Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1285-200-34/3 for AN/VPS-2 Radar Set, January 1972
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual covers direct support and general support maintenance for the AN/VPS-2 Radar Set, listed under FSN 1285-087-4746 or FSN 1285-179-4218. Issued in January 1972, TM 9-1285-200-34/3 supported technicians responsible for maintaining radar equipment used with the Army’s Vulcan Air Defense System. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include a radar, antenna, vehicle, gun, test set, power supply, or other equipment.
Publication Details
The “34” suffix identifies this as a higher-level maintenance publication for work beyond routine crew and organizational service. The “/3” suffix identifies this volume as one part of the maintenance-manual series for the AN/VPS-2.
- Manual number: TM 9-1285-200-34/3
- Publication date: January 1972
- Subject: Radar Set AN/VPS-2
- Federal Stock Numbers: 1285-087-4746 or 1285-179-4218
- Manual level: Direct support and general support maintenance
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Technical manual only
Manual Coverage
This publication was prepared for trained radar and fire-control technicians. Manuals at this level supported troubleshooting, testing, inspection, adjustment, repair, removal, installation, and serviceability checks. It is a useful technical reference for understanding the electronic, microwave, power-supply, control, and antenna equipment that formed the complete radar set.
About the AN/VPS-2 Radar
The AN/VPS-2 was a range-only pulse-Doppler radar developed for short-range air-defense fire control. It measured the distance to a moving aircraft and its rate of approach or departure. This information was sent to the fire-control system, which used it to calculate the lead needed for the gunner to engage the target. The radar was not a wide-area search system, so the gunner first located and followed the target with the optical sight.
Radar Components and Operation
The system included a parabolic antenna with a center feed, transmitter-receiver equipment, power supplies, controls, cables, and related electronic assemblies. The antenna moved with the gun mount and directed a narrow radar beam toward the selected target. The transmitter-receiver generated radar pulses and processed returning echoes. Selectable operating frequencies allowed several Vulcan systems to work near one another with less risk of radar interference.
Vulcan Air Defense System History
The AN/VPS-2 served with the M163 self-propelled and M167 towed 20mm Vulcan Air Defense Systems. The M163 placed the M168 six-barrel rotary cannon and its fire-control equipment on an M741 tracked carrier based on the M113 family. The M167 used the same basic weapon in a towed mount. These systems were developed during the 1960s to protect troops, airfields, command posts, and supply areas from low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
History of Use
Vulcan systems entered Army service during the Vietnam era and became an important part of forward-area air defense. During an air engagement, the gunner tracked the target through the M61 lead-computing sight while the AN/VPS-2 supplied range and range-rate data. The fire-control equipment then moved the sight reticle to show the proper lead. Vulcan guns were also used against ground targets, but the AN/VPS-2 was designed mainly to support engagements against moving aircraft.
Cold War Importance
The January 1972 publication date places this manual during the early operational period of the Vulcan system. At that time, the Army paired the short-range Vulcan gun with the longer-range MIM-72 Chaparral missile system. Together, these weapons helped protect mobile ground forces from aircraft flying too low for larger air-defense systems. The AN/VPS-2 remained an important part of later improved Vulcan configurations.
Collector and Research Value
TM 9-1285-200-34/3 is a specialized reference for studying Cold War radar, M163 and M167 Vulcan systems, the M168 20mm rotary cannon, and Army fire-control maintenance. It is useful for military-vehicle restorers, electronics historians, museums, veterans, and collectors of original Army technical publications.
Condition
This vintage military technical manual may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, loose pages, or other signs of age and storage. Printing details and condition may vary between available copies. Please check the pictures for the general condition of the item.
Ideal For
This manual is well suited for collections, restoration projects, research, and displays covering Army radar and short-range air-defense equipment.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- AN/VPS-2 radar research
- M163 VADS restoration projects
- M167 Vulcan gun research
- Cold War radar and electronics displays
- 20mm M168 fire-control research
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 4.5", Approx width 8", Approx height 1", Approx weight 2lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item’s general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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