[ARC5] RU/RAT/RAV/RAX vs. GO, 1939 and Later

[Kludge]

-----Original Message-----
From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of Mike Morrow
>> I wrote:
>>> I don't think the RAT/RAT-1 can be considered a "complete" system.
>> Michael wrote:
>>> Mike, Mike, Mike, what am I ever gonna do with you?  :-)
> Of course you know that comment wasn't directed to you.

Yeah, but you know us Surface Division (aka: Target) sailors ... :-D

> While I'm at it today, I'll comment that the 1939 RU-12
> was the first liaison RU set designed for 24-vdc aircraft.  The 1939
> 24-vdc RAT-1 finds the RU-12 as the only RU set that could be its
companion.

They probably were intended as a complete set which implies the RU-11 plus
RAT were also intended as a complete pair.  

> That ignores the only other 24-vdc RU liaison receiver, the 1941 RU-19.
> I suspect that by 1941 there weren't any RU-* plus RAT-* installations
> being installed anywhere!  The 1939 12-vdc RU-11 with the 1939 12-vdc RAT
> completes the lineup.

Errr ... ummm ... what about the 1941 RU-18?  I agree that the 24v RU plus
RAT-1 installations were replaced with the RAV and/or RAX by the time the
1941 contracts rolled around which leaves them being mated to the GP series
transmitters instead.  It also was produced from 1934 to 1940 and went into
smaller aircraft - TBDs, SBDs, TBFs etc - along with an RU receiver.  It
wasn't until later models of production aircraft - SB2C and TBF, for example
- that the ATC/ARB* combination was used.  

* A few late model TBMs had a Yardeny-equipped R-26 and an ARB, each
covering half the ATC's frequencies.  Others got one each R-26 & R-27/ARC-5
with Yardeny tuners to replace the ARB with the ATC's frequencies split
between them.  These appear to have been either stopgaps or experiments that
lead up to the R-105/ARR-15.  (Note how ARC was again involved with
intermediate solutions to long term problems or with experiments, dependent
on how one views things.)  

>> However, we went into the war with a fair number of 12v aircraft and it
>> wasn't until 1942 that they started being produced with 24v systems.
> I know you mean "that they ALL started being produced with 24v systems."

Yep, sure do.  (Around the same time, ground vehicles started being equipped
with 24v systems.)  This lead to some interesting combinations as squadrons
started receiving equipment with 24v systems along side the 12v aircraft
then, just to add to the fun, completely different radio suites.  Kind of
gives new meaning to the concept of "the fog of war."

>> However, as I recall, British aircraft were 12v through the war...
> The UK seem to have used aircraft with both 12- and 24-vdc "low tension".

Ah, okay.  So both probably went through the same sort of evolution.
Interesting.

Best regards,
 
Michael, WH7HG ex-K3MXO, ex-KN3MXO, WPE3ARS, BL01xh ex-Mensa A&P PP BGI 
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