[Milsurplus] R-648/ARR-41 Background History

[jay_coward@agilent.com]

Mike and Breck and Group,
 Very interesting.I imagined it might have been used on the B-36 as a replacement for the BC-348.(note keyword "imagined"!)
 Jay

-----Original Message-----
From: Morrow, Michael A. [mailto:mamorrow@tva.gov]
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 3:54 PM
To: 'smithab11@comcast.net'
Cc: 'milsurplus@mailman.qth.net'
Subject: RE: [Milsurplus] R-648/ARR-41 Background History 


Breck wrote:

> I personally have never seen the R-648/ARR-41  installed in
> an aircraft or a fixed station anywhere in the USAF/ARMY areas.
> I have had the opportunity to look at a lot of aircraft and sites.
>
> There is some mention of the ARR-41  on the web as being used in
> transport aircraft and US Navy antisubmarine warfare and maritime
> patrol aircraft.
>
> Does anyone have any personal observations and information on the
> receiver that they could pass on to me.

I *believe* that the history of AN/ARR-41 development and use likely runs as
follows:

(1)  Post-WW2, long-range HF communication was commonly provided
     by the AN/ARC-8 (AN/ART-13A and AN/ARR-11 (BC-348)) in the
     USAF, and by the AN/ART-13 and AN/ARR-15 in the USN.  The
     receivers in these sets were direct- and continuous-tune units.
(2)  In the early 1950s the RCA AN/ARC-21 began replacing the AN/ARC-8
     in the USAF, and the Collins AN/ARC-38 began replacing the
     AN/ART-13 and AN/ARR-15 in the USN.
(3)  The USN's AN/ARC-38 could be tuned in 0.5 or 1 kc increments,
     depending on the frequency, between 2 to 25 mcs.  BUT...the
     frequency could only be entered by turning several code wheels on
     the main control box to positions selected from a frequency vs.
     code wheel setting book that was stored in the bottom on the control
     box.  Direct NUMERICAL dialup of the frequency was NOT possible.
     Setting a frequency was awkward and error-prone.  Most or many
     AN/ARC-38 installations were installed along side an AN/ARR-41
     auxiliary receiver, whose frequency was continuous-tune and directly
     indicated between the same 2 to 25 mcs range of the AN/ARC-38.  Mode
     switch selections were the same also.  Also, apparently the AN/ARR-41
     was often used to copy FSK.

I believe that practically speaking, the AN/ARR-41 was used only by the USN,
and that its purpose was to provide a direct-tune auxiliary receiver to the
AN/ARC-38 (which also seems to have been used only by the USN).

Thus it would be surprising to find an AN/ARR-41 on USAF/USA aircraft.  It
also makes sense that the AN/ARR-41 and AN/ARC-38 would be found in larger
USN aircraft on the 1950s and early 1960s, such as the long-range patrol
craft you mentioned.

I'm tempted to say that the USN AN/ARR-41 filled a role for the AN/ARC-38
similar to that which the USAF AN/ARR-36 auxiliary receiver provided for the
AN/ARC-21.

In the USN, the Collins AN/ARC-38 was modified in the early 1960s by RCA for
USB operation to become the AN/ARC-38A.  In the USAF, the AN/ARC-21 was
replaced by the physically similar USB-capable AN/ARC-65, but no
corresponding USB mods were made for the associated AN/ARR-41 or AN/ARR-36
auxiliary receivers.

The contract numbers on the several AN/ARR-41 and AN/ARC-38 sets I have run
from 1952 to 1957, IIRC.  Thus, these sets both appear in service at the
same time.

The most common falsehood about the AN/ARR-41 is that it was used as a
replacement for the BC-348.  I would bet that, other than in ham shacks, the
AN/ARR-41 was never used in place of a BC-348 anywhere in military service.

If others find any supposition above to be erroneous, or have further info,
I would enjoy hearing about it.

73,
Mike / KK5F



  
     
_______________________________________________
Milsurplus mailing list
Milsurplus@mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus