Description
U.S. Military Technical Manual TM 9-1370-200, Change 2, Military Pyrotechnics, July 1961
This July 1961 Change 2 update supplements Military Pyrotechnics, TM 9-1370-200, originally issued on December 29, 1958. It is a useful addition for collectors assembling a reference set of Cold War military publications. This listing is for the Change 2 update only. The complete base manual, pyrotechnic devices, ammunition, and equipment are not included.
Publication Details
The change number identifies this publication as an update to an existing manual, intended to be kept with that reference.
- Manual number: TM 9-1370-200
- Change number: Change 2
- Title: Military Pyrotechnics
- Update date: July 1961
- Base manual date: December 29, 1958
- Publication type: Technical manual update
- Country of origin: United States
Purpose of the Update
Numbered changes allowed military publications to be revised without issuing an entirely new book. These updates form part of a manual’s publication history and help researchers track its development over time. Change 2 belongs to the early 1960s revision history of this pyrotechnics reference.
Parent Manual Coverage
The 1958 base manual provides general and technical information about military pyrotechnics, including their characteristics, identification, markings, packaging, and handling precautions. Its main subject groups are listed below as background to this update.
- Photoflash cartridges used in aerial photography
- Aircraft and surface illumination flares
- Aircraft, ground, and marine signals
- Training simulators that reproduce battlefield sounds and flashes
- Miscellaneous pyrotechnic equipment, including missile tracking tracers and engine igniters
Publication and Equipment History
Dedicated Army pyrotechnics manuals were already in use during World War II. The December 1958 edition of TM 9-1370-200 was issued jointly by the Army and Air Force and replaced TM 9-1981, dated January 29, 1951. Its subjects reflected both established signaling equipment and newer Cold War technology. Military pyrotechnics supported many aircraft, ground units, and rescue services, giving this publication a wider scope than a manual for one weapon.
History of Use
Pyrotechnic devices produced light, colored smoke, or sound for specific military tasks. Ground and aircraft signals carried visual messages between units. Flares provided illumination for observation and aviation support, while photoflash cartridges supplied brief flashes for night photography. Marine signals helped mark locations and attract rescuers. Training simulators added realistic sounds and flashes to exercises. These roles made pyrotechnics useful across combat support, training, and rescue work.
Collector and Research Value
This update helps preserve the revision history that can be lost when a technical manual survives without its separate changes. It is especially useful alongside the matching base edition for studying how military reference material developed. Its 1961 date also makes it relevant to collections focused on early Cold War ordnance and military publishing.
Ideal For
This change publication suits several collecting and research interests.
- TM 9-1370-200 reference sets
- Military technical-manual and change-publication collections
- Early Cold War ordnance research
- Military flare, signal, and training-equipment history
- Aviation and rescue-equipment studies
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .1", Approx weight .1lbs.
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