[Milsurplus] AN/ARC-65 (was: RE: AN/ARC-8 questions)

Tue Sep 8 00:25:32 EDT 2009

I don't know about ALL models of the B-52, but the
ARC-65 was what we had in the B-52Fs at 9th Bomb
Squadron/7th Bomb Wing (Heavy) at Carswell AFB, TX
back in the mid 1960s.

I had heard that they were a monster to maintain and
they weren't much fun to operate either.  As the EWO
who had control of this beast, the frequency selection
was cumbersome, to say the least.  If I recall, they
had 20 channels that had to be pre-programmed.  To set
the frequency for channel 1, you had to select channel
11 to bring the selector drum for channel 1 into view
for programming.  To program any other channel you
would select the channel that was PLUS or MINUS 10
channels of desired to bring the selector drum into
view.

As this was over four decades ago for me, I don't quite
remember the actual programming method, but you get the
basic idea.

The EWO on the B-52 crew had to monitor a directed memory
channel at regular set times for possible EMERGENCY
broadcasts.  At these times, one of the SAC Giant Talk (?)
stations (I remember RETAIL, OUTWEIGH, and DEMOCRAT) would
send a coded practice message that had to be recorded,
decoded, and logged.  Big PITA, for sure!

On one mission I cranked the beast over to the Region 4
(IIRC) AF MARS net and checked in from out over the Atlantic!
I guess any statute of limitations has run out by now!

73 - Mac, K2GKK/5
(Since 30 Nov 53)
Oklahoma City, OK
USAF (Ret)  61-81
ArcLight Jn-Nv 65

> Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 19:33:11 -0400
> From: aaf-radio-1 at aafradio.org
> To: rafantini at salisbury.edu
> CC: mrca at mailman.qth.net; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8 questions
> 
> Ray Fantini wrote:
>> ...the last of the series delivered in 53/54 (B-36J) replaced the
>> AN/ARC-8 with a AN/ARC-21 HF Command radio, think they were also used on
>> B-47 and some early B-52 aircraft, I have tried to find any information
>> on the AN/ARC-21 but nothing turns up. I have a huge investment in
>> AN/ARC-38 and 38A technology with several radios in various stages but
>> 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? 
> 
> There is a ARC-65 is peeking out at the bottom of 
> http://aafradio.org/flightdeck/vhf.htm, Ray...a corner of the control 
> head is at lower right. It is still unwired at the moment. The 
> internal modules are marked ARC-65 but the case still has the ARC-21 
> nameplate inside. There are two problems with getting this beautiful 
> set up and running: the first is finding the connectors, which are 
> apparently like hen's teeth. I finally found the inserts from Bill 
> Perry, but he had to charge a king's ransom just to recover his cost and 
> make a minuscule profit. The second problem is more fundamental - if 
> you have the triple dynamotor power supply, you need about 60 amps to 
> drive it at full output. Not so much a problem there except noise. The 
> other alternative is to use the PP-198 400Hz AC supply, which requires 
> "only" 21 amperes at 115vac (37 amps in tuning mode) plus 20 amps of 
> 28vdc for fils and the like. So, you basically are faced with finding a 
> 3kVA 400Hz supply. I finally located a Behlman lab supply near here a 
> couple of years ago but haven't had time to hook it all up so I can't 
> comment on the maintenance aspect, which appears to be onerous based on 
> the rumors. The basic RT weighs 132 lbs and has a 230w PEP output 
> rating. The manuals for it are about 4" thick....
> 
> 73,
> Mike KC4TOS
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