[ARC5] Re: [Milsurplus] C-30 vs C-30A/ARC-5 and other small details

[Mike Hanz]

Mike Morrow wrote:

>I'm curious about when the improved VHF frequency selector/transmitter control box for the above system, C-30A/ARC-5, appeared on the scene.  My VHF ARC-5 manual dated 10APR45 mentions only the C-30, while my MF/HF manual dated 15DEC54 states that the C-30A replaced the C-30.
>Would I be more correct using a C-30 for a WWII set, on the assumption that the C-30A appeared well after the war?
>  
>

The November 1945 issue of the Airborne Radio Maintenance Notes sez, 
"BuAer Technical Note No. 93-44 announces an improved control unit for 
the AN/ARC-5 VHF Radio due to troubles with the present unit, 
C-30/ARC-5,  which included loss of the phenolic pushbuttons and 
breakage of the shafts.  The revised control box is designated 
C-30A/ARC-5 and should overcome all the difficulties heretofore 
experienced.  Electrically the two control boxes are identical and 
mechanically they are interchangeable except that the C-30A/ARC-5 
requires 5/16" greater clearance above the top and weighs 0.6 pound 
less."  So, it appears that the C-30A was introduced near the end of 1944. 

>Also, does anyone know what the difference was between the C-38 and the C-38A/ARC-5 pilot's receiver control boxes?  Nothing I have mentions the A model, yet I've seen a couple of them over the years.
>  
>

I put a side by side schematic of the two C-38 variants at 
http://members.cox.net/aaf-radio-2/C-38.GIF if you wish to compare.  
This is also from the Nov 45 ARMN.

73,
Mike