[Milsurplus] post WW2 US Navy radio development

[Nick England]

I'm starting to create a timeline of the development of post-war US Navy
ship & shore HF radio. Mainly I am trying to identify major generations of
equipment by type and use, although of course older equipment remained
installed and used for many years.

A lot of this is "inspired guesswork" and maybe I am trying to bring some
sense to what was probably more chaotic and unplanned than one might wish -
if anyone has any pointers to books or documents that would help me
understand all this, I'd really appreciate it. Below is my start - All
corrections, comments, additions, etc. are welcome!
Nick K4NYW
nick at navy-radio.com
www.navy-radio.com 

==================================

MAJOR COMMUNICATION MODES
-------------------
WW2 - CW
Late 1940's - CW and FSK single channel RTTY
late 1950's on - CW and ISB multi-channel RTTY  ("tone pack" or VFCT) using
AN/UCC-1 multiplexer

SHIPBOARD RECEIVERS
-------------------
pre-WW2 - RCA develops RBA, RBB, RBC - octal tubes

Late 1940's - RCA develops AN/SRR-11,-12,-13 series. Subminiature tubes,
modular construction, conventional dual-conversion design with LC HF
oscillator. Widely used for single channel RTTY as well as CW.

Mid 1950's - Collins develops R-390()/URR for Signal Corps. Adopted by USN.
Crystal-controlled HF Oscillator and PTO give high stability for CW, SSB,
and RTTY - but not stable enough for multi-channel RTTY?

Late 1950's - National develops AN/WRR-2 frequency synthesized dual-Wadley
Loop receiver. Highly stable for ISB and multi-channel RTTY

Mid 1960's - General Dynamics develops R-1051/URR synthesized transistorized
receiver - used with AN/UCC-1 for multi-channel RTTY

SHORE STATION RECEIVERS (mainly diversity setups)
------------------------------------------------
pre-WW2 - RCA develops RBP, RCP. Western Electric develops ???

Late 1940's - National develops triple diversity AN/FRR-24 for FSK. LC-based
HF oscillator with high mechanical stability.

Early 1950's - Northern Radio develops dual diversity AN/FRR-28 based on
Hammarlund SP-600 for FSK. conventional dual conversion with LC-based HF
oscillator

Mid 1950's - Collins develops R-390() - dual diversity FSK with AN/URA-8A
converter. SSB with CV-591A converter. xtal HF osc + PTO.

Late 1950's - National develops AN/FRR-59 (same as WRR-2) for SSB
multi-channel RTTY. synthesized high-stability design

Early 1960's - TMC develops AN/FRR-60 synthesized diversity system for
multi-channel RTTY.

Mid 1960's - General Dynamics develops R-1051 - used along with AN/FRR-60.

SHIPBOARD TRANSMITTERS & TRANSCEIVERS
-----------------------
WW2 - TBL, TCK, TDE (with post-war add-on FSK keyers)

late 1940's - Federal develops AN/URT-2,-3,-4 for CW/AM/FSK. Synthesized VFO
with autotune

early 1950's - Federal develops AN/SRT-14,-15,-16 - simpler easier to
maintain version of URT-2 series. no autotune.

late 1950's - Cosmos develops AN/WRT-2 for SSB/FSK. synthesized VFO

early 1960's - Collins develops AN/URC-32 transmitter-receiver for SSB/FSK -
synthesized, some transistors - used for multichannel RTTY with AN/UCC-1

mid 1960's - ?? develops AN/URC-35 & WRC-1 transmitter-receiver for SSB/FSK
- synthesized, mainly transistor/IC - used for multichannel RTTY with
AN/UCC-1

SHORE STATION TRANSMITTERS
---------------------------
WW2 - TBA, TBC, etc.

late 1940's - Collins develops AN/FRT-5 and AN/FRT-6. CW/AM/FSK - VFO for
single channel RTTY

mid 1950's - TMC develops AN/FRT-39 and AN/FRT-40. CW/SSB/FSK - VFO or tube
synthesizer when used for multichannel RTTY

early 1970's - Continental develops AN/FRT-83,-84,-85 CW/ISB/FSK -
IC/transistor synthesized