[ARC5] A.R.C., "ARC-5", "ARC-12" and "ARC-type-12"

[Mike Morrow]

It was asked about A.R.C.Type 15 gear:

> So, in summary, the nav receiver with the converter in the rack
> shown on Ebay is actually a  AN/ARC-15?

I had answered earlier:

>> It's the A.R.C. Type 15 **navigation** set.  It is a.k.a. as various
>> forms of AN/ARN-30*.

"A.R.C. Type 15" is the **commercial** designation by Aircraft Radio Corporation for that ebay equipment.  The US **military** adopted it under the standard JAN (Joint Army Navy) nomenclature of "AN/ARN-30" (with later A through E models).  The "ARN" indicates Aircraft Radio NAVIGATION.

Equipment that is only for navigation will never have a JAN nomenclature of "AN/ARC-##", because "ARC" indicates Aircraft Radio COMMUNICATION.

A basic understanding of the common US military designation systems is required in order to interpret what is being discussed here and what shows up on the markets.  A web search will easily locate full presentations on the JAN system (1942 and later), pre-JAN Army system (from about 1918), and pre-JAN Navy system (from about 1925).  These systems overlapped for several years as JAN phased in for new equipment.

For gear commonly discussed here:

GF-*/RU-*       Navy MF/HF aircraft commamd sets, 14 models 1932-41
SCR-A*-183/283  Army MF/HF aircraft command sets, 21 models 1932-42.
(Above two sets are similar in appearance, but generally very different
 in electrical design.  They are sometimes referred to an early commercial receiver designation of Model (or Type) D.

ARA/ATA         Navy MF/HF aircraft command set, 1940-45.
SCR-274-N       Army MF/HF aircraft command set, 1941-post war.  
                (Army simplified version of ARA/ATA)
AN/ARC-5        Navy MF/HF/VHF aircraft command set, 1943-post war.
                (Improved and expanded ARA/ATA)

The three sets above are sometimes referred to as Type K command sets, based on A.R.C.'s designation for their 1938 developmental set (see http://aafradio.org ) that lead to all of the 1940 and later command sets, and even to the 1939 RAT/RAT-1 and 1940 RAV liaison receivers.

The three similar-appearing sets above illustrate the use of all three of the nomenclature systems.

Sometimes the US military adopted commercial equipment directly, and then:

1.  Made no change to the hardware or designation.
    Example:
    -Collins 18S-4
    -Collins 618S-1
    -Some A.R.C. Type 12 and Type 15
    -Bendix 3801
    -RCA AVR-15, AVR-20, AVT-15, AVT-112
    -Bendix RA-10/TA-12

2.  Assigned but did not apply JAN designation except in manuals.
    Example:
    -Bendix MN-26LB became AN/ARN-11
    -Bendix RTA-1B became AN/ARC-9
    -Setchell-Carlson Model 591 became AN/CRR-1
    -Collins KWM-2A became AN/FRC-93
    -Wilcox 807 became AN/ARC-134

3.  Assigned and applied JAN designation.
    Example:
    -Some A.R.C. Type 12 became AN/ARC-60
    -Some A.R.C. Type 15 became AN/ARN-30*
    -Somr A.R.C. Type 21 became AN/ARN-59 (R-836/ARN)
    -Collins 18S-4A became AN/ARC-59 (RT-380/AR)
    -Collins 618T-2 became AN/ARC-94
    -Collins 618T-3 became AN/ARC-102

The gear discussed on this list requires some familiarity with the old ARMY and NAVY systems, the JAN system, and a little about the commecial sysyems as well in order to fully comprehend or write coherently text that relates to the equipment.

It is also necessary to know what "command" vs. "liaison" set indicates.  :-)


Mike / KK5F