[Milsurplus] Receivers for the ATD

[Mike Morrow]

Ray asked:

>what was the companion receiver for the ATD? was it a
>BC-348 or some RU type set.

It's not likely that many ATD sets ever actually flew.  Nearly all that exist are in NOS condition, and one finds little period documentation of much actual military use.

The BC-348, as a USAAF unit, would normally be found in USN service only when it accompanied a USAAF transmitting set, such the SCR-287 sets on some USAAF B-24s that later became USN PB4Ys.  Plus, the BC-348 is local control only.  Rule out the BC-348 for the ATD.

The RU-series was antiquated by the time the ATD was developed.  The last major USN transmitters that would naturally pair with a RU set would be some of that bizarre 800 cps Westinghouse stuff like the GO- and GP-series.  Rule out the RU-series for the ATD.

One possibility you didn't mention was the General Electric RAX-1 units.  Some were used with ATCs.  Had ATDs been deployed, there's every likelihood that a few would have mated to the RAX-1, as large and awkward and heavy as the RAX-1 is.  The real incompatability comes from the ATD being intended for remote operation.  The RAX-1 is strictly local control.

However, the best and most natural receiving system would have been the ARB, which is compact and light and designed for remote operation.  The ARB, even though it could only cover up to 9.05 mc, was the most commonly used receiver for the WWII-era ATC.  But the ARB fully covers the normal tuning range of the ATD, which was usually not supplied with the tuning unit that covered 9 to 18 mc.  Had ATDs been deployed, it's very likely that most would have mated to the ARB.

I have put together a system consisting of an ARB receiver, ATD transmitter, ZB-3 homing adapter, DU-2 loop, and LM-20 CFI.  Together, they all seem to be made for each other!

Still, none of this Navy stuff comes close to the USAAF's AN/ARC-8, IMHO.

Mike / KK5F