The study of old aircraft manuals and Standard Aircraft Characteristics (SAC) can bring interesting conclusions. These documents listed avionics setups of the aircraft, and may bring surprising conclusions. The US Navy aircraft did not have too much on-board electronics, only very essential sets. The surprise is related to austerity of electronic navigation equipment, which would rather be crucial while flying over large distances over water. How on earth could the airmen find back their aircraft carrier or an airstrip on a remote island in bad weather, eg. if their compass failed as if happened to the infamous Flight 19 in December 1945 off Florida? What surprises me is that the aircraft generally had no ADF, so the airmen had to rely on the compasses, time piees and airspeed indicators for navigation. The ZB aircraft carrier landing aid operated in the VHF spectrum at 234-258 MHz, hence its range was limited to the line-of-sight. My understanding is that the 200-400 kHz A-N system's beacons were rather not widely available in the Pacific theater during WW II, and such receivers were carried for ferrying purposes.
I provide below the lists of typical avionics of various WW II US Navy airplanes and early jets. Note the items may have varied from aircraft to aircraft depending on BuNo and field modifications or upgrades.
F2A Buffalo:
TR1136 VHF COM radio while in British service. Other avionics unknown.
FM-2 Wildcat:
AN/ARC-1 or AN/ARC-4 VHF line-of-sight COM radio, AN/ARR-1 or AN/ARR-2 ZB VHF aircraft carrier landing navigation aid (homing receiver), BC-1206 200-400 kHz range navigation receiver for the A-N navigation system (on some a/c only), AN/APX-1 IFF.
F6F-5 Hellcat and F8F-1 Bearcat:
AN/ARC-1 VHF line-of-sight COM and AN/ARC-5 long-range HF radio (particularly its R-23 receiver that covered the 200-400 kHz A-N system's navigation band), AN/ARR-2, AN/APX-1. Bearcat added the AN/APN-1 radio altimeter.
F4U-4 Corsair:
AN/ARC-1 long-range HF set, AN/ARC-5's R-23 receiver that covered the 200-400 kHz navigation band, AN/ARR-2 ZB system's VHF receiver (crystallized channels for easy operation), AN/APX-1, AN/ASG-10A bombing computer (toss-bombing director) on some a/c.
AD-1 Skyraider:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ARC-2 long-range HF COM, R-23 receiver from the AN/ARC-5 HF set for the 200-400 kHz band, AN/ARR-2A ZB receiver, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APX-2 IFF, AN/APS-4(A) radar on some a/c.
AM-1 Mauler:
AN/ARC-1A VHF COM, AN/ARC-2 HF COM, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5, AN/ARR-2A, AN/APN-1, AN/APS-4 radar, AN/APX-2 IFF.
Unknown avionics in the SBC Helldiver, TBD Devastator (probably GF and RU radio sets), TBY Sea Wolf, SB2U Vindicator, SBD Dauntless (had HF loop antenna for radio navigation), and SB2A Buccaneer.
SB2C-5 Helldiver:
AN/ARC-1, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5, AN/ARR-2A, AN/APX-2B IFF, AN/APS-4 radar, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/ASG-10A bombing computer (toss-bombing director).
TBM-3 Avenger:
AN/ARC-1, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5, ARB (RCA CRV-46151) 195-9050 kHz receiver with a characteristic "coffee grinder" tuning control panel, AN/ART-13 long-range HF transmitter, AN/ARR-2, AN/APX-2 IFF, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APS-4 search radar.
PB4Y-2 Privateer:
AN/ARC-1 VHF, ATB (RCA CRV-52233) with ARB (RCA CRV-46151) 195-9050 kHz COM with 200-400 kHz navigation band receive capability, SCR-269 radio compass (finally an ADF system that covered 200-1750 kHz), AN/ARN-8 Marker Beacon receiver operating at 75 MHz, AN/APN-1 or AN/APN-4 radio altimeter, AN/APX-2 or AN/APX-8 IFF, AN/APS-2 or AN/APS-15 search radar.
PBY-6A Catalina:
AN/ARC-5, AN/APN-4 LORAN Set (introduced in 1943), SCR-269 ADF, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/ARN-8 Marker Beacon, AN/APX-2 IFF, AN/APS-3 search radar, AN/APA-16 Radar Compensating Assembly (bomb control unit).
PBM-5 Mariner:
AN/ARC-5 HF COM, SCR-269 or AN/ARN-7 radio compass (ADF), AN/APN-4 LORAN, AN/ART-13 HF transmitter, AN/ARN-8 Marker Beacon, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APX-2 or AN/APX-8 IFF, AN/APS-2 or AN/APS-15 search radar, AN/APA-5 Auxiliary Electronic Bombsight Equipment, used with AN/APS-2, and AN/APS-15.
PBM-5A Mariner:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ART-13 transmitter and AN/ARR-15 receiver, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5 A-N system navigation receiver, AN/ARN-7 ADF, AN/APN-4 LORAN, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APN-8 Marker Beacon, AN/APS-31 search radar, AN/APX-8 IFF.
FH-1 Phantom:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5 range receiver, AN/ARR-2A, AN/APX-1 IFF.
F6U-1 Pirate:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ARR-2A, AN/ARN-6 ADF, AN/APX-1 IFF, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter.
F2H-1 Banshee:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ARR-2A, AN/ARN-6 ADF, AN/APX-1 or AN/APX-6 IFF.
Bottom line:
Obviously, the bigger aircraft, the more avionics it could carry. However, the ADF, which could be a useful tool to find way home while lost over the ocean, appeared as standard equipment only on jets. LORAN equipment required more space and power, hence it appeared in larger aircraft.
The AN/ARN-21 TACAN eventually replaced the R-23/ARC-5 200-400 kHz range receiver for the A-N navigation system and the AN/ARR-1 or AN/ARR-2 aircraft carrier landing aids in the 1950s.
The lesser known ARB and ATB radios are elaborated on these websites:
It would be appreciated if someone, who has SACs or pilot's manuals for the missing avionics airplanes, could share it.
I provide below the lists of typical avionics of various WW II US Navy airplanes and early jets. Note the items may have varied from aircraft to aircraft depending on BuNo and field modifications or upgrades.
F2A Buffalo:
TR1136 VHF COM radio while in British service. Other avionics unknown.
FM-2 Wildcat:
AN/ARC-1 or AN/ARC-4 VHF line-of-sight COM radio, AN/ARR-1 or AN/ARR-2 ZB VHF aircraft carrier landing navigation aid (homing receiver), BC-1206 200-400 kHz range navigation receiver for the A-N navigation system (on some a/c only), AN/APX-1 IFF.
F6F-5 Hellcat and F8F-1 Bearcat:
AN/ARC-1 VHF line-of-sight COM and AN/ARC-5 long-range HF radio (particularly its R-23 receiver that covered the 200-400 kHz A-N system's navigation band), AN/ARR-2, AN/APX-1. Bearcat added the AN/APN-1 radio altimeter.
F4U-4 Corsair:
AN/ARC-1 long-range HF set, AN/ARC-5's R-23 receiver that covered the 200-400 kHz navigation band, AN/ARR-2 ZB system's VHF receiver (crystallized channels for easy operation), AN/APX-1, AN/ASG-10A bombing computer (toss-bombing director) on some a/c.
AD-1 Skyraider:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ARC-2 long-range HF COM, R-23 receiver from the AN/ARC-5 HF set for the 200-400 kHz band, AN/ARR-2A ZB receiver, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APX-2 IFF, AN/APS-4(A) radar on some a/c.
AM-1 Mauler:
AN/ARC-1A VHF COM, AN/ARC-2 HF COM, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5, AN/ARR-2A, AN/APN-1, AN/APS-4 radar, AN/APX-2 IFF.
Unknown avionics in the SBC Helldiver, TBD Devastator (probably GF and RU radio sets), TBY Sea Wolf, SB2U Vindicator, SBD Dauntless (had HF loop antenna for radio navigation), and SB2A Buccaneer.
SB2C-5 Helldiver:
AN/ARC-1, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5, AN/ARR-2A, AN/APX-2B IFF, AN/APS-4 radar, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/ASG-10A bombing computer (toss-bombing director).
TBM-3 Avenger:
AN/ARC-1, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5, ARB (RCA CRV-46151) 195-9050 kHz receiver with a characteristic "coffee grinder" tuning control panel, AN/ART-13 long-range HF transmitter, AN/ARR-2, AN/APX-2 IFF, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APS-4 search radar.
PB4Y-2 Privateer:
AN/ARC-1 VHF, ATB (RCA CRV-52233) with ARB (RCA CRV-46151) 195-9050 kHz COM with 200-400 kHz navigation band receive capability, SCR-269 radio compass (finally an ADF system that covered 200-1750 kHz), AN/ARN-8 Marker Beacon receiver operating at 75 MHz, AN/APN-1 or AN/APN-4 radio altimeter, AN/APX-2 or AN/APX-8 IFF, AN/APS-2 or AN/APS-15 search radar.
PBY-6A Catalina:
AN/ARC-5, AN/APN-4 LORAN Set (introduced in 1943), SCR-269 ADF, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/ARN-8 Marker Beacon, AN/APX-2 IFF, AN/APS-3 search radar, AN/APA-16 Radar Compensating Assembly (bomb control unit).
PBM-5 Mariner:
AN/ARC-5 HF COM, SCR-269 or AN/ARN-7 radio compass (ADF), AN/APN-4 LORAN, AN/ART-13 HF transmitter, AN/ARN-8 Marker Beacon, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APX-2 or AN/APX-8 IFF, AN/APS-2 or AN/APS-15 search radar, AN/APA-5 Auxiliary Electronic Bombsight Equipment, used with AN/APS-2, and AN/APS-15.
PBM-5A Mariner:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ART-13 transmitter and AN/ARR-15 receiver, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5 A-N system navigation receiver, AN/ARN-7 ADF, AN/APN-4 LORAN, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter, AN/APN-8 Marker Beacon, AN/APS-31 search radar, AN/APX-8 IFF.
FH-1 Phantom:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, R-23 of the AN/ARC-5 range receiver, AN/ARR-2A, AN/APX-1 IFF.
F6U-1 Pirate:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ARR-2A, AN/ARN-6 ADF, AN/APX-1 IFF, AN/APN-1 radio altimeter.
F2H-1 Banshee:
AN/ARC-1 VHF COM, AN/ARR-2A, AN/ARN-6 ADF, AN/APX-1 or AN/APX-6 IFF.
Bottom line:
Obviously, the bigger aircraft, the more avionics it could carry. However, the ADF, which could be a useful tool to find way home while lost over the ocean, appeared as standard equipment only on jets. LORAN equipment required more space and power, hence it appeared in larger aircraft.
The AN/ARN-21 TACAN eventually replaced the R-23/ARC-5 200-400 kHz range receiver for the A-N navigation system and the AN/ARR-1 or AN/ARR-2 aircraft carrier landing aids in the 1950s.
The lesser known ARB and ATB radios are elaborated on these websites:
It would be appreciated if someone, who has SACs or pilot's manuals for the missing avionics airplanes, could share it.
