The AN/VRC-12 and AN/VRC-43 through VRC-49 is a series of combat-proven vehicular radio sets which lend themselves particularly well to applications of tactical deployment and specific operational missions because of their ability to be assembled into various configurations and of being installed on most types of military vehicles; including heavy armor. The equipment provides 920 VHF/FM voice channels in the 30-76 MHz range. It consists of three major units: Receiver-Transmitter RT-246A/VRC with a channel-presetting capability (10 pushbuttons), Manual Receiver-Transmitter RT-524A/VRC with built-in loudspeaker, and Auxiliary Receiver R-442A/VRC.

Shock mountings are supplied as standard items for vehicular installation. The AS-1729/VRC step-tuned whip antenna is automatically matched to the operating frequency by either of the transceiver units; a simple, relatively inexpensive antenna is used with the auxiliary receiver. Optional control boxes and an interphone amplifier are supplied if operation of the radio set is to be extended to crew members in heavy armored vehicles or crew-served weapons. Audio accessories, such as headsets, handsets, microphones and loudspeakers may be chosen from a wide variety of standard items available. In tanks, a headset-microphone combination (MK-1697) built into a DH-132 or DH-133 series of helmets are more commonly used. Separate brochures are available for Audio Accessories, Control Ancillaries, Vehicular Mountings and Antenna AS-1729/VRC.

In addition to the conventional noise-operated squelch, an advanced tone-operated squelch (150 Hz) is provided in this series, thus eliminating "false alarms" or undesired audio output from the receiver when net stations are not called. The tone squelch also ensures reliable retransmission when two receiver-transmitter are used as an automatic relay station in high-density communication centers where off-frequency signals often cause false triggering of the retransmission setup.

As a result of long-standing field experience, much thought and effort have been invested in upgrading the equipment to standards beyond those set by the original designers.