Description
Own a highly specialized piece of World War II anti-aircraft training history with this Technical Manual TM 9-390 for the M1 Target Rocket Projector. Dated November 14, 1942, this War Department manual documents a rare training device used during the period when the U.S. Army was rapidly expanding its air-defense program. Reference listings identify TM 9-390 as a War Department publication for the Target Rocket Projector, issued in November 1942, with 19 pages.
The M1 Target Rocket Projector was connected to one of the more unusual wartime training concepts: launching target rockets to help anti-aircraft crews practice against fast, low-flying aerial targets. That gives this manual serious collector appeal. It is not another common rifle, vehicle, or artillery manual. It is documentation for a specialized World War II training system tied to the early rocket age.
Historical Significance
During World War II, anti-aircraft crews needed realistic training targets. Slow towed sleeve targets were useful, but they did not fully match the speed and movement of attacking aircraft. A U.S. wartime rocket history notes that in August 1941, the Coast Artillery asked the Army Ordnance Department to develop a target rocket to replace slow sleeve targets. The result was a 3.25-inch target rocket with large plywood fins, about a one-mile range, and speed around 360 miles per hour.
The Target Rocket Projector M1 was the launching platform for this training concept. It helped create a more challenging and realistic training environment for anti-aircraft gunners. The 3.25-inch Anti-Aircraft Target Rocket M2 was developed to simulate low-flying, high-speed aircraft, and exercises could use multiple rockets fired in different directions to improve training realism.
That makes this manual a great fit for collectors interested in anti-aircraft artillery, World War II training equipment, rocket development, and the less commonly seen support systems behind wartime air defense.
The M1 Target Rocket Projector
The M1 Target Rocket Projector was not a combat rocket launcher in the usual sense. It was a training device. Its purpose was to launch target rockets for anti-aircraft practice, giving gun crews a fast-moving aerial target to track and engage during exercises.
That is what gives this manual its “cool factor.” It sits at the intersection of several strong collecting areas:
- World War II anti-aircraft training
- early U.S. Army rocket equipment
- Coast Artillery and AAA history
- target rocket systems
- War Department technical publications
Known collector listings identify examples of this manual as a restricted November 14, 1942 United States Army Technical Guide titled Target Rocket Projector M1. One example is described as published at Raritan Arsenal in New Jersey and containing detailed illustrations with the text.
What This Manual Covers
As a technical manual for the M1 Target Rocket Projector, TM 9-390 would have served as an official wartime reference for the equipment and its support context.
This manual is especially relevant for:
- M1 Target Rocket Projector documentation
- World War II anti-aircraft training research
- 3.25-inch target rocket system displays
- U.S. Army Ordnance Department collections
- Coast Artillery and AAA reference libraries
- early rocket development collections
- museum and archival reference displays
- collectors of rare wartime technical manuals
Because this is a short, focused manual, it has added appeal for collectors who like unusual technical publications. It covers a very specific piece of equipment from a very specific moment in wartime training history.
Key Features
- Technical Manual TM 9-390
- Covers the M1 Target Rocket Projector
- Dated November 14, 1942
- War Department technical manual
- Reference listings identify it as 19 pages
- Connected to World War II anti-aircraft artillery training
- Tied to early U.S. Army target rocket development
- Strong subject for Coast Artillery, AAA, and rocket-equipment collectors
- Excellent display companion for military manual, rocket, and air-defense collections
- A specialized manual for a less commonly seen wartime training device
Why This Collectible Stands Out
This manual stands out because of the subject matter. The M1 Target Rocket Projector was part of the training system behind World War II air defense. It helped prepare anti-aircraft crews for the speed and movement of real aerial threats.
Most technical manual collections include common weapons, vehicles, and maintenance subjects. This one adds something different. It represents the training technology behind the gun crews, radar teams, and anti-aircraft batteries of the period.
For collectors, it is a small manual with a big story. It connects to early rocket development, realistic gunnery training, and the rapid growth of U.S. air-defense capability during World War II.
About This Manual
This listing is for Technical Manual TM 9-390 for M1 Target Rocket Projector, dated November 14, 1942.
This listing is for the manual only unless otherwise stated. No target rocket projector, rockets, ammunition, launcher parts, tools, crates, accessories, or additional equipment are included unless specifically shown or noted.
Ideal For
This manual is a strong fit for:
- World War II U.S. Army technical manual collections
- anti-aircraft artillery and AAA displays
- Coast Artillery reference collections
- early U.S. rocket equipment displays
- M1 Target Rocket Projector research
- museum and archival reference libraries
- collectors of dated War Department publications
- ordnance historians and serious technical manual collectors
Approx length 9", Approx width 6", Approx height .2", 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.
Please visit our page about order lead times here: Order Lead Times