[Milsurplus] Navy WRC-1 & URC-35 family history - Stromberg-Carlson SC-900A

[Jim Whartenby]

If the SC-900 development started in the Fall of 1958, that answers the question of which of the three systems came first.  
Another thing is that the SC-900 is contemporary with the KWT-6.  The original ground station developed during Birdcall used a receiver - exciter similar to the 310F-1 as shown in a photo in the Fall, 1958 Collins Signal, Volume 7 # 2.  This is essentially an ARC-58 receiver - exciter, for automatic tuning, repackaged for rack mounting with a 60 to 400 cycle motor - generator. 
Not exactly sure when the KWT-6 made it's debut but it certainly wasn't ready for Birdcall in the mid to late 1950's.Regards,Jim

Logic: Method used to arrive at the wrong conclusion, with confidence.  Murphy

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick England <navy.radio at gmail.com>
To: Jim Whartenby <old_radio at aol.com>
Cc: mrcg at mailman.qth.net <mrcg at mailman.qth.net>; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sun, Sep 25, 2022 4:48 pm
Subject: Navy WRC-1 & URC-35 family history - Stromberg-Carlson SC-900A

OK - The internet tar-baby got me today but I believe I now have a solid history -See https://www.navy-radio.com/xmtrs/sc-radio.htm
I have added photos and references to the SC-901X transceiver, 907, 908A, and 910A amplifiers, 910R receiver, 910E exciter, and 905C antenna coupler. These were sold commercially (beginning in 1961 I believe) and to the USAF as a result of a 1959 USN R&D Contract. The Navy's R-1051, T-827, RT-618, URC-35, URT-24, and WRC-1 resulted from this contract

Aha! - I found a patent case showing that in June 1959 the Navy contracted with Stromberg-Carlson (General Dynamics) "to design and furnish experimental, mock-up, and developmental models of a single sideband radio set and a single sideband portable transceiver." (NObsr-77628, dated 16 June 1959 for AN/WRC-1 and AN/URC-35). The Navy had rights to patents developed during the contract, but General Dynamics claimed some of the inventions "were conceived and reduced to practice during plaintiff's own, independent project to develop a single sideband transceiver, called the SC900A, prior to the award of contract NObsr-77628". 
That led me to the SC900A development background. 
https://www.navy-radio.com/xmtrs/sc/SC900A-Board_of_Contract_Appeals_Decisions.pdfEvidently they had a working radio before the Navy contract was signed.
Trivia - the original Navy contract referred to the AN/PRC-45 portable transceiver and AN/URC-35 fixed transceiver. The names were later changed to AN/URC-35 portable transceiver and AN/WRC-1 fixed transceiver. 
[The URC-35 was called portable - HA!]
And finally I found this -
April 1959 Stromberg-Carlson Advertisement -
- A new approach to Single-Sideband radio by Stromberg-Carlson...... greater power output, less power input with a smaller volume.
- The SC-900A digit-tuned Single-Sideband transceiver marks a significant advance in the state of the art.
- The SC-900A is designed for both vehicular and fixed point-to-point communications adaptable to rack mounting and back-pack meets full military requirements.
- Provides 28,000 stabilized channels from 2 to 30 megacycles, with a transmitted peak envelope power output of 100 watts.
- Receive input power : 50 watts.
- Average transmit input power for voice: 150 watts.
- Available soon.
Any additional info, photos, etc. would be greatly appreciated
Nick England K4NYW
www.navy-radio.com

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