4.5 inch rocket manual

8/17/2019 4.5 Inch Rocket Manual

1/30

4.5” AIRC RA FT RO CK ET

MATERIEL

WAR DEPARTMENT .

12 SEPTEMBER 1944

RESTRICTED LU.WEMINL~T I~N OF R ,WTKTED MATTER-

The information containe~rrrestr icted’docum ents and the essential char-

.

acterist ies of restr icted material ma y be given to any person known to be in :

th; service of the United States and fo perwns of undoubted loyalty and

discretion who are cooperating in Govern ment work, butwil l nof be com -

munica ted to the public or to the press except by authoriz&d mil i tary public

relations ,agencies. (See aho paragraph 236, AR 380-5, I i Ma rch WM .)


2/30

W AR D EPAR T MEN T

Washington 25, D. C. , 12 September ,1944

TM 9-395, 4.5” Aircraft Rocke t Materiel, is published for the in-

formation and guidance of al l concerned .

.[

A.G. 300 7 (4 Sep 44)

0.q. 300.7/2001

1

BY O R D ER O F T H E SEC R ET AR Y O P W AR :

G. C. MARSHALL,

Chief of Stat?.

OFFICIAL:

J. A. ULIO,

Major General ,

The Adjutant, General .

DISTRIBUTION :, Armies ( IO); Corps (10); SvC (10); Depts (10);

D (2); R, l (4); Bn 1 (2); IC 9 (10); Tech S vs (2);

Arm b Sv Boards (2); P, C h Stas (1); Gen b Sp Sv

Schools (10); RO TC (1); O rd Decentral ized Sub-0

(3); Ord Dist 0 (5); Ord Reg 0 (3); PE ’s (Ord 0)

(5); H & R Points (5); Ord Dist Br 0 (3); Ord

Establishments (.5).

IC i-T/O 9-17; 9-57; 9-257; g-417.

\

(For explanatidn of symbols, see FM 21-6.)


3/30

.

SECTION I

II.

III.

INDEX..

Parapro*s

Pap;.

Launchers 1-12 1-12

Roc kets .._................................ 13- 19 12,- 23

References . :

20-2.3 24-25

26


4/30

TM 9.395 _

4.5” AIRCR AFT ROC KET MAT ERkL


5/30

i

lkvl 9.395

1-3

R E S T R I C T E D

Section I

L A U N C H E R S

1. SCOPE.

a. This man u+m ntai ns a descriptionof the 4.5” Rock et .Launchers

MlO, M14, and M ~l5. In addition, i t contains technical information

required for the identif ication, use, and care of the laun6her and am -

munit ion. This ma nual does not cover electr ical wir ine or switches

in the plane, or the f iring selector mechanism . The pr&rement and

installation of such access ories is the responsibility of AA F.

.

b. Unsatisfactory Equa pmen t Rrsport.

Suggestions for im-

prove men t in design, mainte nance, safety, and efficiency of operation

~prompted by chronic failure or ‘malfunct ion of the weapon, spare,

parts, or equipment bhould. be reported on WD AG O Form No. 468,

Unsatisfactory Equi pme nt Report, with all pertinent informatibn

neces sary to init iate corrective action. The report sh ould be forwarded

to the Office of Chief of Ordnanc e,, Field Servicti Main tenanc e Di-

vision, through com ma nd channels in accordance with instruct ion

number 7 ‘on the form. Such suggestions are encciuraged in order

that other organizations ma y benefit.

3. TABULATED DATA.

a. Launchers.

Mod., Ml0 Ml4 MIS

Material of tubes...:

Plast ic Steel Magn esium alloy

We igh t of launc her ............

80 lb.. ... . ... ,19 0 lb:. ................... .86 lb

Leng th of tubes.. ................

10 ft.. ......... .I0 ft ....................... 10 ft.

Thi ckness of tubes.. ...........

Yi m.... . ........ Yi in.. ................... :g,; in.

1

2. REPORTS.

a. Field Report of Accidents.

Whe n an accident involving am-

munitio n occurs during practice, the incident will be reported as

prescribed in AR 750-10 by the Ordnance officer under w hose super-

vision the ammun it ion is maintained or issued. Where practicable,,

reports covering malfunct ions of amrinmit ion in combat ’ wi ll be made

,to the Chief of ?rdnance, giving the type of malfunction, type of

ammunit ion, the lot number of the complete rounds or separate-

loading components, and condit ion unde‘ which f ired.


6/30

.,

TM 9.395

3.5

4 .5” AIRCRA FT RO& ET MATER IEL

b. Rockets.

Length

‘uzed ,,.,, , , , . , ., . ,. , , , . .. . ,. , ., . ,, , . ., . ,. , . ,. , , . , ,, . . . . . ’ , , .,

,.,.,., 33 in.

Weight

fuze d L, . .,.....,.,. ,,,,.,. :, ,,.,., ,,.,.,.. 40

lb

Muzz le velocity . . . . . . .Y:.: ..’ ..__..................850 f t per set

Range,

maximum ,. :, , , . , : , . : , .4,600

yd

‘:

,. ;

4. 4.5’” R OC KE T L AU NC HE R MIO .

a.

The Launcher Ml0 con&ts of a c luster of three lo- foot tubes

of N-inch plastic which e?e attached by steel strapping to a sl ide her,

end bv two mounts to the under. s ide of the wine of the olane ( f ins.

1 to i) . The straps .are t ightened *round the i&e by ‘urnbicie

screws tightened end wired in ,place.

b. The front mount consists of a T-shaped hanger at tached to ’

the plane, a front mount s trep on which are mbunted two hooks, and

a deflector ,assembly (f ig. 4).

TW O set screws are provided to fasten

the strep in posit ion on ,the sl ide bar. The deflector assembly con:

sists bf two ,18-inch erms atta ched to a deflector strep end bearin g

on the front hanger. Wh en the launcher is dropped, the arms serve

to direct the “se of the , launchir dow nwa rd es air pressure pushes

I

the tubes to the rear.

e.

The rear mount ( f igs. 5 end 6) consists of a hanger containing

the release m+ch anism end a socket for electr ical comiections, end a

V-shaped sway brace. T he rear mount s trap has a suspension lug end

two L-shaped detainer supports . Whe n the launcher is dropped, the

detainer supports engage the erms of the sway brace end prevent the’

/

rear end dropping unti l the def lector pushes the front end downward .

The rear mount strep is posit ioned on the sl ide bar by e clevis pin.

d.

In addit ion to the ‘ront end rear moun t straps, there is B ten-

ter strap r iveted to the sl ide bar end tightened to prope r tension by

the manufacturer . One in&ahead of the rear end there is a def lector

strap to. protect the release end contact mecha nisms from fly ing l inks

end f i red cases from the plane’s guns.

5. 4 .5 ’ ROCK ET LAUN CH ER i il i4 .

/

a.

This mo del differs~from the Ml0 in that the material of the

tubes is %-inch steel. The tu be assembly has suff ic ient weight to in-

‘sure i ts dropping when released end, es e consequence, the def lector

erms end strep are on&ted. In addit ion, the center strep is welde d

to the tubes.

2


7/30

/

TM

9.395

‘

b:T,

LAUNCHERS

.,,

F igure 2-Launcher, MountedyFront View

6. 4.5” ROCK ET L AUN CHER M15.

a. This model dif fers from the Ml0 in, that: the n&&l of ihe

tubes is 3/116-inchmagnesium alloy.

7. INSTALLATION.

a. General.

The center strep, front and rear moun t straps, ehd

deflector arm strep are held in posit ion by e turnbuckle screw which is

t ightened with a %&n ch,wre nch to prevent the strep sl ipping.

b. Tools.

The only tools required for this operat ion ire AAF

wrench 44A906 or a ‘6 - inch ad justab le wren& (or’ equivslent ) and

combination pliers.

e. Procedure.

a

(1) Inspect the launcher for obstruct ions inside, the, tubes end

cracks need the muzzle or rear, end. ‘Minor f lakes or bl isters oi l the

inside of the tubes &ill not affect operat ion of the launcher.

(2) Check the center strep to see that i t is t ight a nd safety-wired. ’

Do not tamper with this strep unless it has not been safety-wired be-

ceuse it has been properly adjusted for tension et the factor~., ,Cha~ges

3


8/30

iM 9.395

7 ~

4.5” AIRCRAFT RQC KET MATE RIEL

,,

‘:

,I


9/30

i

TM

LAUNCHERS

“.

; .

9.395

7


10/30

TM 9-395

7 ,’

4 .5 ” AIRCRAF T ROC KET MATERIEL

Figure 5-Rear Mount-Front View

in tetision may result in tube deformation or in excessive looseness

after use.

(3) Loosen front e nd rear mount s traps end the det le&or arm

strep so that each strep can easily be s lid to the proper ’ locat ion.

In

loo&ning the rear mount ,strap, the cotter pin and clevis pin must be

8

remove d to permit adjustment.

?

‘I

(4) L.ocate.the rear mount s trep between the mark ings on the

tube for the partic+r airplane.

These posit ions have been selected,

to best meet the fol lowing requirements:

(a) The lauticher must clear .the f laps or ai lerons un der all c ircum-

stences.

(b) The airplane center of gravity must be kept wthin p;oper

limits.

(c) The blest escaping from the’ront and beck of the tubes must

he suff ic iently far from th e airplane skin to avoid dam aging it.

,,

(5) The posit ions stenci led on the launcher correspon d to the : ,;

values in the table below.

b


11/30

TM 9-395

7

LAUNCHERS

Figure 6- l+1r ‘Mount-Rear View

DiSt(l”C. ranbar of Tub. o cepter

Alrpk”*

un* Of,Roar +rDp J?sh.r:

P-38

8

P-39

41

P-40

33’

P-47

30

P-51

25’

A-20

3s

A-36

25

(6) Fasten the rear mount strap by insert ing the clevis pin into

the proper ,hole in the sl ide bar and se cure i t with the cotter pin.

Tighten the turnbuckle sctew in the rear mount strap.

Safety-wire

the screw.

(7) Lif t the launcher to the wing, f it the rear mount strap into

the rear mount, and f lock i t there by using the release lever once

(f ig. 7). The detainer supports are automati+ly posit ioned above

the swSy braces when the rear strap is a t tached to the mount. 4 leaf

spring is &ach ed to the top of the rear strap.

It is necessa ry to com-

press this spring SO hat i t wi ll l ie betw een the top of the rear strap

and the bottom of , the rear’mount.

7


12/30

TM 9.395

7.8

4.5” AIRCRAFT ROC KET MAT ERIEL

(8)

Raise the front of the lauqcher and ,position the &oqt mount

strap so that the hooks on the front strap f i t snugly (but are not

jammed ) against the front mount. Be sure that the hooks are parallel

to the axis of the tubes. Tighten the set screws on both sides of the

strap unti l they penetrate into the sl ide bar, to prevent the strap from

slipping. Be sure that the conical points of the set screws penetrate

the slide bar: ‘Tie with safety wire.

Tighten the turnbuckle screw to

keep the strap from slipping axid secure it with safety wire.

(9) Fasten the sway brace screws at the rear post unt il they

press lightly a&ns t the cluster.

( 10)

Slide the def l+tor arm strap rearwar d unti l the hooks on‘he

deflector arm ,fi t snugly against the front of the front mbunt without

jamming. Be sure that the hooks a re in a posit ion to sl ide freely into

the f ront post as the f ront st rap leaves i t. ’ T ighten turnbuckle screw

and secure with a safety wire.

(11)

The shield strap is in i ts proper posit ion when the launcher

is received.

If it is nece ssa~ to mw e it during installations, unlatch

the buckle at the bottom of ‘he strap.

Be sure to set the shield strap

about 1 inch forward of the, contact arms. Latch the buckle and

safety-wire it to prevent a&dental opening.

(12)

Examine the straps to be sure that al l the screws have been

correct ly t ightened and safety-wired. Nqscre w should be so t ightened

that al l of i t enters the trunnion blocks or dama ges the launcher.

Tension for the mount straps is controlled by a stop sleeve mounte d on

the trunnion screw. T he prope r tension 1s obtained when trunnion

screw has been t ightened until lock nut com es in contact with tr imnion.

d.

Gaging. Wh en the ,installation is comp lete, slide a rocket, tail

f irst , through each tube to insure that i t does not bind.

8. LOADING.

a. ~Pr&paration.

(1)

Test circuits as described in par&m ph 9 b.

(2)

Be sure all switches are off .

(3)

Unpack rockets and fuzes and ass‘emble as desciibed in para-

graph 17.

(4)

I f using Rocket MS or M9, b e sure prop&ll ing charge is ad-

justed for anticipated firing tempe rature .

(5)

Set the fuze for the desired act ion, super-quick or,delay.

b. Loading.

(1) Rem ove safety wire or pin from fuze.

8


13/30

TM 9.

8

* LAUNCHERS

‘395


14/30

1

T M 9 - 3 9 5

5.9

4 .5” A IRCRA FT ROC KET ’MATERI EL

C2j P lace nose of rocket in breec h of launcher tube and push for-

ward. Eng age ta il f lange of rocket in groove in re ta iner mechanism.

Be sure retainer is f irmly eng age d.

(3) Re mo ve f in retainer f rom tai l of rocket.

(4) I f necessary , ben d contac t arms so that eac h one will ma ke

contact wi th on e contact r ing on igniter.

CAU TION: If rocket is equ ipped wi th c ombinat ion per


15/30

. .

.

LAUNCHERS


16/30

. .

4 V-395

lM3

4,s” AIR&AFT RaCKCT

WiTERILL ’


17/30

. :

.

r.

,

1..

: .

..

1.’ ;‘.

:i.

-;,‘,$. ..

bk

-a’

P+

, &s

..A .

I”

.

c ’.

:.:: .

. ’

_.’ .

: .

; , .

c(:” .

. .‘I . .

3. .

5 .

;. ..

:’

.4

c .

i .-.

._:

. . . .

A. .

*.. .

I .

.f’ .*_

.:

. .

:’ .

:w.: .

: .

I : .


18/30

‘M 306

,

If

4.8” AIRCRAFT

ROCKET MATERCCL


19/30

: I

.b

. .

?.

. .

a

.

...

-:

.?

.

.

.:..

. l .

: .

:..

. .

.

I..: *

. I

.

:-

,

. ..,

. . .

l . .

. .

. .

g. . Igniter-

The

ighjte.r {fig& 9 nnd 12) cox&sts essentially of a

charge

of

black pizwder.and an’ electric rcquib+

In eerlier models, the

s@b and bIack powder I= conwined in 8 plastic cup which ia

cementeci in tbe ‘mzzle opening. Tti leads

of

.tbe aqtib a~ con-

nected to a contact

disk end B

contact ring

on the bqse of the cup

‘(fig. g ). In cwnb,itlation

ig@terrp,

a

percussiad

printer is assembled jn

the base. ‘In

later

rimdels, the igniter is

assembled

in a long tube. at-

tached to the tmp with

the

imiter wirers ‘leading to ie aontmzt pJ+e

in the mzzlea

This pi&

has, in’additicm ta the

opntact riagq a cord

and plug attachment fm electricnl connectian When @is igniter is

used in the ,launchers equjpped with spring

.rohtBCt

SWYP~,he plug

wires should be cut CIOMEo the contact

tings

33.

Ptintiq.

High-ex osive rockets arts.jraint@ olive drab and

narked in

yellow. Practice. mcht ahell at-e

phited

blue .and

m&d in white, and the motor

is

painted

alive drab and

mmked

in yellcW.


20/30

TM

9-395

..

+

‘14

4.3” AlRCRAFf RCYCRETMATER&i


21/30

:.

4

. . .I..

. .

. .

;.

I .


22/30

4.5”’ Al KCRAFT ROd KKT MATERIEL

RA PP 26760

l .


23/30

d... I_

‘ I .

.: .

* .

. . .-

,-.

..I .

: :

b . I ’ .

. .

: & a ’

.

. . .

.,. .

7..

‘Z.-r . -I

,r. ’

. - .

,; : .

. ,p; .

‘4

l . .

:*

2; ;:. .

:a>: \ .

*p*‘... :

(-, ,

.I- .

3.

.I

4

* ..I

.

,

..

. .

. (

. .

. .

.,.

. .

. .

. .

..

. *.

. .

’ I

’ d, H&h-exploclive Rocket WLU and Practice Rockti WAB.

This modilicatio~, in

additiam to the heavier motor *body,

has a

smalIer, heavitw-walled rsM1.

It6

tempwatum limits are the sat&,

-10°F

to

.I 105°F; and ita velocity is slightly higher.than the -&j

’ modifictrtion. *

:.

e. Hi+-expkeive

Rocker M8A3

and Practioe Rocket M9A3.

In this

mo@fication,

each fim ha8 B slight .bur or crimp to insure a

tight fit in the fin ring when the &a opens. The

rocketr are otkwiac

the ~alfle as the

-A2 modificationa.

Temperawe ranga are

the

Sernt w

the-A2

roclcetra,

. .

f. High-=ploeivc Rocker Z and Practtice R&set TM. This

madificdos rains .thc heavies ahell

of

the -m&&a AZ. The motor

body irs furtbr

rtrengthensed, the fin

arrsranbly is

modified. The

ikiter

ti sroemt>led itr $ tube attached ti the

trap

anil extending

the

Iength of the progelling charge, 1ti temperature limits arc -20’F

to +12O”F,

15. RDeKET FU= AND MCWF’ICATtONS k14, \.

’

)r, Ehe klth$.

The

actb

of the

fum is e&c&d

by

rneatlB of

a r ttiG pin which

appears at the

dde

of

the

fure. The

head of the

pin

is

gfbtted

and

is

marted

with a

jtidbti dot. The fuze body is

marked m eitk side of the setting pin.with “SQP.end ‘VI.015 SEC.

DELAY” (or

‘Lo.1

SEC.

DELAY”).

The action of tie fuze is Iccted

by turning the pin 30

that the dot indiktes the desired

action.

Note

that

the pin slot

hbuid alvrraya be parAe to

the a.&

of

the fws.

’ The fue may be rmet at any tie prim to f&g.

c

i sthe

the first

step

forces

of

aet-


24/30

15

I

4.5” AIRCRAFT ROCKET MATERN


25/30

I---

--4.4

- . -i

RA w WV3

i


26/30


27/30


28/30

REFERENCES

‘a .

List of Training ‘Filma Film Sttip and Fjilti ‘.

Eulktios (listi TFs, FEES, and FWs by

serinI number and subject} . . . _ _. . . FM 2 I-7

21. STANDARD NOIMENCLATtJR~ LISTS, .

terido; recoil Kds, rqxciaI oils, and mb

cellaneous related it s.. ’. . . _ , . . . . . .

ORD

BNL K:-1


29/30

I

. ‘1

.

I .


30/30

TM 9.395

4.5” AIRCR AFT R OC KET MAT ERIEL

INDEX

A

Page

Auxiliary booster. .............. 22

C

Conservation cd materiel.

....... 12

D

D” ”my fuze M6.

............. 22

F

,materia1s used in,, ,.,. 11

Motor hdet)

13

P

Fir&g

precautions

................. 23

preparstion for.

..

:

........... 22

Fwes, rocket, description, fuze-set-

ting and arming of:

M4

........................ 19

M4Al...................... 21

MM2

..................... 22

I

Painting and marking (rockets).

15

Percussion electric igniters,

10

Propelling charge

description

13

high-temperature range

23

R

Reports, field report of accidents

and, ‘unsatisfactory equipment.

1

Rockets

Igniters, description

.............

15

L ,

components .~. ‘

13

description and data

rockets

12

shell, motor, and propelling

charge 13

fuzes,for :. .~. lQ, 21, 22

igniters; painting and marking .

15

mcdi8cat icms

Launchers, rock,&

dBC Cp ti0”

Ml0 and Ml4 ............. 1

Ml5 ..:. ................. 3

installation

data ............ . ........ 7

procedure ...... : ......... 3

loading

.................... 8

ma i”tena”ce end failure to fire.

11

precautidns in loa+ng.

........ 10

tabulated data.

.............. 1

unloading,

.................... 10

M

M8 and M9............... 15

M8A l and MQA l.. ,:

13

M8A 2 end M9A2 . ;.

19

M8A3 and M9A3.

19

,~ T22~an d T46 ,...... .,: ,... 19

packing ., 24

tabulated data

.2

s :

Shell, rocket, description.

13

Storage and shipment.

11

switches ;

10

T

daily a$ before firing.

12 Unloading the launcher.

10

Magnes ium tubes, +ntenance. 12

Maintenance (launchers).

after firing and during storage

aed shipm ent ........... 11

Tabulated data. 1

Tools, r&dred for installation,

3

U

:

4.5 inch rocket manual

Documents