AN/ARC-21 - AN/ARC-65 (was: Re: [Milsurplus] ARR-41 Info)

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

I was in 9th Bomb Sq, 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell AFB, TX.
I was on the very first Viet Nam mission on 18 Jun 65 plus
somewhere around 20-25 more.  I never kept track.

Mac - K2GKK



----Original Message Follows----
From: Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net>
Reply-To: Mike Morrow <kk5f at arrl.net>
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: AN/ARC-21 - AN/ARC-65 (was: Re: [Milsurplus] ARR-41 Info)
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:03:22 -0400 (EDT)

Mac wrote:

 >If I remember correctly, the AN/ARC-21 was the basis and
 >may have actually been converted to the AN/ARC-65 which
 >we had in the B-52Fs I flew in.

That's true.  The manual for the AN/ARC-65 contains a section describing the 
conversion of the RT-128A/ARC-21 to the RT-400/ARC-65, done in order to get 
the new USB set into service as soon as possible.  Evidently, that's where 
most AN/ARC-21 sets disappeared.  The AN/ARC-65 was also manufactured as 
complete new units by RCA.

The Collins AN/ARC-58 eventually won out over the AN/ARC-65.  It was much 
higher power and significantly smaller and lighter, since it used 400 Hz AC 
supplies and no dynamotors.  That's what all the 97th Bomb Wing B-52 and 
KC-135 aircraft carried at Blytheville AFB in the mid-1960s.

I feel for the radio techs who had to man-handle that 145 lb RT-128A or 
RT-400 drum out of and back in to the aircraft for service.  At least the 
heaviest of the individual units of the AN/ARC-58 weighed no more than about 
60 lb.

I believe that RCA used expertise gained from the USB conversion of the 
RT-128A/ARC-21 to the RT-400/ARC-65 project to develop the USB conversion of 
the USN's Collins RT-311/ARC-38 to the Collins/RCA RT-594/ARC-38A.

Mike / KK5F