[Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8 questions

[Mike Morrow]

Ray wrote:

>...in the early to mid fifties they were all equipped with AN/ARC-8 liaison
>radio systems (BC-348/ART-13).

The USAF had active (not reserve) aircraft carrying the AN/ARC-8 even into
the early 1970s.  I flew in one such aircraft in 1971.

>but where did they come from?

I don't know...I suspect that there were thousands of the T-47A/ART-13
units in the supply channels after WWII, along with the AN/ARR-11
(BC-348-R or -Q).  I have seen MT-284/ART-13A, O-17/ART-13A, and
CU-32/ART-13A units that apparently were made after WWII, but no
receivers or transmitters.

It's interesting that the AN/ART-13B (T-412/ART-13B) units with the
CDA-T crystal unit and the frequency extend switch that I've seen are
almost all ex-USN ATC transmitters that were usually (but not always)
upgraded to USAF T-47A status before or during the T-412 mod.  That
would seem to imply that a lot of used old stock got re-issued.

>...were there any BC-348Q or ART-13 transmitters built after 1946?

I suspect not.  But upgrades of existing units and new accessory items I'm
sure were made after WWII.

>There are several pictures of the radio operator’s station and all
>the BC-348 receivers are clearly J, N or Q series but still have the US
>Army Signal Corps data plates.

The -R models were common in the AN/ARC-8 also.  I doubt any flavor
of BC-348 was made after WWII, not counting modified units like the
R-584/MRC-20.

> ...the last of the series delivered in 53/54 (B-36J) replaced the
>AN/ARC-8 with a AN/ARC-21 HF Command radio...

Liason radio.  The RCA RT-128A/ARC-21 is the main unit, in a round 18-inch
diameter pressurized drum that weighed about 145 lbm.  That did not
include the power supply (28vdc dynamotors or 400 cps AC supplies available)
and the antenna coupler.  A typical installation also used the R-224/ARR-36
HF auxilary receiver, and the AN/APN-70 LORAN A set.  You can tell by the
low "RT-128" nomenclature that design must have started very late in or not
long after WWII.

Most of the AN/ARC-21 sets were converted to the AN/ARC-65 USB set
(RT-400/ARC-65).  Mike Hanz has a picture of an RT-400 on his web site.

The AN/ARC-65 is pretty scarce, and the AN/ARC-21 is almost extinct.  It
would be interesting to learn of someone who has managed to put together
the complete system.  The only item I have is the R-224/ARR-36 aux. receiver,
and the 400 cps power supply that I'm about to send off to someone who
has better use for it with his AN/ARC-65.

>...they were also used on B-47 and some early B-52 aircraft

The AN/ARC-21 and the replacement AN/ARC-65 were used on many
1950s-60s USAF aircraft.  There was even a model  of the C-47
that carried the AN/ARC-8 in early models and the AN/ARC-65 in later
models.

>I have a huge investment in AN/ARC-38 and 38A technology 

The Collins AN/ARC-38 is the USN's contemporary to the USAF's AN/ARC-21.
Likewise, the AN/ARC-38A to the AN/ARC-65.   Oddly, RCA did the conversion
design for the AN/ARC-38A, not Collins.  Perhaps RCA used skill that had
been developed for the AN/ARC-65 conversion.  The Collins R-648/ARR-41
is the USN's contemporary to the USAF R-224/ARR-36.

>have no knowledge of the AN/ARC-21 sound like its large, complex and
>heavy. Can anyone point me in a direction to finding documentation,
>pictures or the radio itself?

I have the manuals for the system somewhere packed up after a move I made
last year.  I'll let you know when they get unpacked.

>... have an AN/ARC-8 set up but someone has to save the “cold war “stuff.

The AN/ARC-8 has a much longer cold war heritage than WWII heritage.
But I agree, and the AN/ARC-38/-38A are the easiest sets to get.  The only ebay
auction from which I've ever negotiated withdrawal was the RT-400/ARC-65 that
I won for $40.  Shipping of the monster was going to run more than $250!  I probably
would have carried through except for the almost 150 lbm weight, which is more
than twice that of an RT-311/ARC-38.

There are many other cold war sets deserving preservation too, here a few:

1.  USAF AN/ARC-58 (Collins 618C, MF/HF, 1 kW, SSB).  Used in 1960s SAC aircraft.
2.  USN AN/ARC-94 (Collins 618T-2, 400 W, SSB), USA AN/ARC-102 (618-T3)
3.  AN/ARC-27 (225 - 400 MC AM)  The most important UHF command set of the
     cold war era.  Used by all services.  AN/ARC-55 is unpressurized version.
4.  USAF AN/ARC-3, -36, -49 USAF VHF AM command set.  USAF held on to VHF
     for a while.  (Korea and cold war)
5.  AN/ARC-51BX (225-400 MC AM) One of the most common aircraft command sets
     of the Vietnam era.

Mike / KK5F