[ARC5] RAT, RAV, ARA, and RAX Questions and Observations

[Telegrapher at att.net]

 I have in front of me a "Preliminary Instruction manual for Modal RAT etc." notated as "Serial Number 118".  Contract number N0s-67258 dated June 24, 1939.  I think i've got an original RAT brown covered RAT manual someplace.  While this one i'm looking at is clearly a very nice copy which looks to me as being  the quality or close to it of Sir Robert.

it doesn't  say anything about the RAT-1 which i wouldn't expect it to since it's a "preliminary instruction book".

Larry
W0OGH

 -------------- Original message from WA5CAB at cs.com: --------------


> In a message dated 7/10/2009 11:58:50 AM Central Daylight Time, 
> kk5f at earthlink.net writes: 
> > The RAT/RAT-1 is an interesting set.  I'm curious about:
> > 
> 
> 1.  Was there a "non-preliminary" manual issued?
> The only manual I have seen is titled "INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR ...", not 
> "PRELIMINARY...".  However, the manual number, NAVAER 08-5Q-137, was assigned 
> after the fact.  I no longer have the original (although I know who does) but 
> the NAVAER number was on a white sticker affixed to the front cover when I 
> requisitioned the manual in 1968.  Date on the manual, which is also the date 
> of the Contract, NOs-67258. is June 24, 1939.
> 
> > 2.  Are there manuals of any sort surviving today?
> 
> One that I know of.  Plus I can do a reprint.  Plus August may have had 
> one.  I know that he had two on the RAV, one of which I have.
> 
> > 3.  How was the 50 set total divided between the RAT and the RAT-1?
> 
> I haven't seen the source document(s) but Dave said 50 of each, not 50 
> total.  However, the paragraph in the manual explaining how serial numbers were 
> assigned implies 50 plus 50.
> 
> >    (The RAT-1 appears to have been notably later than the RAT, judging
> >      CBY-46xxx designations.  See below.)
> 
> 
> 
> > 4.  What was the year of introduction?
> 
> See 1. above.  The Contract was for both models.
> 
> > 
> > 6.  When did the RAV (or xRAV) appear, compared to the RAT?
> 
> The Contract for the RAV, NOs-72445, is dated March 13, 1940.  The manual 
> is also titled "INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR ...", not "PRELIMINARY..." but my 
> original manual never got the NAVAER number stuck on it (if one was assigned, as 
> it probably was) so I presume the manual must have been issued to someone 
> before one was assigned.  I didn't get this manual until 1995, and not through 
> the Navy supply system.
> 
> 
> > 7.  What are the production figures for the full eight-receiver RAV?
> >     (less than RAT???)
> > 
> 
> Reading between the lines in the Serial Number explanation paragraph in the 
> RAV manual, which is similar to the one in the RAT/RAT-1 manual, there were 
> 46.  Each of the eight types of receivers was serial numbered 1 to 46.  The 
> 368 dynamotors were serial numbered 1 to 368.  And so on.
> 
> I don't know the answers to the other questions.
> 
> Robert Downs - Houston
> wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
> MVPA 9480
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