[Milsurplus] Service life (was Collins Book)

[Mike Morrow]

Robert wrote:

> What early set (...1970 or earlier) enjoyed the longest actually installed
> and lit off service life in US service...?

I think there's very good argument for *only one* serious candidate...the
AN/VRC-12 series (including AN/VRC-43 through -49) consisting of various
configurations of the RT-246*/VRC, RT-524*/VRC, and R-442*/VRC.  These
first appeared in the early 1960s, and were still in US service in the
early 1990s (the early years of the SINCGARS radios did not see popular
success).  That's around thirty years!  No doubt many still serve in
those third-world countries.  The only reason the 1968 AN/PRC-77 doesn't
similarly qualify is that the first few years were lost to the AN/PRC-25
(similar but different radios).

The R-23*/ARC-5 from 1943 was still flying in older USN aircraft in 1973.
That's thirty years too.

A runner-up candidate is the AN/ARC-94 HF SSB aircraft radio (Collins 618T-2)
from the early 1960s.  I suspect some were still flying in the late 1980s.
The AN/ARC-102 (Collins 618T-3) would likewise qualify.

So...a set with a mere 25-year service life doesn't seem close to making
the final pick.

Mike / KK5F