[Milsurplus] Format of Military Nomenclature (JAN)

Wed Sep 25 16:19:02 EDT 2013

Mike,

Thank you very much for the exceptional response!  

I am currently creating a database that is highly cross referenced with the previously mentioned "Chesson" text data.  The goal is to allow open text searches with a *single* text box... Entry of something like CRV-12345 would return every system that contained that component. This is an ongoing project for my website, Radionerds.com

Chris Story
K6RWJ
chris at codematic.com

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On Sep 25, 2013, at 3:05 PM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:

>> I want to be sure that im listing the nomenclatures correctly
>> 
>> ALQ-144  Helicopter Anti-IR missile Set Sanders Asso. TM 11-5865-200-*
>>   T-1360/     ALQ-144 IR Jammer
>>   C-9576/     ALQ-144 CBx
>>   C-10280/    ALQ-144 CBx 
> 
> A.  Any JAN-system component nomenclature will **normally** have the
> component designation, slash, system designation on its name
> plate.
> 
> Example 1:  "AN/ARR-15A" system receiver control box "C-733A" will have
> a complete designation of "C-733A/ARR-15A".
> 
> There will always be the dashes as shown above, and there will *never*
> be a dash between the "733" and the "A", nor between the "15" and the "A".
> 
> Sometimes a specific system will use components designated initially
> for some other system.
> 
> Example 2:  AN/ARC-5 receiver dynamotor DY-2A was actually initially
> designated for the AN/ARR-2 homing receiver.  The dynamotor nomenclature
> is DY-2A/ARR-2, even though it is being used in the AN/ARC-5 system.
> 
> Sometimes a specific system will be made up of several different
> components with their own individual "generic" nomenclatures.
> 
> Example 3:  The AN/GRC-7 system consists of:
> AM-65/GRC
> C-375/VRC
> C-435/GRC
> MT-297/GR
> PP-112/GR
> PP-282/GRC
> R-110/GRC
> RT-68/GRC
> RT-70/GRC
> 
> Eliminate the R-110/GRC from the AN/GRC-7 and it becomes AN/GRC-8.
> 
> Eliminate the RT-70/GRC from the AN/GRC-8 and it becomes AN/VRC-15.
> 
> The correct listing of, say, the RT-70 in the AN/GRC-7 is RT-70/GRC.
> Never RT-70/GRC-7.
> 
> Example 4:  The AN/VRC-12 system consists of:
> RT-246A/VRC
> MT-1029/VRC
> 
> Add a R-442A/VRC aux receiver an MT-1898/VRC and it becomes AN/VRC-43.
> Add another R-442A and MT-1898 and it becomes AN/VRC-44.
> 
> The correct listing of, say, the RT-246A in the AN/VRC-12 is RT-246A/VRC.
> Never RT-246A/VRC-12.
> 
> 
> Example 5A:
> 
> The AN/ARC-8 system consists of the AN/ART-13A (main component T-47A/ART-13)
> and the AN/ARR-11 (main component BC-348-*).
> 
> The correct listing of, say, the receiver in the AN/ARC-8 is BC-348-*.
> Never BC-348-*/ARC-8.  Similarly, the transmitter would never be listed as
> T-47A/ARC-8, just T-47A/ART-13.
> 
> Example 5B:
> 
> The AN/ARC-25 system consists of the AN/ART-13 (main component T-47/ART-13)
> and the AN/ARR-15A (main component R-105A/ARR-15).
> 
> The correct listing of, say, the receiver in the AN/ARC-25 is R-105A/ARR-15.
> Never R-105A/ARC-25.  Similarly, the transmitter would never be listed as
> T-47/ARC-25, just T-47/ART-13.
> 
> Example 6:
> 
> Some JAN components are never given explicit component numbers.
> 
> The AN/PRR-9 receiver has no explicit R-???/PRR-9 designation.  However,
> its accessories did:  AS-1998A/PRR-9 antenna, H-264/PRR-9 headset.
> 
> The pilot rescue transceivers AN/CRC-7, AN/PRC-17, AN/PRC-32, AN/PRC-63,
> AN/PRC-90, AN/URC-64, AN/URC-68 have no explicit RT-??? designations.
> 
> But the following similar sets do:
> AN/URC-4 (RT-159*/URC-4)
> AN/URC-10 (RT-278*/URC-10)
> AN/URC-11 (RT-285*/URC-11)
> AN/URC-14 (RT-350*/URC-14)
> 
> B. Sometimes a JAN system nomenclature will be assigned to commercial
> equipment that has never had explicit JAN component numbers assigned.
> 
> Example:  Bendix commercial model RTA-1B HF transceiver was assigned
> the JAN nomenclature of AN/ARC-9.  List unit as Bendix RTA-1B.
> 
> Example:  Bendix commercial model MN-26LB RDF receiver was assigned
> the JAN nomenclature of AN/ARN-11.  List unit as Bendix MN-26LB.
> 
> Sometimes a JAN system nomenclature will be assigned to military equipment
> with an older service-specific designation, but has never had explicit
> JAN component numbers assigned.
> 
> Example:  Receiver BC-348-* was assigned JAN nomenclature AN/ARR-11.
> List unit as BC-348-*.
> 
> Example:  Bendix commercial model RTA-1B HF transceiver was assigned
> the JAN nomenclature of AN/ARC-9. 
> 
> Thus, there are many small variations and inconsistencies in JAN
> nomenclature use.
> 
>> Should the components, for example "C-10280", be properly identified as:
>> 
>> C-10280/ALQ
> 
> Only if that is what is actually on the component's name plate.
> 
>> or
>> C-10280/ALQ-144
> 
> Baring the previous case, this will typically be the correct form of
> nomenclature.
> 
>> or
>> C-10280
> 
> Never, except in informal writing where the full nomenclature is
> understood by all readers.  However, it is true that a component
> number in the JAN system remains uniquely assigned...it will
> never be reused in an unrelated system later.  That C-10280 is
> enough information to pin down one specific component because
> there will not have been anything else in any other system that
> has also been designated C-10280.
> 
> You can find all the JAN rules in MIL-STD-196E, at URLs like
>  http://ed-thelen.org/MIL-STD-196E.pdf
> 
> There is a lot of historical information about military nomenclature
> systems at:
>  http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/electronics.html
> 
> Mike / KK5F
> 
> Mike / KK5F
> 