[ARC5] Re: [Milsurplus] C-405A/A vs. C-740/ART-13

[David Stinson]

> Yes, the ARB was (unfortunately) the best that the USN had for use with 
> the
>ATC.  That's sad, because the ARB and various AN/ARC-5 receivers (including
> the R-26/ARC-5 plus C-131) are not even remotely equivalent as receivers 
> to
> the magnificent engineering of the ATC as a transmitter.

>>... In a separate discussion, one other member here and I
>>wondered at the fact that Collins didn't build a receiver to go with
>>it until much later.  There probably was reason ...

Then as now,
military contracts have as much or more to do with political patronage
as they do with technical issues.
The ATC/ART-13 contract was lucrative.  Being a liaison transmitter,
it stepped on the toes of the New York/New Jersey General Electric boys-
boys who write big checks to Senators-
and they weren't through selling VT-4s just yet.
Senators all wanted (and still do want) a slice of the big Contracts pie
for their campaign contributors.  Collins was already building tons of TCS
and probably other stuff I don't remember at the moment.  You'll never
be able to document it, but I'd bet you money Collins didn't build a 
matching
receiver because it would have taken business away from the contractors
building BC-348s.  One of the reasons A.R.C. never built liaison equipment
was that it would take contracts away from some other firm in another state.
A.R.C.'s check would have been a footnote next to GE's check.
The Senators all meet(met) in private with a scotch and
a cigar and work(ed) out who gets(got) what slices of the pork pie.

If you don't believe that's how it's done (that technical considerations
take a back seat to campaign contributions),
read Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf's autobiography, "It Doesn't Take a Hero."
Specifically, the chapter on the time he was tasked, along with a huge 
staff,
to determine which Army bases should be closed and which modernized,
according to the best interests and needs of the Army.
He and his staffed spent months and lots of taxpayer money.
They came-up with a list that met all the requirements.
Then they met with the Senators of the relavent states.
In the end, according to Gen. Schwarzkopf, the final list
had nothing whatever to do with the work they had done.
It was 100% political, according to the power and "pull"
of the Senators involved.  It's always worked that way.

73 Dave S.