT THAT RAIN AND ICE HAD DAMAGED THE RADAR NOSE CONE TO THE POINT THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED.

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WHILE ON GND; EXPERIENCED PASSAGE OF LINE OF TSTMS WITH ASSOCIATED HVY RAIN; WINDSHEAR RPTS; 60 KT WIND GUSTS. AFTER PASSAGE; I WAS THIRD ACFT TO TAKE OFF WITH WIND 280 DEGS AT 6 KTS; RAIN. THROUGHOUT DEP AND CLBOUT; AND CRUISE FLT AT FL330 TO A POINT 80 NM S OF MSP; EXPERIENCED HVY RAIN; CLR AIR TURB; AND MANY TSTMS. UTILIZING ONBOARD WX RADAR; WE DEVIATED ALONG OUR FLT PATH TRYING TO KEEP AT LEAST 20 NM BTWN US AND THE TSTMS. BUT THEY WERE BUILDING VERY RAPIDLY; AND MOVING QUICKLY WHICH MADE NAV DIFFICULT. WE BROKE CLR AND CONTINUED SAFELY TO OUR DEST (MEM). PARKED THE ACFT AND DEPLANED WITHOUT INCIDENT. MAINT HAD ARRIVED AND I TOLD THEM THE ACFT WAS GREEN (OK) WITH NO WRITE-UPS. ONCE ON THE CREW XPORTATION BUS; I LOOKED BACK AT THE ACFT AND NOTICED SOME (4) PAINT CHIPS ON THE NOSE. I GOT OFF THE BUS AND WENT BACK TO THE ACFT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NOSE. IT WAS DARK MAKING THE OBSERVATION DIFFICULT. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE MECH WHO WAS NOW DOING HIS WALKAROUND; TOLD HIM WE HAD FLOWN THROUGH SOME WX; BUT I COULD NOT SAY THAT THIS WAS OLD OR NEW DAMAGE; AS SEVERAL OF OUR FLEET HAVE PAINT CHIPS MISSING; AND IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NOSE CONDITION ON PREFLT AT MSP DUE TO THE VERY HVY RAINS AT THE TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF WATER BEING DUMPED ON THE NOSE AT THE TIME. SO I ASKED THE MECH; WHEN HE GOT A CHANCE; TO GET A LIFT AND A LIGHT AND TAKE A LOOK. HOWEVER; I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE NEW. THE ACFT HAD DEPLANED; AND I NOW BELIEVED MAINT NOW OWNED THE ACFT. SO; I DID NOT WRITE IT UP IN THE ACFT MAINT LOG. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THE NOSE RADOME WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.