Description
U.S. Army Technical Manual TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/2 for Nike-Hercules Tracking Radar Equipment, June 1964
Item Overview
This U.S. Army technical manual is the illustration volume for organizational maintenance repair parts used with two Nike-Hercules radar groups. Issued as TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/2 in June 1964, it covers the trailer-mounted OA-1340/MPA Missile Tracking Antenna-Receiver-Transmitter Group and OA-1487/MPA Target Tracking Antenna-Receiver-Transmitter Group. This copy is an official reprint containing the current pages from Changes 1 and 2. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include radar equipment, an antenna, receiver-transmitter, trailer, tracking station, missile, launcher, computer, or companion parts-list volume.
Identification and Features
The “12P” suffix places this publication in the organizational maintenance repair-parts series. The “3/2” designation identifies it as the illustration volume for the covered target- and missile-tracking radar groups. It was designed to be used with TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/1, which contains the related written parts lists and special-tools information.
- Manual number: TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/2
- Publication date: June 1964
- Edition: Official reprint with current pages from Changes 1 and 2
- System: Nike-Hercules Air Defense Guided Missile System
- Equipment section: Radar Course Directing Central
- Manual type: Organizational maintenance repair-parts illustrations
- Missile-tracking equipment: OA-1340/MPA
- Target-tracking equipment: OA-1487/MPA
- Equipment configuration: Trailer mounted
- Companion text volume: TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/1
- Issuing authority: Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Technical manual only
Manual Coverage
This volume supplies the visual references needed to identify authorized organizational maintenance parts for the Nike-Hercules tracking-radar groups. Its illustrations show assemblies, subassemblies, installed parts, and the relationships between major components. Figure and item numbers were used with the companion TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/1 parts lists to find descriptions, stock or reference numbers, quantities, and supply information. This is an illustrated parts reference rather than a complete operator’s manual, radar-theory guide, or higher-level repair publication.
Radar Equipment Illustrated
The manual covers the two precision tracking-radar groups that supplied essential information to the Nike-Hercules ground-guidance system. Both were trailer-mounted antenna-receiver-transmitter installations within the Radar Course Directing Central, commonly called the RCDC.
- OA-1340/MPA Missile Tracking Group: Followed the Nike-Hercules missile during flight and received tracking information from its onboard beacon or transponder.
- OA-1487/MPA Target Tracking Group: Followed the selected aircraft or aerial target and supplied precise tracking information to the fire-control system.
- Antenna equipment: Included the reflector, supports, positioning equipment, and related azimuth and elevation components.
- Receiver-transmitter equipment: Produced and received radar signals needed to maintain accurate target or missile tracking.
- Trailer-mounted components: Provided a transportable platform for the antenna, electronic equipment, drives, supports, and associated hardware.
How the Tracking System Worked
Nike-Hercules used command guidance controlled from the ground. The target-tracking radar followed the hostile aircraft while the missile-tracking radar followed the missile. Data from both radars went to an electronic computer, which compared their positions and calculated the course needed for an intercept. Guidance commands were then transmitted to the missile throughout its flight. Because the system depended on two separate tracks, accurate alignment and dependable operation of both radar groups were critical.
Historical Background
TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/2 was published during a period of major growth and improvement in the Army’s Nike air-defense network. Its June 1964 date places it near the height of Nike-Hercules deployment and during the transition to Improved Nike-Hercules equipment. The integration of Changes 1 and 2 brought the reprint up to the revised configuration recognized when it was produced, making it more useful than a basic copy that never received those replacement pages.
Nike-Hercules Weapon-System History
The U.S. Army authorized development of Nike-Hercules in 1953 as a more powerful successor to the Nike-Ajax surface-to-air missile. Western Electric was the primary contractor, Bell Telephone Laboratories developed the guidance equipment, and Douglas Aircraft produced the missile airframe. Nike-Hercules entered service in 1958 and offered greater range, altitude, speed, and destructive power than Nike-Ajax. It used solid-propellant motors, ground-based radar guidance, and an electronic computer. The missile could carry either a high-explosive fragmentation warhead or a nuclear warhead. Improved Nike-Hercules equipment later added stronger tracking and electronic-countermeasure capabilities.
History of Use
Nike-Hercules batteries defended major cities, industrial areas, military installations, and Strategic Air Command bases during the Cold War. Target- and missile-tracking radar crews maintained continuous readiness, conducted daily equipment checks, practiced radar acquisition and tracking, and supported live-fire exercises. In June 1960, a Nike-Hercules missile intercepted a Corporal missile during testing, showing that the system could engage a ballistic target under controlled conditions. The Army deployed 145 Nike-Hercules batteries, including new sites and former Nike-Ajax positions converted for the larger missile. Most continental U.S. sites closed during the 1970s, while batteries in Alaska and Florida remained active later in the decade. Allied countries continued operating Nike-Hercules after it left U.S. service.
Collector and Research Value
This manual is a specialized visual reference for Nike-Hercules radar equipment and Cold War air-defense technology. Its coverage of the OA-1340/MPA and OA-1487/MPA makes it useful for identifying surviving components, interpreting the companion parts lists, and studying how the tracking-radar groups were assembled. The integrated Changes 1 and 2 also document revisions made during the system’s operational life. It is well suited for museums, historians, restorers, former Nike personnel, and collectors of Army technical publications.
Condition
This vintage military technical manual may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, military stamps, punched holes, loose pages, or other signs of age, handling, and storage. Printing details and condition may vary between available copies. This listing does not include the companion TM 9-1430-250-12P/3/1 parts-list volume unless specifically stated.
Ideal For
This illustration manual is well suited for collections, restoration projects, research, and displays related to Cold War guided missiles and military radar technology.
- U.S. Army technical-manual collections
- Nike-Hercules missile-system research
- OA-1340/MPA missile-tracking radar identification
- OA-1487/MPA target-tracking radar identification
- Nike Integrated Fire Control site restoration
- Cold War air-defense exhibits
- Military radar and electronics collections
- Museum and archival collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .3", Approx weight .6lbs.
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.
Please visit our page about order lead times here: Order Lead Times.