[Milsurplus] Navigation System

[Mike Morrow]

Scott wrote:

>It's not odd when you consider the number of the receiver,
>versus the number of the complete set. that is what indicates
>the chronology of registry in the JAN system.

That seems to be generally true, but not always.  

For example, the AN/VRC-12 series of FM radios appeared in the very early 1960s, and consists of the RT-246/VRC receiver-transmitter, the RT-524/VRC RT unit, and/or the R-442/VRC.  Various combos of these units combine to create the AN/VRC-12, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49.  For the early 1960s, the RT-524 and R-442 assignments are consistent, and the VRC-43 to 49 also.  But the RT-246 is actually more appropriate for gear appearing in the early 1950s (as is "AN/VRC-12").  Some DoD paper-pusher evidently found an unused pair of numbers and assigned them to the first component and system combo, while all the following components and system combos got much higher and chronologically more appropriate numbers.

There must be a master list in the DoD of all the JAN component and system numbers that have been officially designated.  That would be interesting to see, along with the dates associated with each designation.

Mike / KK5F