[Milsurplus] WTB: USN ARB (CRV-46151) receiver - Now YE, YG, ZB, AN/ARR-, -2

[Mike Morrow]

Ray wrote:

> I am questioning the statement  of the ARR-2 being the most common used
> [homing] radio...

I have seen far more AN/ARR-2 homing receivers in surplus than the ZB-series adapters or the AN/ARR-1 JAN equivalent, common though those also are.   They have been very frequently found on ebay, typically at low price.  Walt discussed this common set at length in Electric Radio more than 20 years ago.  I have at least four.  I bought two for a couple of bucks at Dayton a few years ago (just to keep them from being junked as worthless).  The R-4/ARR-2 has always been very common and cheap in surplus...at least for about 60 years. :-)

> The ARA, RU and ARB receivers along with the ZB homing adapters were in the
> surplus market in huge numbers so am going to assume that they were deployed
> in huge numbers...

As Robert described, that's true for installations that were made before the AN/ARR-2 appeared in 1943.  

Robert mentions ZB-series use with the RU-series.  The 1935 (!!) GF-3/RU-4A command set was the earliest to have dual-band coil sets that could eventually serve for use with the ZB.  One could be remotely pilot-switched to cover either 540 kHz to 830 kHz or 3000 to 4525 kHz; and the other coil set covered 540 to 830 kHz or 5200 to 7700 kHz.  It is no coincidence that these two RU-*/GF-* coil sets have an important HF communication band AND a MF band that *exactly* matches that for YE/ZB modulation frequencies of the 246 MHz homing signal from the YE/YG.  The pilot of a single-seat carrier aircraft can get both HF communications service AND VHF homing service from the GF-*/RU-*/ZB-* installation with pilot as sole operator.  ALL GF/RU command sets from 1935 GF-3/RU-4A and later had at least one dual-band coil set with a HF communication band AND a MF navigation band that covered the ZB output frequency range.  However, the first ZB homing adapter did not begin regular deployment until 1940.  BTW, the ZB can mount directly on the RU-* in place of its tube cover.

The 520 to 1500 kHz ARA CBY-46145 command set receiver became available with the rest of the ARA/ATA command set in 1940.  It was identical to the earlier RAV liaison receiver CBY-46103, except that the posts and switch for a loop antenna were removed.  Its principle purpose (and that of the SCR-274-N/BC-946-B and R-24/ARC-5 BCB receivers as well) was to function with the ZB-type homing adapter.  I believe the only time the BCB command set receiver was extensively was when it was installed in the typical ARA 3-receiver rack (in place of a beacon-band CBY-46129 receiver) and connected to the BCB output of the ZB-* homing adapter.  This was likely in the typical command set configuration found on early war carrier-based aircraft that used the ARA/ATA command set.

The ARB with ZB-* would have been appropriate in the 1942 ARB/ATB command set, of which there weren't a great number.  It also was paired with the rarely-used ATD.  But by the time the ARB found use with the ATC and AN/ART-13. the AN/ARR-2 with the AN/ARC-5 command set provided the homing receiver, as noted below.

Most of the JAN AN/ARR-1 versions of the ZB-* appear to have been ordered by the Signal Corps, along with the associated BC-946-B BCB SCR-274-N receiver.  But the USAAF does not appear to have often placed the AN/ARR-1 and BC-946-B to actual use.  The -1 pilot's manual for B-29 aircraft in the PTO lists the AN/ARR-1, but its output is fed to the AN/ARN-7 ADF receiver, not a BC-946-B.

So...all of the above describe installations of the ZB.  Except for the B-29 case, these are 1943 and earlier.  In USN service it is doubtful that any *new* ZB installations were made after the AN/ARR-2 homing receiver was available.  AN/ARC-5 LF/MF/HF equipment manuals like AN 16-30ARC5-2 which contain integrated wiring diagrams for AN/ARC-5 command components along with ARB and AN/ART-13 liaison components ALWAYS show use of the AN/ARR-2 homing receiver...NEVER a ZB-style adapter.  Period photos show the same thing.  The AN/ARR-2 ruled!  :-)

Mike / KK5F