[Milsurplus] Help with equipment identification

[Mike Morrow]

Brian wrote:

> The Diefenbunker Museum has acquired a VRC set that we need identified The
> label on the receiver states it's a R-422/vrc but the label on the
> transmitter is missing. It looks operational but is missing cables. Any
> insights would be appreciated.

As has already been pointed out, the equipment is part of the very famous
AN/VRC-12 series of equipment.  The major units are an auxiliary receiver
R-442*/VRC, and a receiver-transmitter RT-246*/VRC or RT-524*/VRC.  In various
combinations these units could create complete systems known as the
AN/VRC-12, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, or 49.

Assuming that your RT unit has no channel-select pushbuttons, you have the
RT-524*/VRC and R-442/VRC, which with associated accessories makes up the
system known as the AN/VRC-47.

Here's a picture of an AN/VRC-47:
  http://www.nf6x.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2000/05/p18.jpg

Here's an on-line operators manual:
  http://books.google.com/books/about/Operator_s_Manual.html?id=ttEXAAAAYAAJ

There's a lot more info available on line.  It is very easy to find
all the manuals, mounts, cables, antennas, mics, headphone, etc. on
ebay or through surplus vendors found on the internet.

I have a complete AN/VRC-47 with AN/VIC-1 interphone system.  But of
course no TSEC/KY-8 NESTOR voice encryption gear. :-)

The AN/VRC-12 series first started appearing in service in 1961, and by
1965 was *the* most important vehicular tactical radio system of the
Vietnam War.  They were also used on US Navy riverine craft...the
PCFs had one AN/VRC-46, and the smaller PBRs had two AN/VRC-46 sets.
It remained in US service until 2008...a record of 47 years that has
never been matched by any other military radio set, and likely never
will.

Mike / KK5F