[Milsurplus] RU/RAT/RAV/RAX vs. GO, 1939 and Later

[Mike Morrow]

Michael wrote:

> Assuming the GO-4, -5 & -6 plus the RAT(-1) & RAV were considered complete
> systems, this would cover the latter case.

I don't think the RAT/RAT-1 can be considered a "complete" system.

Just to ensure clarity, I list here GO/RU/RAT/RAV/RAX options for 1939 and
later liaison set service:

  Liaison Transmitter Set        Liaison Receiver Sets
GO-5 or -6                     RU-11 plus RAT (12-vdc) -or- RU-12 plus RAT-1 (24-vdc)
 300-600 kHz, 3000-26500 kHz    195-13575 kHz plus 13500-27000 kHz
     OR                             OR
GO-7 or -8 or -9               RAV (24-vdc)
 300-600 kHz, 3000-18100 kHz    190-27000 kHz
                                    OR
                               RAX-1 (24-vdc)
                                200-27000 kHz

It appears that by the time the RAV and RAX-1 appeared in 1940, the USN
had dropped any requirement for 12-vdc liaison receiver sets.

I believe that the RAT/RAT-1 was never intended as a stand-alone receiver set.
There should always be a RU (preferably RU-11 or -12) liaison receiver set
associated with the RAT or RAT-1.

It could be postulated that some RAT/RAT-1 sets may have been used stand-alone,
but AFAIK there's never been a reason discovered why that would have happened.
They were made in such small numbers, I suspect that most were needed as part
of the liaison receiver sets of long range patrol aircraft in 1939 and 1940.
But...assuming there was such need, the volume and weight of a single RAX-1
CG-46117 (7000-27000 kHz, five bands, 25 lbs total) is comparable to the two-
receiver RAT/RAT-1 (13500-27000 kHz, two "bands", 22 lbs total).  It covers
a wider frequency range with better performance (one more RF and IF stage) and
better bandspread.  It is hard to imagine a role for a stand-alone RAT/RAT-1
if a stand-alone CG-46117 were available (unless the RAT's 12-vdc supply made a
difference).

Mike / KK5F