Antitank rockets, 2.36-inch.
INTRODUCTION
Scope. 1
Characteristics. 2
Data. 3
Precautions. 4
I. SCOPE.
a. This manual is published for the information and guidance of personnel charged with the operation and maintenance of the 2.36- inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1. It contains information required by the using arms to identify, use, care, and preserve the materiel and the ammunition used therewith. In addition, it contains information required by ordnance personnel for the maintenance and repair of the materiel.
2. CHARACTERISTICS (figs. 1 and 2). a. The 2.36-inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1 is an electrically operated weapon of the open tube type. It is fired from the shoulder in the standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone positions. It is used to launch high-explosive rockets against tanks, armored vehicles, pill boxes, and emplacements. The rockets weigh approximately 31/2 pounds and are capable of penetrating heavy armor at angles of impact up to 30 degrees. The weapon can be aimed up to distances of 300 yards. Greater ranges may be obtained by estimating the angle of elevation. The maximum range is 700 yards.
3. DATA.
Length of launcher (approx.) , ,.54.5 in.
Weight of launcher (approx.) l3.26 Ib
Internal diameter 2.37 in.
Length of rocket 2l.6 in.
Weight of rocket. 3.5 Ib
Muzzle velocity 265 ft per sec
4. PRECAUTIONS.
a. Do not expose rockets to the sun except when immediately ready to load. Store rockets in their containers in shaded places.
b. Do not allow a rocket to remain in a hot launcher prior to firing. c. Rockets as shipped contain a small cardboard plug cemented over the nozzle in the forward end of the fin assembly. This prevents entry of moisture or dirt into the propellant charge during storage and handling. Do not use any rocket with a missing cardboard plug. Do not remove the plug.
c. Rockets as shipped contain a small cardboard plug cemented over the nozzle in the forward end of the fin assembly. This prevents entry of moisture or dirt into the propellant charge during storage and handling. Do not use any rocket with a missing cardboard plug. Do not remove the plug
d. Since the fuze of the rocket is quite sensitive, it is important that the rocket be handled carefully after removal of the safety pin, and that it not be dropped. A fall on its nose, after removal of the safety wire, will cause detonation.
e. The burning time of the propellant is approximately 0.02 to 0.03 second, and combustion is complete before the rocket leaves the muzzle, hence there is no flash. Occasionally, however, the burning may, for some reason, be retarded, creating a backflash as the rocket leaves the muzzle. This occurs during cold weather but may also occur at other times. The firer should be protected against this by gloves or cloth wrapped around the hands, goggles, or other protective equipment, such as a gas mask. This precaution is especially important in cold climates or when no flash deflector is available. It is also recommended that both the firer and the loader wear steel helmets when using the launcher.
f. The launcher may be fired from the shoulder in the standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone positions. If fired from the prone position, the body should be at an angle of at least 45 degrees to the direction of fire so as to avoid injury from the back blast of the rocket.
g. In using the launcher, it is essential that no personnel, or in- flammable material be directly behind the launcher within a distance of 20 feet.
h. Never stand in or near the rear of the launcher while it is being fired because the hot gasses can inflict serious burns. When firing from trenches or fox holes, clearance should be provided so that back blast is not deflected against personnel.
i. At temperatures below 14 F, the dry cells become too weak to fire this weapon. When used at low temperatures, batteries should be removed from the launcher and kept warm until just before firing. Carrying the batteries in inner pockets in cold climates will keep them sufficiently warm. The spare batteries can be carried in the pockets and switched with the cold ones every half hour.
j. The rockets should not be fired at temperatures below zero F nor above 120 F.
Section II
DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTIONING
Description. 5
Functioning. 6
DESCRIPTION
(figs. 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14).
a. The launcher is essentially a long open barrel with a stock which houses the electrical firing mechanism. The tube is approximately 54 inches long and has a smooth bore.
b. The launcher has a front and rear sight, both of which are fixed to the barrel on the left side. The rear sight is of the peep type. The front sight consists of three studs which are used for ranges of 100, 200, and 300 yards. Intermediate or greater ranges, lead, and windage must be estimated by the firer.
c. Ahead of the front sight is assembled a flash deflector (fig. 3 ). The deflector is a conical wire screen with a mounting clamp. It is secured to the tube by the deflector screw and nut. When properly assembled, the mounting clamp of the deflector overlaps the muzzle end of the launcher. The function of the deflector' is to deflect occasional particles of unburned powder which might impinge upon the firer's face.
d. The hand grip consists of the left and right trigger grips attached to the trigger support. The trigger support accommodates the trigger guard, trigger, and the lower and upper trigger switch contacts. The trigger is pinned at its upper end to the trigger support and is free to pivot. When the trigger is squeezed, it presses the bar contact against the lower trigger switch contact to complete the electric circuit. When the pressure on the trigger is released, the trigger spring forces the trigger to the forward position so as to break the electric circuit.
e. The stock has a narrow vertical slot by means of which it slips over the stock support to which it is attached by screws. In the bottom of the stock there are two vertical cylindrical compartments for accommodating four batteries. The two batteries in the rear compartment are in actual use; the two batteries in the front compartment are spares. On the left side of the stock is a small electric lamp for testing the electric circuit and battery. The lamp is connected in parallel with the firing mechanism and it lights when the trigger is squeezed, regardless of whether a rocket is in the launcher or not. A spare lamp is carried in a circular compartment on the right side of the stock under the circuit indicator cover. The bottom of the stock is fitted with a hasp assembly which keeps the batteries in position and completes the electric circuit. The hasp assembly is kept closed by a spring actuated hasp catch which engages the stock pin. The battery spring contacts the batteries and is connected by wire to the stock support to complete the electric circuit.
f. The face guard is on the barrel above the stock. The guard serves to protect the firer's face from the heat in the tube. The guard is pressed on to the barrel and is held in position by its tension.
g. The portion of the barrel from the rear of the stock to the insulated contact spring is wound with bracing wire. The contact springs serve as connecting points for the contact wire leading from the rocket. In this manner, the circuit is completed. At the rear of the barrel is a spring actuated tail latch assembly. The function of the latch is to engage notches on the tail of the rocket and hold it in position for firing. The breech guard at the breech end of the barrel facilitates loading of the rocket, protects the tail latch assembly, pre- vents distortion of the end of the barrel, and prevents entry of dirt and foreign material when the end of launcher rests on the ground.
h. When the 2.36-inch AT Rocket Launcher M 1A 1 is issued, it is equipped with a battery designated as the Eveready 791-A, to provide current for operating the firing mechanism. This battery consists of two dry cell batteries of the Eveready No. BA-42 type, size C which are jointed together and placed in a cardboard container. When replacement is necessary and a battery of the original type cannot be supplied by ordnance personnel, two separate cells of the battery BA-42 type will be used. These cells are a standard Signal Corps item which are readily available in the field. Each is 15/16 inch in diameter and 1 15/16 inches in over-all length.
6. FUNCTIONING.
a. When the trigger is squeezed, it forces the bar contact against the lower trigger switch contact to complete the circuit.
b. The passage of the electric current through the rocket sets off an electric igniter in the rocket which in turn ignites the propelling charge. Rearward escape of the powder gases through a jet forces the rocket out of the barrel with a muzzle velocity of about 265 feet per second. Propulsion of the rocket is by jet action of the propellent powder and hence there is no recoil.
Section III
OPERATION
Precaution 7
Loading. 8
Sighting. 9
Firing. 10
Unloading. 11
7. PRECAUTION.
a. During the operations of loading, sighting, and firing, the loader should at no time stand directly behind the launcher.
b. See other precautions in paragraph 4.
8. LOADING.
a. The firer places the launcher on his right shoulder and aims at the target. The firer tests the circuit by squeezing the trigger several times. The light bulb should light only when the trigger is squeezed.
b. The firer makes certain that the light is out and he must not squeeze the trigger while the rocket is being loaded into the launcher.
c. The loader grasps the rocket by the tube and inserts the high-explosive head into the launcher barrel, at the same time raising the tail latch clear of the rocket (fig. 3) .
d. Having inserted the head of the rocket into the launcher, the loader then releases the tail latch and removes the safety pin from the fuze.
e. The loader again raises the tail latch and carefully pushes the rocket into the launcher until the tail latch engages a notch on the tail fins.
f. The loader pulls the end of the contact wire of the fin (fig. 4 ), pulls the wire straight back to uncoil it, and then engages the un-insulated portion of the wire in any of the coils of either of the contact springs ( fig. 5 ) .The launcher is ready to be fired.
9. SIGHTING.
a. The firer estimates distances to target and picks proper stud on front sight for aiming. He then sights at target through rear sight by centering stud in peep of sight ( fig. 6) .The firer estimates inter. mediate or greater ranges, lead, and windage.
10. FIRING.
a. Firing. To fire the launcher, the firer squeezes the trigger and releases it.
b. Firing Positions. The launcher can be fired in the standing (fig. 7), kneeling (fig. 8), sitting (fig. 9), or prone (fig. 10) positions.
11. UNLOADING.
a. To unload the launcher, the loader removes the wire from the contact spring, raises the tail latch, and carefully withdraws rocket until safety pin can be reinserted. He then inserts safety pin and removes rocket completely from the launcher. He coils and places the contact wire between the fins, and repacks the rocket.
Deployment of Antitank rockets, 2.36-inch.
(1) Rocket launchers and high explosive rockets are provided primarily for use against armored vehicles; secondary targets are crew-served weapons, embrasures, pillboxes, and grouped personnel. Rockets are also effective against buildings and masonry. However, ammunition must be conserved to insure effective use against primary targets.
(2) For necessary assistance in loading and reloading, rocket-launchers are normally operated by teams of two men each. Selected individuals will be specially trained to function as rocket teams and all members of the company will be given sufficient training to familiarize them with the use of rockets and with the care and cleaning of launchers. A practice rocket is provided for instruction in mechanical use, marksmanship, estimation of leads, and technique of fire. The rocket may be fired from the prone, standing, sitting, or kneeling positions; it may also be fired from the pit foxhole and pit type emplacements. (See FM 23-30 and app. L.)
(3) The performance of the high explosive rocket is generally similar to that of the antitank rifle grenade, except that the effect is approximately 30 percent greater for the rocket than for the grenade. The rocket is reasonably accurate against moving targets at ranges up to 300 yards and against an area target up to 650 yards. In order to achieve greater accuracy and assist in effecting surprise, fire against moving targets should be withheld until the last practicable moment.
(4) Rocket launchers will normally be carried on the weapon carriers. During marches and in the approach march, until the mortars and the light machine guns are removed from carriers, the company commander designates two men to ride each weapon carrier and function as a two-man rocket team in case of mechanized attack or man the machine gun mounted on each weapon carrier in case of air attack.
(5) When weapons have been removed from carriers, the company commander assigns the launchers in the manner which will most effectively further his mission. In the attack, where the terrain favors counterattack by tanks, rocket teams should be near that part of the company most threatened by such a counterattack. During reorganization after an attack, and in the defense, they should be placed near the perimeter of the company to cover the most likely avenues of mechanized approach. The company commander will coordinate the use of rocket teams with any other nearby antitank weapons; when used against secondary targets, he coordinates their fires with those of other weapons of the company.
(6) Since personnel designated to operate rocket launchers will normally function in their primary duties until a threat of mechanized attack becomes imminent or use against a secondary target is indicated, timely warning must be received (see par. 12a) in order that rocket teams may secure their launchers and ammunition and move to positions assigned by the company commander. In both offensive and defensive combat, likely avenues of approach for armored vehicles should be reconnoitered, and positions for rocket teams selected and prepared as soon as their primary duties will permit. Owing to the comparatively short sight radius, great care should be taken to select and assume good firing positions.
(7) In addition to its use as a projectile when fired from the launcher, the rocket may be prepared for firing electrically and used as an improvised antitank mine. (See FM 23-30.)
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